Sources: Maliki okays 'surge'

BAGHDAD, Dec. 21 -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told visiting Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that he would let U.S. generals decide whether there is a need for a "surge" in U.S. troops deployed in Iraq, according to Iraqi officials with knowledge of the meeting.

In a news conference, Gates said his conversation with the Iraqi prime minister and defense minister included "no numbers. . . . We were really talking in broader terms."

Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul Qadir Muhammed Jassim later indicated general acceptance of an idea that has emerged as one of the chief options President Bush is considering as he reevaluates Iraq policy. "I did not say no to an increase in the number of U.S. troops," Qadir said in a brief interview after the meeting at Maliki's residence in the Green Zone. "If we need it, we need it."

Read the rest at the Washington Post

Related Link:
Gates: U.S. Commanders Wary of Iraq Troop Plan

Related Link:
Gates, Pace visit Iraq commanders in unannounced trip to discuss surge

Related Link:
White House, Joint Chiefs At Odds on Adding Troops

Related Link:
'Senior Administration Official': Surge may last 'year or longer'

Related Link:
Gates: Failure in Iraq Will Haunt U.S.

Related Link:
Perspective: Will Gates Shake Up the Generals?

Related Link:
Odierno takes the reins as No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq

Related Link:
Defense nominee Gates: U.S. not winning in Iraq

Related Link:
Sources: Bush ready to send up to 50,000 more troops to Iraq

Related Link:
Pentagon moving 3,500 more troops into Kuwait ahead of 'surge'

Related Link:
Bush rejects ideas of 'defeat', says aim to 'win war' -- no leaving until 'job is done'

Related Link:
U.S. to deploy 4 new combat battalions

Related Link:
2,200 more reserve force Marines heading to Anbar

Related Link:
Pentagon: 57,000 troops to deploy early next year