How Many U.S. Troops In Iraq Into 2012?

Reuters

Obama Wants To Keep 3,000-5,000 U.S. Troops In Iraq Into 2012 -- Washington Post

The Obama administration would like to keep about 3,000 to 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq beyond the end of this year but has not begun formal discussions with the Iraqis about the size or makeup of the force, U.S. officials said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has expressed a desire to keep some U.S. trainers in the country in 2012, past the deadline negotiated by the George W. Bush administration to remove all U.S. troops from the country.


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More News ON What Will Be The U.S. Military Presence In Iraq After 2011

US Now Says It Is in “Negotiations” With Iraq Over Troops Post-2011 -- ABC News
US debates paring down Iraq mission -- News24/AFP
U.S. may keep Iraq force after deadline -- SFGate/AP
Withdrawal of remaining US troops now under way, but no decision yet on stay-behind force -- Washington Post/AP
US contemplates 3,000 troops to remain in Iraq -- Digital Journal
Reported US Troop Draw-Down in Iraq Too Severe, Senators Say -- ABC News
Some lawmakers want to keep 10,000 troops in Iraq -- Reuters
Experts question value of leaving 3,000 troops in Iraq -- Stars and Stripes
Why We're Leaving Troops in Iraq -- James Kitfield, The Atlantic
Obama Iraq Troop Drawdown 'Purely Motivated for Political Reasons' -- FOX News
Iraq withdrawal: How many US troops will remain? -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor
U.S. to Iraq: Please Ask Us to Stay -- Jack Kenny, The New American
US debates paring down mission in Iraq -- AFP

What Will Be The New U.S. Military Mission In Iraq?

U.S. soldiers patrol a street in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. (Saad Shalash — Reuters)

In Talks Over U.S. Troops In Iraq, Details Over Mission, Not Just Numbers, Remain Murky -- Washington Post

This much is clear: There will likely be some kind of U.S. military presence in Iraq after 2012.

How many American troops will remain behind, where they will be based and what they will do is the subject of a grindingly slow and frequently frustrating debate inside the Obama administration and the Iraqi government, said senior defense officials.

Most of the plans being discussed by the Pentagon and the White House would keep about 3,000 to 5,000 troops in the country as trainers, said U.S. and Iraqi officials. A force smaller than 3,000 would not have enough firepower if it were attacked, said military officials.

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My Comment: No leadership from the White House. Congress is focused on the upcoming budget battles. Little if any media coverage on Iraq .... and even less commentary from pundits and those who cover U.S. foreign news events. Sighhhh .... it appears that no one is interested in defining what the future U.S. mission in Iraq will be .... let alone how many U.S. soldiers will remain after 2011.