Gates: U.S. open to longer Iraq stay for troops

[unhappycamper]

Relatives carry the coffin of a family member killed a car bomb attack near a popular restaurant in Basra, Iraq.


Gates: U.S. open to longer Iraq stay for troops
By ANNE GEARAN Associated Press
Nov. 9, 2010, 5:49AM

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The United States is open to the idea of keeping troops in Iraq past a deadline to leave next year if Iraq asks for it, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.

"We'll stand by," Gates said. "We're ready to have that discussion if and when they want to raise it with us."

Gates urged Iraq's squabbling political groups to reconcile after eight months of deadlock. Any request to extend the U.S. military presence in Iraq would have to come from a functioning Iraqi government. It would amend the current agreement under which U.S. troops must leave by the end of 2011.

"That initiative clearly needs to come from the Iraqis; we are open to discussing it," Gates said.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have said for months that they expect Iraqi leaders to eventually ask for an extension of the military agreement with the U.S., but the political impasse has put the idea on hold.

[Scuba]

1. Yeah, who cares? They're just poor people anyway.

[w8liftinglady]

2. well,big surprise.WE obviously have a few gold coins left in the game.

...the hell with the troops and Iraqis.....and the 150,000 contractors(although they are left out of any government discussion)

[zipplewrath]

3. Gee, I'm so surprised

Of course this comes out AFTER the election.

Gates talks a good game, but I do wonder if he's got the White House "buy in" on this concept. By 2012 they'll be working on getting re-elected and it probably won't sell well out there if we are still fighting Bush's war that everyone seems to want to take premature credit for ending.

[Bragi]

4. It's part of the "Just Ask, We'll Stay" war policy /nt

[City Lights]

5. Says who?

x(

[Bandit]

6. Just another Promise from Obama that is meaningless.

Obama has changed what he said but the very last thing he said was "All US Troops will be out of Iraq by the end of 2011" He did not stutter...

[ChiciB1]

7. HA! HA! HA!... Gee, Why Is THIS A Surprise??? I'm So SICK OF THIS

CRAP!! Why anyone wonders why so many of us are upset is something I just don't understand!

[spanone]

8. fuck you gates