Iraqi division over the survival of American forces after a defeat is encouraging

The United States and Iraq have recently intensified their talks to keep a section of US troops permanently in the country following the expulsion of armed militants.

Both countries want to avoid repeating what happened in 2011, when US forces withdrew from Iraq after they successfully curbed al-Qaeda's threat and reduced violence in the country. But three years after that withdrawal, the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of the march of armed militants. 
According to US officials, who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly, the United States and Iraq have yet to decide on the size and composition of the force that would remain, which could change over time. 
The two officials said no decision had yet been made on a long-term presence, and that the composition of the force to be agreed upon would be determined by the Iraqi government. 
"What is happening now is similar to what we were looking for after 2011," said James Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Iraq who is close to the issue in an interview with USA Today.
The US newspaper says it is not clear whether the United States will be able to avoid some of the political obstacles in Baghdad that have derailed the agreement to keep troops in 2011, and that Iran, which opposes the presence of US troops in the country, has strong political influence in Iraq. 
"The big problem is that if there is pressure from the Iranians to leave the United States from Iraq," Jeffrey said. 
Jeffrey, who is now an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the size of the force is likely to be less than the current strength of 5,500 US troops in Iraq. He pointed out that the task of any force that will be in Iraq in the future will be similar to what is currently done by US forces, namely, training Iraqi forces and assistance in the intelligence and reconnaissance and will not have any direct combat role.
The presence of American advisers and other means of support will help boost the Iraqi army's ability to avert a catastrophe such as the one that occurred in 2014 when gunmen stormed Mosul, cities and other villages as many Iraqi soldiers pulled out of their positions. 
Since then, US-backed Iraqi forces have managed to break a tight grip on the occupied territories and have managed to expel the militants and the rest of them have fled to the desert areas bordering Syria. 
"Despite these successes, our battle is not over yet, even after the breakdown of the organization's succession, both physically and structurally, the organization remains a threat to stability in the newly liberated areas and also a threat to our countries," US Defense Secretary Jim Mats said last month. 
He may not be able to occupy territory yet, but he can create terrorism through bombings in Iraq or by planning and inciting attacks around the world.
The Iraqi government is aware of this threat and believes that further assistance is needed from the US-led coalition. Prime Minister Haider al-Abbadi declared the final victory over a preacher earlier this month but said terrorism was still considered a "continuing enemy." 
"I think we have to prepare ourselves to be prepared to commit ourselves to a long-term presence in Iraq to strengthen our partner's ability to face any threat," General Paul Funk told USA Today in October. 
In 2011, it was not possible to reach an agreement to keep part of the US troops because of the problem of securing legal protection for US forces not to be held accountable for any crime resulting from the use of their military power. The Iraqi government then rejected the deal because of political opposition to the principle of a long-term US presence.
At present, US and Iraqi officials hope to avoid a similar political hurdle. According to a US official, instead of approving a formal agreement that may require approval by the Iraqi parliament, the US military says it can operate in Iraq in accordance with the current memorandum of understanding between the two countries. 
The memo is still in force since 2014, when American advisers were deployed in Iraq to help local forces fight a coup. 
Jeffrey said any agreement to keep American advisers in Iraq would provide a brake on increasing Iranian influence in Baghdad.

Alsumaria News / Baghdad 
Newspaper "USA Today" revealed the intensive talks between Baghdad and Washington on the extension of the presence of US forces in Iraq after the rollback of "Dahesh." 

The US Today reports that the two countries want to avoid repeating the events of 2011, when US forces came out of Iraq at the time, after weakening the influence of al - Qaeda and the decline in the level of violence in the country, and after 3 years took control of the "Da'ash" terrorist in Mosul and cities Other Iraqi.

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The United States and Iraq have not yet determined the size and composition of the troops, which may change over time, the newspaper said, adding that the decision on the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq has not yet been agreed, as the Iraqi government will determine Their enumeration and final composition. 

The sources told the newspaper that the number of troops deployed in Iraq will be less than 5500 soldiers who are now there, noting that the mission of the US presence, will resemble what he is doing now, namely training and development, and contribute to the development of the capabilities of Iraqi security forces, and readiness and help control and intelligence without being dragged And to participate in direct combat.[/size]