Dec. 31, 2011 is was the deadline for U.S. forces to leave Iraq. However, according to Politico:
Defense Secretary Leon Panettasaid Iraq’s government has agreed to extend the U.S. military presence in the country beyond 2011...
However:
...Iraq quickly rejected the claim.
Oh, well then.
Hang on, here comes another pesky "however":
Panetta said the Pentagon has already begun planning for the continued presence in Iraq.
Hunky dory, spiffy, swell, A-OK, weee! Because what we really need to do is spend, you know, more money over there, because we're doing so well, you know, over here.
Uh-oh, I feel another "however" coming on:
Panetta also said, according to the official transcript, that the Pentagon will abide by President Barack Obama’s pledge to end U.S. military operations in Iraq.
However...
The post Leon Panetta: U.S. forces to stay in Iraq into 2012; "Iraq quickly rejected the claim." appeared first on The Political Carnival.