Saturday, June 18, 2011
The end of 2011 is the end of the withdrawal of u.s. forces from IrakIrak seem to be asking the United States to stay in the country despite the withdrawal until the end of 2011.
CIA Director Leon Panetta said '' there is a belief that their request as it will pass on ' '.
He added that an official request from Baghdad come out, then Washington would have to grant it.
But Panetta did not say how many or what role do these forces if it remained in Iraq.
He said there are still about 1,000 members of the al-Qaeda in Iraq, and the situation is still '' vulnerable '' so presumably the presence of US troops is still needed.
"I believe if we have to take any steps that are required to keep developments underway there, '' said Panetta.
