Source:
American Forces Press Service Via GlobalSecurity.orgBy Jim Garamone
BAGHDAD, April 22, 2011 – All American troops will be out of Iraq at the end of the year in accordance with the security agreement signed in 2008, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
“There are no plans –- nor has there been any request from the Iraqi government –- for any residual U.S. force presence here after December,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during a news conference in the Marine Corps Maj. Megan McClung Memorial TV Studio at the Al Faw Palace complex.
Roughly 47,000 American service members are in Iraq now. Since signing the agreement, the United States has already withdrawn more than 100,000 personnel -- at the height of the surge, the U.S. military had about 170,000 personnel in Iraq.
Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, has a plan in place to complete the withdrawal on time, Mullen said. “There are no official discussions with respect to any extended presence of United States forces,” the chairman added.
Read more:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2011/04/mil-110422-afps05.htm
I know some might not like the source, but this is the only article available which focuses on what he actually said, rather than editorializing with speculation.