US troops may stay post 2011

Sep 06, 2010 |

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Washington, Sept. 5: The US likely will need to keep thousands of troops in Iraq beyond 2011 to keep a lid on sectarian tensions and to bolster Baghdad’s fledgling military, experts say.

“The more pressing requirement is less teaching them how to use weapons and more providing reassurance to threatened internal communities that they won’t be exploited by their erstwhile internal rivals,” said Mr Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Officials acknowledge that the US presence in Iraq will be extended. It is likely that private guards, or contractors, could replace the troops.

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