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Gates: US troops may stay in Iraq past 2011
While traveling in Malaysia on Tuesday U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that the United States is willing to discuss the continuance of troops in Iraq past the declared December 31, 2011 deadline if the Iraqi government requests such aid.
According to Donna Miles of the American Forces Press Service, Gates stated, "In terms of a future strategic relationship beyond 2011, I would say that initiative clearly needs to come from the Iraqis. We are open to discussing it." He then added, "We will stand by and be ready to have that discussion if and when they want to raise it with us."
However, Gates did reaffirm the United States commitment towards a self governing, unified and democratic Iraq where despite their differences, all of the country's citizens and can "go forward as a nation together."
Gates maintained that any request for an extension would only be addressed after Iraq resolved its power sharing agreement.
Iraq's government has been in turmoil since the country's election in March 2010 resulted in a fractured parliament spilt between Ayad Allawi's party, which won a slim majority of seats, 91, incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's party which won just two fewer seats, and Ibrahim al-Jaafari's party which gained 70 seats. In addition, the elections themselves were marred with accusations of widespread voter fraud.