Iraq likely to ask US to stay past 2011: Panetta: "Iraq's leaders are likely to ask US forces to remain past a December 31 deadline for withdrawal and the United States should seriously consider the request, CIA chief Leon Panetta said Thursday.
"I have every confidence that a request like that is something that I think will be forthcoming at some point," said Panetta, President Barack Obama's nominee to succeed outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the United States was "on track to withdrawing our forces by the end of 2011" but added that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki seemed set to ask some to stay longer.
"
