WASHINGTON (AP) Nearly two years after the U.S. military left the country, Iraq is now asking for more American weapons, training and manpower to fight a bloody resurgence of al-Qaida.
Violence in Iraq has risen in recent months to levels comparable to the darkest days of the nation's civil war.
Iraq's request will be discussed during a White House meeting Friday between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Barack Obama.
Officials say al-Maliki is expected to ask for new assistance to bolster Iraq's military and battle al-Qaida.
That could be speeding up the delivery of U.S. weapons and improving national intelligence systems. Iraqi officials have not ruled out asking the U.S. to send military special forces or additional CIA advisers to help train and assist counterterror troops.
