U.S. official says Iraq can defend itself

By Oren Dorell, USA TODAY

A spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq told USA TODAY Tuesday that Iraqi forces can defend their country from an insurgency in spite of two days of violence that has some military experts calling on U.S. troops to remain beyond a Dec. 31 withdrawal deadline.

Speaking to USA TODAY's Editorial Board, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said horrific insurgent terrorist attacks this week will not threaten the Iraqi government.

"I think the Iraqi government understands the threat that both al-Qaeda poses and that these militant groups pose and has the ability to defeat them," Buchanan said. "Defeating any of those is going to take consistent pressure on all parts of their networks for a long time."

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