U.S. top military officer arrives in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military official, arrived in Baghdad on Monday in a surprise visit to Iraq, according to AFP. The U.S. officer will visit with American troops involved in the advise-and-assist effort in Iraq. Almost 50,000 U.S. service members are training the Iraqi military and police as part of Operation New Dawn. The Iraqi security forces are in the lead for security in the nation. The U.S. military has an agreement with the Iraqi government to leave by the end of 2011. However, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he is open to the idea of keeping troops in Iraq past that deadline if Iraq asks for it. SH (P) 1