Iraqi sees need for U.S. military until 2018

From Yahoo.

Iraq's defense minister said on Monday his country would need foreign military help to defend its borders for another 10 years and would not be able to maintain internal security until 2012. Abdul Qadir's remarks, in an interview with The New York Times posted on the newspaper's Internet site, could become an issue in the U.S. presidential campaign. "According to our calculations and our timelines, we think that from the first quarter of 2009 until 2012 we will be able to take full control of the internal affairs of the country," Qadir said. "In regard to the borders, regarding protection from any external threats, our calculation appears that we are not going to be able to answer to any external threats until 2018 to 2020," he said.

Note, he did not say that the large contingent of American Forces will be needed until 2018 to subdue an Al Qaeda threat although this is what will be reported in the MSM.

He stated that in the first quarter of 2009 (around the time a new president being sworn in) Iraqis will be in full control of internal affairs; however, they will need help with external threats until 2018 to 2020 and is currently in the U.S. seeking U.S. Military hardware and weapons to ensure his country's Soldiers have the best equipment money can buy.

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