伊拉克最高级别的军事官员巴巴基尔·扎巴里中将表示，美国应该让美军在伊拉克留到2020年。
扎巴里中将星期三在巴格达举行的一个防务会议上说，伊拉克军队还需要10年的时间才有能力确保伊拉克的安全。
白宫发言人吉布斯星期三说，美国正按计划在八月底结束它在伊拉克的战斗使命。他说，奥巴马总统对伊拉克军队有能力接管安保任务表示满意。
5万名美国士兵仍会作为过渡军队留在伊拉克。奥巴马制订了在2011年底全部撤出驻伊拉克美军的目标。
Iraq's most senior military officer says the United States should leave its troops in Iraq until 2020.
Lieutenant General Babakir Zebari told a defense conference in Baghdad Wednesday that it will be another 10 years before the Iraqi army will be able to ensure the country's security.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that the United States is on track to end its combat mission in Iraq at the end of the month as planned. He said President Barack Obama is satisfied that the Iraqi military will be able to take over security operations.
Fifty-thousand U.S. troops will remain in Iraq to serve as a transitional force. Mr. Obama has set a goal of removing all U.S. troops in Iraq by the end of 2011.
