How flexible is that deadline?

Too flexible suggest three stories from the press this week:

Withdrawal Date For U.S. Troops May Be Pushed Back Beyond 2011

Huffington Post reports (May 11^th): The Obama administration is evaluating whether to keep troops in Iraq beyond the planned withdrawal date, a decision that would extend an unpopular war that the American public expected to end this year.

The Status of Forces Agreement signed by Iraq and the United States during the Bush administration says all U.S. troops must leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. But the contract also leaves the door open to further negotiations that would delay withdrawal.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said members of the Iraqi government have indicated they are "very open to a continuing presence" by the United States

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/iraq-withdrawal-2011-delay_n_860188.html?ref=email_share

Iraqi prime minister weighs possible extension of U.S. forces

CNN reports (May 12^th): Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he will meet with Iraqi political leaders by the end of the month to get their opinions on whether some U.S troops should remain in the country after December, when they are slated to leave.

The 46,000 U.S. troops in Iraq represent about a fourth of the peak force of 171,000 in 2003. Under an agreement with the Iraqi government that was signed by the Bush administration in 2008, all U.S. forces are to be out of Iraq by the end of the year.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/11/iraq.us.withdrawal/index.html

US wants to remain in Iraq another 25 Years – MP

Aswat al-Iraq reports (May 13^th): (The U.S. has the desire to extend its military presence in Iraq for another 25 years, until the Islamic rule in Iran is toppled, an Ahrar MP declared.

Amir Al-Kinani of Ahrar bloc, affiliate with  the Sadrist Trend, told Aswat al-Iraq that the majority in the Iraqi Cabinet and Parliament support the extension of U.S. military presence.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=142513&l=1