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U.S. envoy: Troop extension in Iraq is possible
BAGHDAD The United States remains open to keeping thousands of troops in Iraq beyond the end of the year if asked, but will require Iraqi forces to provide them with greater security, the U.S. envoy to Iraq said Saturday.Ambassador James F. Jeffrey told reporters at a roundtable in the capital that the Obama administration would consider a request to keep some of the roughly 46,000 U.S. troops here, but added, We do need the Iraqi forces to help us secure our troops and, frankly, to secure themselves. Most U.S. forces are scheduled to leave by years end as part of a three-year security agreement, while about 17,000 U.S. diplomats and private contractors stay on. But Iraqs top political leaders are expected to meet again this week to consider asking the United States to keep forces here into next year. Jeffrey would not say Saturday how many troops would be likely to remain. Warning of continued instability, Jeffrey said insurgent groups would be carrying out attacks across the country regardless of the U.S. militarys presence. If we werent around, theyd go after somebody else, he said. Were target number one right now, but theyll find other targets. This is a problem that Iraq has to deal with. Posted by: Steve White 2011-07-04 |
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