Thread: US Hopes Iraq Will Ask For Troops To Stay.....

– Tue May 24, 4:36 pm ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he hopes Iraqi leaders will ask US troops to stay in their country beyond a year-end deadline but acknowledged the United States was unpopular there.

Supporters of radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr "clearly want us out," Gates said, adding that it was unclear "how much of that is the Sadrists and how much of that is the Iranians behind the Sadrists."
Sadr warned last month that his supporters will resume armed opposition if US forces stay in Iraq beyond their scheduled departure at the end of the year.

"And all I can say is that from the standpoint of Iraq's future but also our role in the region, I hope they figure out a way to ask. And I think the United States will be willing to say yes when that time comes," he said.

Gates said keeping a modest US military presence in Iraq would represent a "worthy" investment in a country that could serve as a model for democracy for other Arab states.
"I think sustaining that is worthy of an investment" that could in some ways provide "a model, for a multi-sectarian, multi-ethnic society in the Arab world, that shows democracy can work."
Keeping a US force in Iraq would send "a powerful signal to the region that we're not leaving," he said.
"I think it would be reassuring to the Gulf states, I think it would not be reassuring to Iran, and that's a good thing," Gates added.
US forces are largely engaged in "advise and assist" roles with Iraqi security forces since formally ending combat operations last August, when most troops left the country.

US hopes Iraq will ask troops to stay: Gates - Yahoo! News-

Seems the Obama Administration is prepared to keep our Troopers in Iraq.....all they have to do is ask. Then we will say yes and Obama will keep them in the region. meaning IN HARM"S WAY.
Sadr is not going to play this time. He will attack and raise up the Shia against what we have there. Plus he is not the main one to worry about. We already put up the thread on Iraq qetting Power from Iran. By the end of 2012 Iran will be supplying 75% of Iraq's power. What don't our politicans understand? So the sentiment is getting ever higher and higher. Already it is turning into resentment.

Due to Maliki and the Iraqi Government knowing full well all the Sanctions that have been applied to Iran. By the UN and By the US. So despite maintaining formal diplomatic relations with us.....the Iraqi's have been building a stronger Allinace with Iran. Gates is the S.O.D and he wil be giving Panetta all of this. So right now Panetta has been briefed on dealing with the Iraqis. This also shows that this is what the Obama Administration would prefer. What else would it mean by Hopes for. So now what does the left have to say for themselves????? Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Midwest Media Critics

– Tue May 24, 4:36 pm ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he hopes Iraqi leaders will ask US troops to stay in their country beyond a year-end deadline but acknowledged the United States was unpopular there.

Supporters of radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr "clearly want us out," Gates said, adding that it was unclear "how much of that is the Sadrists and how much of that is the Iranians behind the Sadrists."
Sadr warned last month that his supporters will resume armed opposition if US forces stay in Iraq beyond their scheduled departure at the end of the year.

"And all I can say is that from the standpoint of Iraq's future but also our role in the region, I hope they figure out a way to ask. And I think the United States will be willing to say yes when that time comes," he said.

Gates said keeping a modest US military presence in Iraq would represent a "worthy" investment in a country that could serve as a model for democracy for other Arab states.
"I think sustaining that is worthy of an investment" that could in some ways provide "a model, for a multi-sectarian, multi-ethnic society in the Arab world, that shows democracy can work."
Keeping a US force in Iraq would send "a powerful signal to the region that we're not leaving," he said.
"I think it would be reassuring to the Gulf states, I think it would not be reassuring to Iran, and that's a good thing," Gates added.
US forces are largely engaged in "advise and assist" roles with Iraqi security forces since formally ending combat operations last August, when most troops left the country.

US hopes Iraq will ask troops to stay: Gates - Yahoo! News-

Seems the Obama Administration is prepared to keep our Troopers in Iraq.....all they have to do is ask. Then we will say yes and Obama will keep them in the region. meaning IN HARM"S WAY.
Sadr is not going to play this time. He will attack and raise up the Shia against what we have there. Plus he is not the main one to worry about. We already put up the thread on Iraq qetting Power from Iran. By the end of 2012 Iran will be supplying 75% of Iraq's power. What don't our politicans understand? So the sentiment is getting ever higher and higher. Already it is turning into resentment.

Due to Maliki and the Iraqi Government knowing full well all the Sanctions that have been applied to Iran. By the UN and By the US. So despite maintaining formal diplomatic relations with us.....the Iraqi's have been building a stronger Allinace with Iran. Gates is the S.O.D and he wil be giving Panetta all of this. So right now Panetta has been briefed on dealing with the Iraqis. This also shows that this is what the Obama Administration would prefer. What else would it mean by Hopes for. So now what does the left have to say for themselves????? Thoughts?

First line from your linked article: WASHINGTON (AFP) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he hopes Iraqi leaders will ask US troops to stay in their country beyond a year-end deadline but acknowledged the United States was unpopular there.

I would have no problem leaving a small force to fight terrorists in the region except for Gate's last sentence. (the Iraqi's don't like us...& with good reason. I say CYA!)

What about the Obama Admistration prefering that they remain in the region? Despite saying they will pull them out by the end of the year. Also this is the Second Time that Gates Has made this announcement. First in Iraq and to Maliki in person and now released publicly here. So that Maliki and the Iraqis' see that if they do not ask. We will then leave. But more importantly so that the Iraqis see that it was released publicly to our nation. That the Iraqis now know that the American People know, such is all that they have to do. Just ask.....and Gates is telling them, then you shall recieve.

I think we will have 30 to 60 thousand troops there indefinitely.

A couple of bombings here and there, and the US will get their wish.....Or if that fails we can just liberate them again. See in an Orwellian nightmare the crusaders are liberators and freedom fighters are AQ.

Currently we have 45,000.....that could end up being surrounded on all sides. As Gates acknowledges the sentiment against us is increasing. Which is not surprising as we have not Spoken out against all that the Sunni has done. Which puts us on even more bad ground with the Shites. I also Put up what is now going on in Yemen as the Hashid Shiek is now involved and Yemen is into 3 days of armed rebellion which can lead to all out war.

What I am also looking at here.....would be any infrastructure projects we have going and cease them immediately. We might want to think about getting US Contractors out of there if possible. Also what has become of the Embassy?

Originally Posted by Mr. Neo-Con

Hey Dev, is there some Neocon in you to say this? You know, leaving troops there to fight terrorists in that region.

You know MNC..after a bit more thought I've changed my mind.
While I can see the advantage of having some U.S. troops in the area (in friendly countries) for contingency & anti-terrorist purposes, I would recommend against leaving any troops in Iraq itself. (after we invaded & occupied their country illegally, I think we need to leave that country...& their oil...alone)