周六，副总统迈克·彭斯出人意料地访问伊拉克，为美军提供感恩节午餐，他对正在进行的涉及总统唐纳德·特朗普的弹劾调查投下了一些微妙的阴影。
彭斯向埃尔比勒空军基地的部队发表讲话，告诉他们特朗普和他的政府正在努力争取提高军队的工资，美联社据报告的。
"我们需要国会做好他们的工作，”据美国有线电视新闻网报道，他说。
彭斯在向部队通报加薪计划后表示，对特朗普的弹劾调查阻止了加薪的进行。“国会本应在几个月前完成他们的工作，但你知道党派政治和没完没了的调查减缓了事情的进展，”他说。
彭斯后来在他的讲话中补充道:“但我要向你保证:除非我们为你和我们所有的军队提供保卫我们国家所需的资源，以及你和你的家人应得的加薪和支持，否则总统和本届政府永远不会停止战斗。我向你保证。”
此次访问旨在强调彭斯对外交政策的承诺，因为弹劾仍然是美国的一个主要焦点
据报道，今年3月，白宫在2020年预算提案中提议将服务成员的工资提高3.1%军事时报。不清楚彭斯指的是特朗普称之为“十年来最大的”这一涨幅还是另一个涨幅。
2019年11月11日，美国副总统迈克·彭斯在弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿阿灵顿国家公墓的退伍军人节活动上发表讲话。
彭斯和他的妻子凯伦一起迎接军队，为火鸡和山药服务，感谢他们的服务。“虽然你来自我们其他人，但你是我们中最好的，”彭斯说。
特朗普10月撤军后，彭斯在访问伊拉克期间会见了伊拉克库尔德斯坦总统内奇万·巴尔扎尼，以安抚盟友。彭斯说，这次会议“是为了重申美国人民和整个地区库尔德人民在战火中建立的牢固纽带”。
彭斯还通过电话与伊拉克总理阿迪勒·阿卜杜勒·迈赫迪进行了交谈。马赫迪对伊拉克最近的暴力事件表示关切，包括10月份开始的抗议活动中发生的300人死亡。抗议针对的是伊拉克目前的政治体系，该体系是美国在2003年入侵后建立的。
彭斯告诉他言论自由的重要性，并警告伊朗的影响。
根据白宫的消息，副总统定于周六晚上返回华盛顿特区。
特朗普撤军的决定是共和党人和民主党人批评的焦点，因为这让库尔德盟友容易受到土耳其的攻击。特朗普最终选择在东叙利亚保留大约800名士兵驻守油田，不让他们进入伊斯兰国。他还在叙利亚南部驻扎了大约150名士兵，以保持对伊朗影响的警惕。
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE THROWS SHADE AT IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY DURING SURPRISE VISIT TO U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ
In a surprise visit to Iraq to serve U.S. troops a Thanksgiving lunch Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence dropped some subtle shade at the ongoing impeachment inquiry involving President Donald Trump.
Addressing the troops at Erbil Air Base, Pence informed them that Trump and his administration were working to secure a pay increase for the armed services, The Associated Press reported.
"We need Congress to do their jobs," he said, according to CNN.
After informing troops about the plans for a pay raise, Pence suggested that the impeachment inquiry against Trump has prevented the pay raise from going through. "Congress should have finished their work months ago but you know that partisan politics and endless investigations have slowed things down," he said.
Pence later added in his remarks: "But I'll make you a promise: This President and this administration will never stop fighting until we get you and all of our troops the resources you need to defend our nation and the raise and the support that you and your families deserve. I promise you."
The visit was intended to highlight Pence's commitment to foreign policy, as the impeachment continues to be a major focus in the U.S.
In March, the White House proposed a 3.1 percent increase to service members' pay in a 2020 budget proposal, according to Military Times. It is unclear if Pence was referring to this increase, which Trump called "the largest in the decade," or another one.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks at a Veterans Day event at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11, 2019 in Arlington, Virginia.
Pence was joined by his wife Karen to greet troops and serve turkey and yams, thanking them for their service. "While you come from the rest of us, you're the best of us," Pence said.
During his visit to Iraq, Pence met with Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani to reassure allies, following Trump's withdrawal of U.S. troops in October. The meeting was "to reiterate the strong bonds forged in the fires of war between the people of the United States and the Kurdish people across this region," according to Pence.
Pence also spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi via phone. Mahdi voiced concern for recent violence in Iraq, including 300 deaths that occurred during protests that began in October. The protests targeted Iraq's current political system, which was put in place by the U.S. after the 2003 invasion.
Pence spoke to him about the importance of free speech and warned against Iranian influence.
According to the White House, the vice president is scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., Saturday evening.
Trump's decision to withdraw troops was a major point of criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, because it left Kurdish allies open to attacks from Turkey. Trump eventually opted to keep about 800 troops in east Syria to man oil fields, keeping them from the Islamic State. He also kept about 150 troops in southern Syria to remain watchful of Iran's influence.
