Khalilzad: US Troops Likely To Stay

[tekisui]

Source: Rudaw

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US ambassador to Iraq, believes that US troops will likely stay beyond December 2011 and that the country is unlikely to dissolve into civil war.

(snip)

Kurdish leaders have advocated for some US troops to stay behind when the military pulls out of Iraq in December 2011. US officials say troops will only stay upon the Iraqi government’s request, but Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is engaging in a fierce battle with his political opponents, has dodged formally asking for military assistance. The new US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta turned up the heat on Baghdad this week, demanding that leaders make a decision on the matter.

The Kurds want American troops to patrol the disputed territories in the provinces of Nineveh, Kirkuk and Diyala that stretch along the borders of the Kurdistan region and areas of Iraq controlled by the central government. Khalilzad, who served as the ambassador to Iraq from 2005-2007, said America is willing to keep some forces upon the request of the Iraqi authorities.

“I think America is ready to stay longer,” said. “But because of the security agreement that they have with Baghdad, they would rather the Iraqi government asks them to stay. Based on my experience in Iraq, Iraqis make decisions at the last minute and America wants that decision made as soon as possible.”

more: http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3820.html

[WinkyDink]

1. NS, S. We are NEVER leaving. EVER.