Iraq's leaders put their nation on high alert for terror attacks over the weekend, preparing for the possibility of a spike in insurgent attacks as the U.S. military formally ends its combat mission. Iraqi security forces have been hammered with bomb attacks in the days since the final American combat troops left, prompting criticism that the Iraqi government isn't prepared to protect its people without U.S. help. President Obama, who will make an address about Iraq on Tuesday, says the U.S. will press on with its withdrawal plans regardless. But, realistically, how long will the U.S. have to maintain a significant military and civilian presence in Iraq? (Watch Obama's salute to the troops)
The U.S. military needs to stay several more years: If we pull out too abruptly the country could go "spiraling back into civil war," says Irena L. Sargsyan in the Los Angeles Times. We still have 50,000 soldiers who are scheduled to stay in Iraq until the end of 2011 — but realistically, if we want Iraq to have a shot at stability we'll have to stick around a few years longer than that.
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