Thursday, February 17, 2011

Gates: Iraqis will have 'problems' after US pull-out

Gates: Iraqis will have 'problems' after US pull-out: "US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Wednesday that Iraq will face major security 'problems' if US troops leave as planned by late 2011 and said more forces would stay on if asked by Baghdad.
'There is certainly, on our part, an interest in having an additional presence' above levels set by a 2008 accord, Gates told the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee.
'The truth of the matter is, the Iraqis are going to have some problems that they're going to have to deal with if we are not there in some numbers,' he said, warning 'they won't be able to protect their own airspace,' will face intelligence challenges and 'have problems with logistics and maintenance.'"
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NATO 3.0



What long term or open-ended commitments did NATO make to Afghanistan at the Lisbon Summit? Read NATO 3.0 to find out.