Gates: Troops could stay in Iraq after 2011

[unhappycamper]

Gates: US troops could remain in Iraq after 2011
By ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer © 2011 The Associated Press
April 8, 2011, 1:50PM

MOSUL, Iraq — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, visiting Iraq on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, said Friday the United States would entertain a wide range of requests from Iraq to extend the U.S. troop presence.

After meeting with Massoud Barzani, president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, Gates told reporters that the Kurds are interested in an extended U.S. military presence, although the central government in Baghdad has publicly indicated it believes Iraqi security forces can stand on their own after the scheduled U.S. departure Dec. 31.

"I have the impression that there is interest, so I'm hopeful that Iraqi leaders will consult and let us know one way or the other," Gates said. Gates said he told the Kurds as well as senior Sunni and Shiite leaders in Baghdad, "time is running out."

Shortly before Gates spoke, Iraqi forces stormed an Iranian exile camp that Iraq's Shiite-dominated government has tried for years to close, and both sides reported casualties in the raid. Gates said he was not immediately sure of the number of casualties.



unhappycamper comment: Iraq is the never ending occupation.

Are we going to pay for the occupation with Iraqi oil revenues? Or are we going to pay in more teachers, more firemen and more policemen being laid off?

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Unacceptable

I work with a few of the 'others' - and now their big whine is that: There will be a genocide.

There may very well be. But if we leave tomorrow, next year, or 20 years from now . . . there will be a genocide. And for the record - America ignores genocide. So that shit doesn't fly.

[Gravel Democrat]

2. no one with "authority" will tell the truth

"we" will never leave Iraq until "we" are kicked out by the natives



The US Embassy in Iraq: Visible From Space!!!

It's



all over again

[Keith Bee]

3. Fourth thread on this topic

Jus' sayin'

[Gravel Democrat]

4. should be reposted every hour in a different thread so no one misses the message

edit: oops wrong war

i'm starting to get them confused

[katnapped]

5. No worries...

Still plenty of programs that can be cut to pay for it.

Hope you weren't expecting Granny (or yourself) to eat....

[vssmith]

6. Wouldn't surprise me--America is addicted to war

[_ed_]

7. Another Obama campaign promise

Another lie.

[blindpig]

8. Indefensible but predictable

The lies keep piling up.