US Mulls 'Keeping 10,000 Troops in Iraq'

[tekisui]

Source: AlterNet

US and Iraqi officials are looking into keeping 10,000 US troops in the country beyond a year's end deadline for a complete withdrawal, the http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704889404576277240145258616.html?KEYWORDS=iraq+withdrawal">Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The talks are politically sensitive for both countries, with Americans keen to end their involvement in Iraq and Iraqis concerned that prolonging the troop presence could fuel sectarian tensions and protests, it said.

The paper, citing unnamed officials, said US military commanders believe that leaving at least 10,000 troops beyond 2011 could promote greater security and prevent Iran from expanding its regional influence.

However, such a plan would require presidential approval, and US President Barack Obama -- a critic of the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein -- has not yet said whether he would sign off on it.

more: http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/568412/us_mulls_%27keeping_10,000_troops_in_iraq%27/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=alternet_all

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Nobody ever talks about it, but my guess is you'd still have to wear full combat gear

while wandering around that fucked up place.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. No mulling - troops out or else!! The UN can deal with it.

They promised!

[Keith Bee]

14. Who wants to primary Obama?

'cause, if this shit goes down, they'll have my support.

[Gravel Democrat]

3. There will be no "complete withdrawal" and anyone that thinks there will be

has not been paying attention. (see camp bondsteel in Kosovo)

You can see the US embassy from space for crying out loud




If "we" are going to be an empire, the least our rulers could do is imitate the Roman Work week and every other day would be a holiday. But we don't even get that.

[tekisui]

10. I agree. But, so many bought and sold that lie for so long,

that this will shock some. Of course others will just defend it as they would anything that comes from this administration.

[Lasher]

4. What a surprise.

Obama will do whatever the generals say.

[Bluebear]

5. "I will bring this [Iraq] war to a close. In 2009, I will bring our troops home.....

"I will bring this war to a close. In 2009, I will bring our troops home. It is time for the Iraqis to stand up and stabilize their country. We cannot have a permanent occupation in Iraq!"

Blah blah blah.

[Tesha]

9. He lied to get elected. (NT)

[Bluebear]

12. Indeed.

[democrank]

6. More change I can`t believe in

[dipsydoodle]

7. Oh. Another lie comes to fruition

.

[Tesha]

8. As long as there's oil there... (NT)

[Bluebear]

13. +

[mmonk]

11. As Bill Maher says, once we go in, we don't leave.