Gen. Odierno Became Agitated By Reporter's Questions During A Press Conference!

Even though U.S. troops are pulling out,some are staying behind to assist Iraqi security forces. Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters during a press conference that "a small number" of troops would remain. He became visibly agitated when reporters kept pressing him for the exact number of U.S. forces who would remain in Iraq.

Here's more from The Washington Times:

"U.S. troop levels hit a peak of more than 160,000 in 2008, are now at just over 130,000, and are likely headed down to 120,000 by December, said Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of U.S. troops in Iraq. When U.S. combat missions cease in August 2010, he said, the plan is to have a "residual force" of 50,000 troops, with the goal of a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.

White House and military officials said the rash of recent attacks - which included the death of four U.S. soldiers just outside Baghdad on Monday night, bringing the total number of U.S. military deaths since 2003 to 4,321 - does not erase the gains they've made and have not yet threatened the stability achieved in Iraq.

"There is not widespread violence here in Iraq," Gen. Odierno said during a press conference. "The problem with June is, over the last 10 days we've had a couple high-profile attacks, so ... that changes it a little bit. But if you compare it back to the dark days of 2006 and '07, there's no comparison."

He said that the attack in Kirkuk, which followed a June 20 bombing in the same area that killed 82 people, bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda in Iraq, an offshoot of the terrorist group that carried out the 9/11 attacks.

Denis McDonough, a top national security adviser to Mr. Obama, said, "As disconcerting as these attacks are, the trend lines are all quite good over the course of the last several years.

"We see the Iraqis stepping up to take charge," he said.

Mr. Obama said he was confident that insurgent, militia and terrorist groups would fail, and added that the transition of U.S. troops was "proof that those who have tried to pull Iraq into the abyss of disunion and civil war are on the wrong side of history."

Gen. Odierno said a "small number of U.S. forces will remain in cities to train, advise, coordinate with Iraqi security forces," but he grew frustrated when reporters tried unsuccessfully to pry a specific number out of him. He later apologized."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the article in its entirety here.