Yes, it makes no sense for us to be out by that date. The Iraqis need us. As I and others have noted, South Korea still needs us. Europe still needs us. So the idea that Iraq will need us after 2011 for training and certain support functions is not so shocking. But again, is our president supposed to vocally deny we'll abide by the agreement whose ink is barely dry?
The Iraqi leaders know we can't leave at the end of 2011 and we know we need to stay. There will be a new agreement before then to regulate some smaller amount of American forces to help them train, integrate American weapons into their arsenal, and deter foreign invasion. Maliki makes this clear in a trip that included paying respects to our fallen military personnel:
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has hinted that US forces could stay in Iraq beyond the current deadline of 2011.
In a speech at a Washington think tank, he reiterated that the troop presence is due to end on 31 December 2011, under a bilateral agreement.
"Nevertheless, if the Iraqi forces required further training and further support, we shall examine this then at that time," he said.
It simply isn't the time for our country's government to openly discuss this. But rest assured this will be examined in due time.
