...Four Years Later

AlaskaMagnum · 02-26-2006, 04:27 AM

CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/24/iraq.secu...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded to a level requiring them to fight with American troops backing them up, the Pentagon said Friday.

The battalion, made up of 700 to 800 Iraqi Army soldiers, has repeatedly been offered by the U.S. as an example of the growing independence of the Iraqi military.

The competence of the Iraqi military has been cited as a key factor in when U.S. troops will be able to return home.

"As we see more of these Iraqi forces in the lead, we will be able to continue with our stated strategy that says as Iraqi forces stand up, we will stand down," President Bush said last month.

kevin1 · 02-26-2006, 09:09 AM

I figure it will be 10-20 years at least before Iraq is capable of fielding an effective army , and only if they don't implode under the weight of their religious differences first .

James B · 02-26-2006, 04:47 PM

I would expect it to take 6-10 years. These things don't just happen over night.

FroMan · 02-26-2006, 06:24 PM

At the beginning of it all, I would've agreed with yall. Now, I've formulated a theory...and it's dim.

You cannot have a republic or a representative democracy in a country that is Islamic. So...I'm gonna go with the "it will never happen."

You guys can call me on it if I'm wrong...just do a search for this thread about 10 years from now.

gobbler afflicted · 02-26-2006, 10:43 PM

I completely agree Fro!!!

cameronmclain · 02-26-2006, 10:52 PM

I wonder how long it would take us to field an effective army after being under a dictatorship? If I was a new soldier in a new army, and the best soldiers in the world were training me and were on my side- I would want their backup too!

But I digress- I think it will be a long time before they're able to stand on their own.

North Texan · 02-26-2006, 11:29 PM

I think one of their problems is the two religion system. There are really only two choices, Shiite or Sunni. Without a viable third religion, people are stuck having to support one religion or the other. Both religions claim to be fundamentally different, but are they really? Or are they both so extreme they have left moderates in the middle trying to worship the lessor of two evils?