US in Iraq till 2016?

US in Iraq till 2016?

 

So, I've been asked quite a bit about how long the US will be in Iraq.  As a contractor I truly am at the bottom of the information totem pole.  In more ways than one, the best source of what is happening here in Iraq is the news.  Still I've been doing a private poll of coworkers (civ and mil) here and anyone who'll venture an opinion on this topic.  Frankly I'd be willing to bet that a counter part of such existed in South Korea about 50 years ago when the 'truce' then was announced (yea, how'd that turn out?)

Any way, I've certainly talked to several people who 'know' what's going on (Commanders and high ranking, planning type civilians here).  Long story short, when posed the question 'Will Balad Air Base and the maintenance mission that I support be here after December 2011' the opinion seems to be about 50-50.  Now it might be a few months or a year (or two or 50) after December 2011.  I just find it interesting that the consensus seems to be 50-50.  And honestly, some of these guys really should know but I don't think the Army knows because the Government doesn't really know because there is no prevailing opinion on the part of the American or Iraqi public as to what will happen come December 2011.  So...we'll see.

R/Chris