Iraqis: Decision on U.S. exit months away

BAGHDAD, May 10 (UPI) -- It will be months before Iraq can decide whether American troops should stay beyond their year-end deadline to exit, Iraqi politicians are saying.

The politicians said they are unable to meet the United States' request for a decision "within weeks" on whether there will be a lasting U.S. military presence, The Washington Post reported.

Any decision to extend U.S. troop presence into 2012 would need approval from the Iraqi Parliament.

"There is no certain time or certain date to decide on the U.S. military and we will not be in a hurry to take a decision," said Osama al-Nujaifi, the speaker of Parliament.

Political brinkmanship, popular unrest and mistrust among lawmakers have conspired to make a decision politically untouchable for months to come, Iraqi politicians told the Post.

A growing number of military strategists in Washington would like some continued U.S. presence in the wake of the current unrest across the Middle East.