Iraq sees need for foreign troops for 10 years

Yahoo has a story today which is bound to make some liberal, anti-war, anti-surge politicians gasp. In the story, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, states,

Iraq will need foreign troops to help defend it for another 10 years, but will not accept U.S. bases indefinitely

Further down in the article, it states,

Iraq has asked the Security Council to extend the mandate for what it says will be a final year to the end of 2008, and conditions for U.S. troops to stay on beyond that date are to be negotiated in the next few months.

With the great success of The Surge thus far and longterm deployment of US forces in Iraq to be set early next year, it will be interesting to say the least how campaigns shape up in the run up to November presidential elections.

Democratic leadership is notably been on the record of not supporting the Iraqi war or a continual presence of US force in Iraq. However, by the time any Democrat takes office (if that happens), conditions will already be established for a decade long presence in Iraq.

How will the Democratic candidate for President explain this fact to his/her anti-war base? This election cycle will be fun to watch as we get into the middle of next year.