Poor US: it wants to withdraw from Iraq, but the puppet government delays it

"Iraq’s long delay in finalizing its government has complicated the Obama administration’s drive to set up a small army of diplomats and contractors here after the end of the year, when the last American troops are supposed to leave.  The lack of permanent security ministers has also slowed negotiations on some critical issues, like plans to continue training the Iraqi police and to establish an office that would sell military equipment to the Iraqis.  The delay, ahead of the year-end withdrawal deadline, comes at a critical point nearly eight years after the American invasion. Although Iraqi and American leaders have pledged to end the United States military presence, the year-end deadline remains contentious."