CLARIFICATION

Mattis in Iraq: Not Here to ‘Seize Anybody’s Oil’

Despite President Trump’s suggestions to the contrary.

Defense Secretary James Mattis arrived in Baghdad on Monday for an unscheduled visit, telling reporters that despite President Donald Trump’s suggestions about taking the oil in Iraq, “we’re not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil.” Trump repeatedly made the suggestion on the campaign trail, and as recently as last month said the U.S. could still take the country’s oil. Mattis also commented on Trump’s immigration ban, which initially prevented some individuals who worked alongside the American military from entering the U.S. Mattis said he is “assured that we will take steps to allow those who have fought alongside us to be allowed into the United States.”