Iraqi Army Chief: We Need US Military Until 2020

[moksha]

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0811/iraqi-army-chief-military-2020/

Iraqi army chief: We need US military until 2020
By Agence France-Presse

Iraq's top army officer on Wednesday warned that a pullout of all US soldiers by the end of 2011 was premature, after eight of his troops were killed in a brazen attack that exposed shaky security here.

Lieutenant General Babakar Zebari's remarks, which run counter to those of his political leaders, coincide with the exit of thousands of American soldiers under a US declaration to end combat operations in Iraq at the end of August.

"At this point, the withdrawal (of US forces) is going well, because they are still here," Zebari told AFP on the sidelines of a defense ministry conference in Baghdad.

"But the problem will start after 2011 -- the politicians must find other ways to fill the void after 2011.

"If I were asked about the withdrawal, I would say to politicians: the US army must stay until the Iraqi army is fully ready in 2020."

(continued...)

[maryf]

1. Surprise!

Not


...k&r for significance anyway...

[merh]

2. tough shit - tell him to go hit up the UN or NATO

we have done enough - time to let someone else get bogged down in that mess

[WatchWhatISay]

3. Somebody give them Blackwaters phone #

[KansasVoter]

4. Then we need $3 Billion a week until 2020.