Iraq-us War, Iraq Troop Withdrawal | featured news

The top American military commander in Iraq on Monday praised the Iraqi military’s performance during Sunday’s parliamentary election.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki may ask the U.S. to extend deadlines for withdrawing troops, depending on the security situation in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited as Baghdad was reeling from bombings and U.S. forces are beginning to prepare for withdrawals this spring.

Move to curtail movement of U.S. forces is new reading of security agreement that startles American commanders, raises security concerns.

President Barack Obama said on Saturday Iraq faced difficult days ahead after taking control of its towns and cities from U.S. forces but he pledged to remain a strong partner on behalf of the country's security and prosperity.

Tuesday marks the long-anticipated deadline for American troops to pull out of Iraqi towns and cities, but on Monday, there will be no long lines of tanks rolling out of Baghdad or thousands of troops marching out of other cities.

At least seven bombs exploded around the country Thursday amid a up-tick in violence as American troops prepare to withdraw from Iraqi cities on June 30.

The Pentagon is prepared to leave fighting forces in Iraq for as long as a decade despite an agreement between the United States and Iraq that would bring all American troops home by 2012, the top U.S. Army officer said Tuesday.

Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, said Sunday he believes U.S. troops will be out of the country by the end of 2011.

The United States' top military officer said on Sunday he was "comfortable" with President Barack Obama's plan to end U.S. combat operations in Iraq in 18 months.