Top Iraqi General thinks US planned pull-out is too soon

Lt Gen Babaker Zebari warned that the Iraqi military may not be ready to take control for up to a de

By New Statesman Published 12 August 2010

Babaker Zebari, one of Iraq's top Generals, told a defence conference in Baghdad that the Iraqi army would not be able to ensure the country's security until 2020 and that the US should keep its troops in Iraq until then.

The Lt General said, "At this point, the withdrawal [of US forces] is going well, because they are still here, but the problem will start after 2011. The politicians must find other ways to fill the void after 2011... If I were asked about the withdrawal, I would say to politicians: the US army must stay until the Iraqi army is fully ready in 2020."

The US says it is on target to end combat operations by the end of August and meet its deadline for removing all troops by the end of 2011.

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7 comments

Fri, 2010-08-13 01:09 — Frimm (not verified)

http://www.thewe.cc/weplanet/news/americas/us/war_crimes_fallujah.html

The Jerusalem Center of Public Affairs's picture

Thu, 2010-08-12 11:08 — The Jerusalem Center of Public Affairs (not verified)

Nuclear Iran- approaching the point of no return -
Daily Alert's policy experts summarize top Israel news for busy readers. Read the synopsis of Atlantic Monthly piece at http://blog.dailyalert.org/2010/08/11/a-nuclearized-iran-approaching-the...

Sun, 2010-08-15 19:56 — Susan Allan (not verified)

Lt Gen Babaker Zebari: I couldn't agree with you more. Your country deserves the people responsible for the 1.9tons of nuclear polution to stay and breath in deeply. DEEP BREATHS TRAINSPOTTERS! BREATH DEEPLY. ENJOY THE SPOILS OF YOUR COUNTRY!

Thu, 2010-08-12 15:45 — tiacchyst

I thnk the Iraqis figure we adopted them.

Tue, 2010-09-07 01:15 — ConcernedCitizen (not verified)

There or not there, the presence of the US military makes no difference, either way the Iraqis are going to kill each other as this kind of mindless fraternicide has been going on since 628.

Mon, 2010-08-16 06:54 — stevenlind821

There are still 50,000 US troops in Iraq and double the amount of contractors and civilians. The US military will be there forever.

Thu, 2010-08-12 18:22 — tim6

US troops are not leaving because they have completed thier mission, they are leaving because the mi-terms are coming up and Democratic candidates want something positive to tell the voters.

as always, pity the people of iraq - they will suffer and die as policiaans make hay and polish their egos