Us Troops to Stay in Iraqi Cities After Summer

by 158 | December 15, 2008 at 10:50 am

126 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

It is clear that the US pull out from Iraq will not happen in 2009 as president

elect Obama once promised. It is likely some troops will still be in Iraq

during the next election and this could be an election issue.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry says some American troops may remain in urban areas beyond a summer deadline to pull back but only with the permission of the Iraqi government.

Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari said Sunday that U.S. commanders would have to get the permission of the Iraqi government to keep troops in the cities beyond the June 30 pullout deadline that's required under a security agreement.

Al-Askari's comments come a day after the top U.S. general announced troops might continue working with Iraq's security forces in the cities even after the deadline to pull back troops. But Gen. Ray Odierno stipulated this would be with the concurrence of the Iraqi government.