WaPo columnist: Biden's Iraq withdrawal 'a trap for the next president'

President Joe Biden's plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq will create problems for the next president, argues Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin.

Since Biden announced an end to combat operations in Iraq, the U.S. has retained a small force of 2,500 in the country and 900 in Syria. These forces "lead the international coalition keeping down the Islamic State," also known as ISIS.

Biden, in a bid to end the Iraq "forever war" like he did in Afghanistan, is devoting his final months in office to a plan with the Iraqi government that will see those remaining troops brought home with the "mission accomplished."

"But there's a problem: Despite Biden's desire to declare 'mission accomplished,' it isn't, and a follow-on plan is nowhere near complete," Rogin wrote. "Despite good intentions, if Biden formally agrees to end the anti-Islamic State mission, he might be setting the stage for a worsening Middle East crisis that will be left at the feet of his successor."

The current agreement on the table "would formally end Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led international coalition created to defeat the Islamic State in 2014, and is also expected to call for the withdrawal of all related U.S. troops in Iraq within two years' time," Rogin reported of conversations with officials.

"Recent developments" in the region have reportedly delayed the announcement of the agreement. These "developments" include Iran-backed attacks on Iraq-based U.S. forces and rising tensions following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

"Announcing the withdrawal of U.S. troops, even with a two-year timeline, would signal the United States' abandonment of the region just as allies are looking to Washington to increase deterrence against Iran," Rogin argues.

The withdrawal could also weaken coalition efforts to fight ISIS as the group attempts to reconstitute.