InfoAnda - US likely to keep troops in Iraq after 2011

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Pakistan closes NATO supply route, operation launched | 30 December 2008
Hamas leader says group will never recognize Israel | | 14 December 2010
CIA report has new details of prisoner abuse | 23 August 2009

Battle to electrify Kandahar shows Afghan dilemma | 8 February 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : US likely to keep troops in Iraq after 2011

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America US likely to keep troops in Iraq after 2011 AFP - Sunday, September 5 Send IM Story Print US likely to keep troops in Iraq after 2011 WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The United States likely will need to keep thousands of troops in Iraq beyond 2011 to keep a lid on sectarian tensions and to bolster Baghdad's fledgling military, experts and former officers say. American officials privately acknowledge that the US military presence in Iraq will almost certainly be extended, even though a security agreement in force requires all US forces to depart by the end of 2011. The US military will be needed not only for technical tasks to keep the Iraqi armed forces afloat, but as a reassuring presence for Iraqis fearing a revival of sectarian and ethnic bloodshed, analysts said. Baghdad's military remains heavily dependent on US logistical support, air power, equipment and expertise, while most Baghdad politicians are anxious to retain American troops as a peacekeeping force in reserve. "The more pressing requirement is less teaching them how to use weapons and more providing reassurance to threatened internal communities that they won't be exploited by their erstwhile internal rivals," said Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign Relations. "What you're trying to do is make the size of the troop presence proportional to the residual fear that the groups feel towards each other," Biddle said. Delivering technical help while playing a limited peacekeeping role would require a relatively modest number of troops, perhaps as few as three brigades or roughly 10,000 troops, several former military officers said. "I think it could get down to even less than 10,000 and still be viable," John Ballard, a professor at National Defense University and a retired army officer, told AFP. Nearly 50,000 US troops are now in Iraq under an "advise and assist" role, after President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared a formal end to the US combat mission. The White House, keen to wind down the US role in Iraq, has played down the possibility of a large US force. Vice President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Anthony Blinken, has said only "dozens or maybe hundreds" of troops could remain. But Iraqi army chief of staff General Babaker Zebari told AFP last month that his country's forces would require US support for another decade, while some analysts in Washington argue for keeping about half of the current force after 2011. Iraq's "leaders are likely to ask that tens of thousands of American troops stay on for an extended period," Richard Haas, a top diplomat during George W. Bush's presidency, wrote Thursday. Beyond 2011, the US military would be needed to provide badly-needed logistical support for an army that has been designed mainly as a counter-insurgency force. The United States would provide some fire power, helicopters, fighter jets to defend a country with virtually no air force, naval defenses for ports and coveted intelligence collected from unmanned robotic planes. The mission likely would include US special forces assisting Iraqis in manhunts of Al-Qaeda figures, according to James Danly of the Institute for the Study of War, who served in Iraq as an officer. Apart from operational and tactical support, a US force also would have to be prepared for possible worst case scenarios, Danly and other analysts said. If relations between the country's Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds threatened to spiral out of control, or if vital oil or other infrastructure came under threat from within or outside Iraq, Baghdad could turn to the US force for help, he said. In addition to soldiers in uniform, US officials are planning to employ thousands of private contractors to take up security duties formerly performed by troops. Any talks on the future of the US presence will have to wait for a new government in Iraq, where politicians have failed to agree a power-sharing deal since parliamentary elections in March. Forging agreement on a post-2011 US mission would present a delicate political challenge for Iraq, as leaders there privately back a continued presence but are reluctant to publicly endorse it. "It's going to be very hard for any government in Iraq to negotiate anything sizable or enduring," said Ballard. "This puts us in a difficult situation." The current security accord signed in 2008 was negotiated under a shroud of secrecy, he said, and a follow-on mission also would have to be agreed discreetly, perhaps without a detailed, long-term agreement. "There's a need, there's a rationale. But it's going to be difficult to put it in any sort of formal way." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Earl loses tropical storm status after soaking Canada AFP - 32 minutes ago UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 15 minutes ago Busted BP well no longer 'threat' to Gulf AFP - 2 hours 1 minute ago Suicide bomber kills five in southern Russia Reuters - 2 hours 35 minutes ago Moldova referendum aims to break political impasse AFP - Sunday, September 5 News Search Top Stories A month on, Chile miners face uncertain rescue date Sharapova, Federer battle on in US tennis Open EU deal to curb speculative trading close: commissioner EU decision on support for banks due November: commissioner Afghans crowd scandal-hit bank to withdraw savings More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Zeta-Jones 'furious' at late cancer diagnosis for Douglas BP spill costs hit 8 bln dlrs as crews unearth clues Afghans crowd scandal-hit bank to withdraw savings Israeli researchers develop promising new HIV treatment 'Prostitute' Carla Bruni deserves death: Iran media More Most Viewed » Earth's upper atmosphere shrinking, scientists say Tiger's ex breaks her silence on sex scandal Most US students think Beethoven is a dog Unchecked migration would see Singapore swell, Haiti halve More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 5 September 2010
France protests against security crackdown
Texas probing Google over search results
EU deal to curb speculative trading close: commissioner
Protestors in Ireland pelt Blair at book signing
Blair pelted with eggs at Dublin book signing |
Pakistan try to focus after police grill trio
EU decision on support for banks due November: commissioner
Most Greeks want government reshuffle amid crisis |
Earl socks Canada's Nova Scotia, weakens to tropical storm
Hurricane Earl makes landfall in Canada
Muslims take to Minn. State Fair to repair image
Amnesty calls for India Maoists to free police
Japan beat Paraguay to avenge World Cup defeat
Craigslist.com blocks access to adult services ads |
Scorsese film defends anti-communist informer Kazan
India's Tata Steel may seek $5.4-bln loan: report
Afghans crowd scandal-hit bank to withdraw savings
India clears plane order for low-cost carriers
FACTBOX-Key political risks to watch in New Zealand
Vietnam arrests 4 more executives of shipbuilder
U.S. comedian Robert Schimmel dies after car accident |
Taliban death threats hang over Afghan elections
Gales, aftershocks shake quake hit New Zealand city |
Berlusconi backs down on key measure
US-TECH Summary
US likely to keep troops in Iraq after 2011
Suicide bomber kills five in southern Russia |
'Relief' as Wilders-backed Dutch coalition fails
Sharapova, Federer battle on in US tennis Open
Craigslist.com blocks access to adult services ads
Gaza rocket fire draws Israeli air strikes
Thousands protest French clampdown against Roma |
Craigslist 'censors' adult services listings in US
Torrential rains kill 18 in Guatemala |
Six killed in Darfur camp shootout
Over one million join Apple's music social network Ping
Afghans continue pulling money from troubled bank
Belgium back in crisis as mediator quits |
Possible talks with Afghan insurgents draw closer
Craiglist Blocks U.S. Access To Controversial Adult Ads
Two die in mid-air light aircraft collision in UK |
Gales, aftershocks shake quake hit New Zealand city
Abbott makes plea in Australia political impasse
Earl loses tropical storm status after soaking Canada
Typhoon delays US-S.Korea naval exercise
For US Muslims, a 9/11 anniversary like no other
Thousands of Japanese schools serving whale meat
JetBlue: Flight attendant's big exit was for good
Cholera outbreak 'covered up' in China
Thai villagers voice health fears over pollution
Deneuve, Depardieu at Venice filmfest
Indonesian fashion scores Ramadan hit
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
New Zealand tourist plane crash dead identified
U.S. comedian Robert Schimmel dies after car accident
Builders race to finish first S.Korea F1 track
N.Zealand braces for more destruction after quake
Booming China auto industry faces over-capacity
iPhone 4 sales in S.Korea start this week
Suzuki to build new auto plant in India
Twelve killed in suicide assault on Iraq army base
ETA declares ceasefire in struggle with Spain
Basque separatists ETA halting armed attacks |
Mideast talks to resume in Egyptian Red Sea resort
Five killed, scores hurt in Dagestan suicide bombing
Bangladesh issues red alert over spread of anthrax |
A month on, Chile miners face uncertain rescue date
Basque separatists ETA declare ceasefire: BBC
Twelve killed in suicide assault on Iraq army base |
Suicide attack kills 12 at Baghdad army complex
Israel's Barak to make 24-hour visit to Russia
Taliban vow to disrupt Afghanistan election |
New Farmlands Driving Out Forests Causes Climate Change Study Says
Troubled Afghan bank faces further day of queues
Philippine police chief takes blame for bus hijack |
NATO service member killed in Afghan fighting
Mideast talks to resume in Egyptian Red Sea resort |
Moldova holds referendum on presidential vote |
Fresh 'fixing' claims cloud Pakistan-England match
Nepal's parliament again fails to elect new PM
Afghan governor says kidnapped Japan journalist freed
Philippines needs more time for deadly bus hijack probe
Philippine police chief takes blame for bus hijack
Bangladesh dams to reclaim 600 square kms of land
Floodwaters sweep towards another Pakistani town
Three Abu Sayyaf militants killed in Philippines: police
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01