US to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq

Telegraph:

America plans to retain a garrison of 50,000 troops, one tenth of its entire army, in Iraq for years to come, according to US media reports.

The revelation came as George W Bush summoned his top political, military and intelligence aides to a summit on Iraq's future today at the presidential retreat at Camp David.

...

There is more. This sounds about right for a troop presence once things in the country stabilize. Basing rights should be a benefit to Iraq and the US and it will also keep Iran facing two fronts if it decides to lash out. With troops also in Afghanistan as well in other Persian Gulf countries there will be a lot of resources aimed at our enemies in Iran who have been at war with the US since 1979.

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