Yet more signs that the US is reconsidering its withdrawal options

1,000 Al-Qaeda fighters still in Iraq: Panetta

AFP reports (June 9^th): CIA chief Leon Panetta told lawmakers that 1,000 Al-Qaeda fighters are still operating in Iraq and said US troops may stay beyond their year's end withdrawal date if asked by Baghdad.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.a6fea320c245308f70a705f34c9150fd.701&show_article=1

 Iraq says it may revise US pull-out plan

Al Jazeera reports (June 10^th): The Iraqi government have said that it will hold a summit in a week's time to decide whether to ask US troops to stay on longer than planned.

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/06/2011610181455601133.html

Iraq not ready to stand on own, lawmakers say

 

The Hill reports (June 6^th): A war-weary Congress and American public must realize the U.S. mission in Iraq will stretch years beyond a December troop-withdrawal goal, two prominent House members said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/164367-iraq-not-ready-to-stand-on-own-lawmakers-say