US general: 8,000 troops remain in Iraq

The U.S. military has 8,000 troops left in Iraq as it
continues its move to withdraw all troops before the end of the year, Lt. Gen.
Frank Helmick said Thursday.

Helmick, deputy commanding general of U.S. forces in Iraq,
said in a conference call from Baghdad that all troops will be out of the
country before this month ends, as planned.

{mosads}As U.S. troops leave Iraq, the question
remains how successful Iraqi security forces will be at preventing violence
from recurring, Helmick said.

“We really don’t know what’s going to happen,” Helmick said.
“We do know we have done everything we can in the time that we have been here for
the Iraqi security forces to make sure they have a credible security force to
provide for the internal security of their country.”

Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates who have attacked
President Obama for not pushing harder to keep some level of troops in Iraq
have warned that Iran will exert its influence over Iraq once U.S. troops are gone.

Helmick said the biggest challenges facing Iraqi security forces
are logistical issues between a multitude of different police agencies, their
ability to sustain forces and their ability to share intelligence.

After U.S. troops leave, the nation will continue to have an
embassy in Baghdad with 16,000 people. Helmick said the embassy will have to rely on Iraqi police
forces to keep the it secure.

“We have no option,” he said. “My gut tells me they will be
capable to do this. They’re doing it today.”

More than 10,000 U.S. troops have left the country since
Thanksgiving, when about 20,000
troops remained. The U.S. still has five bases there, Helmick said.

In addition to the troop withdrawal, Helmick said the
military is in “very good shape” getting its equipment out of the country and less than 1,000 truckloads remain.