As a Footnote to that, don't worry: Remember that even if talks get started, our lovely little war against Daesh* in Syria and Iraq will continue unabated so we won't miss out on much fun.In point of fact, the US has been building up its military forces in Iraq; between January 2015 and January 2016, the number of soldiers went from 2300 to 3700, an increase of some 60 percent.
Equally significant, the number of private forces, operating under contract to the Pentagon, went from 250 a year ago to over 2000 now, an eight-fold increase. Such contractors may not be performing what are called "security" duties; most of them are likely performing logistical duties such as construction, administration, and transportation.
The double point, however, is that they their presence would ease the way for a rapid return of a large number of US troops in Iraq since an administrative and supply network would already be in place and that by performing duties that earlier would have been done by soldiers, they make the US military footprint in Iraq look smaller than it is.
I said it before, I'll say it again: Watch this space.
*Daesh is another name for ISIS, derived from the sound of the Arabic letters for the name. Supposedly, ISIS hates the name Daesh, which for me is reason enough to use it.
Sources cited in links:
http://www.care2.com/causes/u-s-backed-military-contractors-are-returning-to-iraq-in-droves.html
http://www.acq.osd.mil/log/PS/.CENTCOM_reports.html/5A_January_2016_Final.pdf
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