Statements on prolonged troop presence were misunderstood

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An official spokesperson for the Iraqi government on Monday said that his statements about the U.S. troop presence in the country for another 10 years were “misunderstood.” On Thursday, Spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters in Washington that Iraq might need a U.S. military presence for another 10 years, arguing that Iraqi forces will not be ready to take over the country’s security affairs within three years. In response to the statements, an official cabinet source on Friday said that al-Dabbagh had expressed his own point of view, ruling out the government’s intention to establish a regional partnership. SS (P) 1