10,000 U.S. Soldiers To Remain In Iraq?

BAGHDAD ARRIVAL - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, center, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Rock, right, welcome U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Baghdad International Airport, April 21, 2011. Mullen is visiting the Central Command area of operations. elmick is deputy commanding general for Operations, U.S. Forces Iraq, and Rock is director, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - Air Force, U.S. Forcs Iraq. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Iraq Troop Talks Falter -- Wall Street Journal

Allies Want U.S. to Stay Past Withdrawal Date but Baghdad Fears Unrest.

WASHINGTON—Senior U.S. and Iraqi military officials have been in negotiations about keeping some 10,000 American troops in Iraq beyond the scheduled withdrawal of all U.S. forces at year's end, according to officials familiar with the talks.

But the discussions face political obstacles in both countries, and have faltered in recent weeks because of Iraqi worries that a continued U.S. military presence could fuel sectarian tension and lead to protests similar to those sweeping other Arab countries, U.S. officials say.

Read more ....

More News On Some U.S. Soldiers Remaining In Iraq

Mullen Says U.S. Must Get Iraq Transition Right -- U.S. Department of Defense
US mulls 'keeping 10,000 troops in Iraq' -- AFP
Maliki rules out extension of U.S. troops' presence after 2011 -- Xinhuanet
Iraq PM tells Mullen Iraqi troops can take over -- AP
Maliki says troops ready in talks with US's Mullen -- AFP
US seeking to keep 10,000 troops in Iraq beyond 2011: Report -- DNA

My Comment: From a military standpoint, keeping 10,000 soldiers (if not more) makes sense since the security situation in Iraq is still unstable. But from a political standpoint (both from Baghdad and Washington), such an extended stay is regarded as political suicide and a recipe for even more violence.

My prediction .... U.S. soldiers will leave, but no one is going to talk about a few thousand that will stay behind to "train" the Iraqi military.