Troops to Stay in Iraqi Cities After June

[unhappycamper]

Troops to Stay in Iraqi Cities After June
December 14, 2008
Associated Press

BAGHDAD - Some American troops will remain in Iraqi cities after a June 30 deadline for combat Soldiers to leave urban areas, the top U.S. commander said Saturday.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions by his own spokesman that the Iraqi government may ask some U.S. troops to remain behind as trainers after the Dec. 31, 2011 deadline for the withdrawal of all American troops set by the new U.S.-Iraq security agreement.

Those comments are likely to rekindle debate here about the agreement, which was ratified by parliament last month and takes effect Jan. 1. But Iraqi voters must approve the deal in a referendum by the end of July.

Suggestions of loopholes in the withdrawal timeline could be exploited by Iraqi politicians seeking to undermine al-Maliki ahead of the referendum. A number of Sunni and Shiite politicians, as well as the powerful Shiite clergy, accepted the deal after assurances from al-Maliki that the timeline for the U.S. departure was firm.

Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of coalition forces in Iraq, told reporters that troops who serve in training and mentoring teams would not be included in the mandate to pull combat troops from the cities.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/troops-to-stay-in-iraqi-cities-after-june.html