Commanding General of U.S. forces in Iraq Gen. Lloyd Austin: No respite in sight for Iraq even after US withdrawal; France will buy the new Airbus A330 MRTT tanker aircraft from 2013
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    • According to reports, Iraq's security situation is likely to be "turbulent" as U.S. forces depart, with Al-Qaida among the groups that will seek to take advantage, Commanding General of U.S. forces in Iraq General Lloyd Austin said on Monday. He stated at a roundtable in Baghdad, "I think as we leave, you can expect to see some turbulence in security initially, and that's because you'll see various elements try to increase their freedom of movement and freedom of action,". General Austin further noted, "Al-Qaida will be one of those elements…We expect that al-Qaida will continue to do what it has done in the past," he said, referring specifically to the situation in northern Iraq. Austin also pointed to Iranian-backed militias as a threat to stability. "When you look at the environment in the south, we've seen activity over the last several months that are from the Iranian-backed militants," he said. "We expect that that type of activity could possibly continue into the future…We really intend to remain engaged with Iraq…There's likely to be some setbacks, some tough days ahead, but I am very hopeful that we'll stay on course." Earlier on October 21, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that U.S. troops would depart Iraq by year's end. General Austin noted that that there are less than 20,000 U.S. soldiers left in Iraq, while eight military bases remain to be handed over. 1
    Meanwhile, according to reports, French air force chief General Jean-Paul Palomeros was quoted as saying by an aviation website that France will buy the new Airbus A330 MRTT tanker aircraft from 2013. But he added that the Telemos unmanned drone being developed by France and Britain would not enter service until 2020. Palomeros said France's missions during the NATO-led action in Libya had demonstrated the need to replace its fleet of 14 Boeing KC-135s for in-flight refueling. 2

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