Gates: U.S. likely to advise Iraqis beyond deadline

[unhappycamper]

Gates: U.S. likely to advise Iraqis beyond deadline
By Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes online edition, Friday, December 11, 2009

KIRKUK, Iraq – The U.S. Air Force likely will continue to advise the Iraqi Air Force beyond the December 2011 deadline to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Friday.

“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see agreements between ourselves and the Iraqis that continues a ‘train, equip and advise’ role that continues beyond the end of 2011,” Gates said, speaking to soldiers and airmen gathered at Forward Operating Base Warrior. “They realize that they’re probably not going to be ready.

“Nothing’s been said on either side about it at this point, but it wouldn’t’ surprise me at all to see that that’s going to be a longer term relationship between the two countries,” said Gates.

“In fact, I talked to the prime minister this morning about their equipment purchases and training and so on, as they look at 2012 and beyond, and they clearly have some concerns,” he said.

In Afghanistan earlier this week, Gates had the same conversation on helicopter assets.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66602

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. So, Gates is chatty about Foreign Policy. I thought that was a State Dept. function.

Or a Presidential function.
Seems to be Gate's job to run around and tell everyone that no matter what the President tells us
about occupying foreign countries, it is not really true.

[Paper Roses]

2. Now that is a surprise, Isn't it. We'll be there forever.

Troops, advisers, whatever title, we will be minding their business forever.