U.S., Iraq discuss necessity of future U.S. military presence

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The White House said Friday that the U.S. and Iraqi governments have been in discussions about whether or not a future U.S. military presence might be requested.

White House press secretary Jay Carney reiterated the Obama administration's commitment to withdrawing the remaining U.S. forces in Iraq by the end of the year, but said "we are also in negotiations and discussions with the Iraqis about what their security needs are and will be in the future."

"Obviously there have been discussions about whether or not a future security presence by the United States might be requested," Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, D.C. "But I don't anticipate any requests and certainly any decisions that would be made on a request that has not been made."

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that senior U.S. and Iraqi military officials have been in negotiations about keeping some 10,000 American troops in Iraq beyond 2011.

When asked about this report, Carney said "any discussions about a future security relationship with Iraq would obviously be taking place now. And I think that's what that story reflected."

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Friday asked the Iraqi government to decide " in the next few weeks" if it wants to keep U.S. troops beyond year 's end.

"There are no plans -- nor have there been any requests from the Iraqi government -- for any residual U.S. force presence here after this December," he said.

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