Iran's support will be vital to the survival of an Iraqi government facing a long term Sunni attrition ...

"....  military experts warn, next year Iraq will lack critical defense capacities: It will be unable to defend its airspace or borders, protect oil shipments or platforms in the Persian Gulf, or partner with U.S. special forces in raids against al-Qaeda. Perhaps most seriously, American soldiers who have been serving as de facto peacekeepers in the city of Kirkuk and along the sensitive border zone between Iraqi Kurdistan and the rest of the country will disappear. Many experts believe that in their absence violence could erupt between Kurds and Arabs..... 

 

After the thousands of American lives lost and billions spent, it would be tragic if Iraq collapsed again into war or fell prey to Iran or other neighbors because of a security vacuum created by the U.S. withdrawal. Officials say that the White House has not ruled out the negotiation of a follow-on military presence. But the administration’s position is that any such proposal must come from the Iraqi government........... that doesn’t look likely. While many Iraqis, especially in Kurdistan, favor a continued U.S. presence, not many are ready to argue for it publicly. Meanwhile, Iran’s allies, led by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, vehemently oppose any extension. At present, Iraq lacks a defense minister or a national security adviser to make the case for the country’s needs — Mr. Maliki has failed to make appointments to those jobs since forming his government late last year..."