The U.S. is officially committed to withdrawing all its troops from Iraq by the year’s end. But the White House is quietly offering to keep in Iraq up to 10,000 of the 46,000 troops now stationed there, U.S. military officials and diplomats in Baghdad tell The Associated Press. The policy shift would require a formal request by Iraq’s government, which is no sure thing and not expected to be decided until September. Should Baghdad request U.S. troops stay, Obama’s okay could open him up to criticism from fellow Democrats just as he’s ramping up his re-election bid.
