Jared Kushner Flies to Iraq for Briefing on Anti-ISIS Strategy
Trump’s son-in-law to meet with U.S. and Iraqi officers, get briefed on the fight against Islamic State
According to a statement from Mr. Abadi’s office, the two sides discussed the battle in Mosul, international support for Iraq, as well as training and equipment issues.
.. They were joined in those meetings by Tom Bossert, a former administration official under President George W. Bush, now serving as Mr. Trump’s homeland security adviser.
.. Last month, Mr. Kushner made, for a White House official, a rare appearance at the Pentagon, where he met Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman during his meeting with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
.. He has also been influential with his father-in-law on issues pertaining to Mexico and other countries, and he has been given broad authority by his father-in-law to attempt to broker a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
.. Mr. Mattis and Gen. Dunford are completing a review of the strategy to fight the group.Trump signaled during the campaign and since assuming office that he had a plan to accelerate the fight against Islamic State, offering no details about what it might be.No plan has emerged, and it now falls to Mr. Mattis and Gen. Dunford to come up with a new strategy.
.. according to numerous U.S. officials, the strategy may largely resemble the old one, initiated under President Barack Obama, with tweaks and additions in the margins, U.S. officials said.
.. The new strategy, or a refinement of it, may include additional U.S. troops for both Iraq and Syria, possible changes that could put American soldiers closer to the front lines, and an accelerated airstrike campaign.