Washington, Sept. 8 -- US military and intelligence officials are quietly discussing plans to reduce the number of American personnel and facilities stationed across the Middle East if the Trump administration succeeds in ending its conflict with Iran.
Any significant drawdown would mark another major shift in Washington's approach to a region where successive US presidents have promised to reduce America's military footprint but have repeatedly returned to the Middle East after new security threats emerged.
Since the September 11, 2001, attacks, the United States has built an extensive network of military and intelligence facilities across the region, supporting wars, counterterrorism operations, and strikes in countries including Iraq, ...