But will the US leave?

The Christian Science Monitor reports:

US troops in Iraq: US, Maliki weigh possible extension

CSM reports (May 17^th): On paper, the future of the US military in Iraq is clear-cut. US and Iraqi officials say there are no plans and no negotiations to extend the troop presence here past the agreed Dec. 31 deadline – a major political priority in both Washington and Baghdad. But faced with that rapidly approaching date in a newly volatile Middle East, the US, at least, seems to be having second thoughts.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has expressed an openness to keeping a US military presence in Iraq past December.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on May 11 that he was open to an extended US stay if there was enough backing from Iraqis.

The US plans a large civilian presence in Iraq regardless of whether US forces stay. USAmbassador Jim Jeffrey recently told reporters that the US embassy here, already the biggest in the world, plans to double in size next year to about 16,000 people. 

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0517/US-troops-in-Iraq-US-Maliki-weigh-possible-extension

There's little chance of Iraqis wanting the Us forces to stay, if this report is typical: 

Iraqis Overjoyed at Withdrawal of US Forces from Karbala

FNA reports (May 16^th): The Iraqi people in the holy city of Karbala expressed overwhelming joy as they celebrated withdrawal of the United States' occupying forces from their Southern province.

Amaleddin al-Hor, the governor of Karbala described the day as "a national and historic event", and told FNA, "It is a great honor for the people in Karbala province that their province is named as the first clean province in Iraq." 
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9002260668

But reports like this may be promoting a different agenda:

US troops face increasing dangers in southern Iraq

AP report (May 17^th): American forces are facing an increasingly dangerous environment in southern Iraq, where Shiite militias trying to claim they are driving out the U.S. occupiers have stepped up attacks against bases and troops.

The uptick in violence serves as a warning about what American forces could face if U.S. and Iraqi officials come to an agreement about keeping more U.S. troops in the country past Dec. 31.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110517/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_troop_dangers

And of course, as official forces withdraw, there is plenty of scope for corporate contractors:

As U.S. military exits Iraq, contractors set to enter

NPR reports (May 17^th): A U.S. Army helicopter brigade is set to pull out of Baghdad in December, as part of an agreement with the Iraqi government to remove U.S. forces. So the armed helicopters flying over the Iraqi capital next year will have pilots and machine gunners from DynCorp International, a company based in Virginia.

On the ground, it's the same story. American soldiers and Marines will leave. Those replacing them, right down to carrying assault weapons, will come from places with names like Aegis Defence Services and Global Strategies Group — eight companies in all.

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/17/136357821/as-u-s-military-exits-iraq-contractors-to-enter