US to keep several thousand soldiers in Iraq

[reggie the dog]

I know it is in French but here it is, have you seen this in the usa? the us is to leave four or five thousand troops in iraq after jan 1


http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2011/11/10/01003-20111110ARTFIG00575-irak-les-etats-unis-garderont-quelques-milliers-de-soldats.php

Plusieurs milliers de soldats américains resteront en Irak au-delà du retrait prévu le 31 décembre prochain, a-t-on appris de sources irakiennes et occidentales. «Leur nombre devrait s'élever à 4-5000, et ils n'auront pas le droit d'intervenir dans des combats», précise un diplomate irakien.

Le 21 octobre, Barack Obama avait pourtant annoncé le retrait total des quelques 39.000 soldats américains encore stationnés en Irak, d'ici la fin de l'année. Alors que les deux pays envisageaient jusque-là le maintien d'un petit contingent américain afin de former l'armée irakienne, Obama semblait s'être résolu à retirer tous ses hommes, après l'échec des discussions avec le premier ministre Nouri al-Maliki sur le statut juridique des troupes américaines après 2011. Washington exigeait une immunité totale pour ses militaires, les mettant à l'abri de poursuites judiciaires, ce que Maliki avait refusé.

Mais selon nos informations, le secrétaire d'État à la Défense, Leon Panetta, est revenu à la charge auprès de Nouri al-Maliki. Finalement un accord aurait été trouvé, autorisant Washington à garder quelques milliers d'hommes dans le pays. «Panetta a exercé d'énormes pressions sur Maliki», affirme un expert français à Bagdad.

[Fumesucker]

1. Translation..

INFO LE FIGARO - Washington finally managed to convince Baghdad to keep men in 4000-5000 after 31 December date for U.S. withdrawal from the country.

Several thousand U.S. troops remain in Iraq beyond the planned withdrawal on December 31, said on Iraqi and Western sources. "Their number is expected to be 4000-5000, and they have no right to intervene in the fighting," said an Iraqi diplomat.

On October 21, Barack Obama had announced the withdrawal of some 39,000 U.S. troops still stationed in Iraq by the end of the year. While both countries were considering previously maintaining a small U.S. contingent to train the Iraqi army, Obama seemed determined to withdraw all his men, after the failure of talks with Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki on the legal status of U.S. troops after 2011. Washington demanded complete immunity for its soldiers, making them immune from prosecution, that Maliki had refused.

But according to our information, the Secretary of State for Defence, Leon Panetta, is returned to the charge with Nouri al-Maliki. Finally an agreement was reached, allowing Washington to keep a few thousand men in the country. "Panetta has put enormous pressure on Maliki," said a French expert in Baghdad.

[TheWraith]

2. That's long been debunked. It's simply not true.

There's 160 troops left after the beginning of January for protection of the embassy.

[J_Adams]

3. Not a bad idea

We're keeping troops there to occupy a few large bases in strategic locations.

[reggie the dog]

4. Figaro is a mainstream newspaper

right wing, but right wing here in france is still reality based.