(pssst... As long as Larry thinks things are going well in Iraq, then great for him. As long as we're "winning" then the US doesn't need to be there. Especially if he thinks we're double-plus winning with standing up the Iraqi "army".
But out here in the reality-based community, there are some problems. A report by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction is noting some, uh, little, uh, issues with the Iraqi army. Oh, little stuff like:
"continuing uncertainties about the true number of assigned and trained Iraqi personnel who are present for duty at any one time"
"A substantial number of personnel still on the payroll are not available for duty for various reasons, such as being on-leave, absent without leave, injured, or killed." (Enh, so what if we're still paying people after they've deserted or are dead. At least we're counting them!)
The shortage of officers and noncommissioned officers in the Iraqi security forces remains a significant long-term shortfall that could take a decade to address.
There is a recognized need for additional Iraqi security forces by 2010 to field a counterinsurgency force capable of protecting the country against internal threats and insurgency.
Iraqi forces still rely on substantial logistical support of coalition forces.
Since 2003 Congress has appropriated more than $20 billion for the development of Iraqi security forces. (Not that's results for our money!)
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/08-015.pdf
Remember - shhhhh! We're "winning"!)
Propaganda and you
About two weeks ago the Iraqi army (Shiite) launched their attack on the unlawful (Shiite) militias in Basra. All the news coverage in the U.S. was extremely negative and we were regaled with tales of the doom and defeat of the Iraqi army. Now it's the Shiite militias that are defeated, and the Iraqi army is in control of Basra. How'd that happen? The media said it had gone the other way. Maybe they were getting their battlefield reports from tomdarch. In addition the Sunni groups that had been boycotting participation in the elected government have now returned, at least in part, because the Shiite majority government demonstrated it's commitment to the rule of law with the crackdown on the Shiite militias. Still tomdarch screams, ALL IS LOST, RUN AWAY, KEEP RUNNING!
I swear, you'd think the guy was on the insurgent's payroll.
I swear, you'd think the guy was on the insurgent's payroll.