In late 2008, the lame duck Bush Administration signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the Iraqi government formalizing the continuation of the occupation through the end of 2011. At the time this was being negotiated, multiple presidential candidates, including eventual victor President Obama, were openly talking about ending the war far sooner. It seemed that the December 2011 date was an absolute worst-case scenario.
But time has a way of creeping up on you, and officials have a way of lying about their intentions, particularly when it might involve ending an occupation. To that end, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has informed Congress that the Obama Administration wants to continue the occupation of Iraq beyond 2011.
“There is certainly on our part an interest in having an additional presence,” Gates has confirmed in the wake of repeated claims to the contrary by top officials and insistences that December would be the end.
Gates went on to insist Iraq “will face problems” if they don’t allow the US forces to remain, and that the Iraqis ‘won’t be able to protect their own airspace,” an obvious reference to Iraq’s Monday announcement that they will shelve a $3 billion purchase of US warplanes to buy food.
Though a number of US officials have expressed eagerness to continue the occupation, it is unclear where the Iraqi government stands. Prime Minister Maliki has insisted he will hold the US to the deadline, and if he doesn’t he will likely face a revolt from some of his allies, notably cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, but when the US wants to continue its military presence they tend to find a way to make that happen.
"Though a number of US officials have expressed eagerness to continue the occupation, it is unclear where the Iraqi government stands."
Hahahaha….like that matters!
“There is certainly on our part an interest in having an additional presence" says Uncle Bob. If by "us" he means himself and his fellow war criminal mobsters, then sure, they have an intere$t in being present everywhere on the planet.
Aww, Iraq will face problems… A global cataclysm for sure. We better be there forever then, we wouldn't want Iraqis to solve their own problems, now wouldn't we. What would it take to have a Defense Secretary who actually cares about the defense of…America, and not the "problems" of Iraq?
The only one keen on keeping US forces in Iraq is Bobby himself and his puppet masters. How dare the Iraqis want to feed themselves instead of buying more bombs and bullets! The insolence!
If the US stays in Iraq after December 2011, what will happen will be a repeat of Vietnam. They will be thrown out. The population as a whole will rise. Enough is enough with the invading barbaric terrorists.
Can't lose the latest province of the American empire.
<'won’t be able to protect their own airspace,”> Yeah, just like they couldn't defend from US air strikes in the '90s. Just step down, Bibi Gates. Stop embarassing my uniform.