WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after an attack by Shiite militia on the United States Embassy compound in Iraq, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

“President Trump’s disjointed, chaotic, ad hoc approach to foreign policy and failure to closely coordinate with our allies comes at a real cost.

“I’m thankful that no Americans were harmed today at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.  Since the Bush Presidency, U.S. personnel are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi Government and Iraq must do more to ensure their safety.

“Our relationship with Iraq is at a critical moment.  Iraqi political leadership is in a state of turmoil with the recent resignation of the Prime Minister, and Iran will seek to capitalize on the instability to further its own goals.  U.S. air strikes earlier this week were roundly criticized by the Iraqi Government and seem to have reignited the strong nationalistic tendencies that have been directed at the U.S. in the past.

“The Trump Administration appears to be losing political leverage in Iraq which could complicate our continued military presence there – presence which is key to our counterterrorism efforts in Iraq, Syria, and the broader region.  Unfortunately, this is an entirely predictable byproduct of the President’s decision to dismiss the advice of senior military and diplomatic professionals and unilaterally withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, thereby isolating the U.S. from our European allies and complicating our relationships with regional partners, including Iraq.

“No recent U.S. President has exhibited such disdain for our career military, diplomatic, and intelligence professionals.  The continued turmoil and lack of continuity within the Trump Administration is making America less safe.”