The top US military commander in Iraq has suggested the US Air Force will continue to control Iraqi airspace beyond the 2011 deadline for the withdrawal of all US troops. On Tuesday, General Ray Odierno said Iraq won’t be able to provide its own air defenses by the time US forces are supposed to leave Iraq. Odierno’s comments follow last week’s statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that US forces could remain in Iraq beyond 2011 to provide what he called “training and support.” Odierno’s comments came as Defense Secretary Robert Gates continued an unannounced visit to Iraq. Gates discussed US arms sales to Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates: “And so, we are in the process, here in 2009, in working out the kinds of equipment we might be able to transfer to the Iraqi security forces, equipment that’s already here, as well as talking about purchases of new equipment by the Iraqis. And we basically will be guided by the requirements that they provide and that we develop in a dialogue with them.”