Article

2012-02-08 Iraq

U.S. Planning to Slash Iraq Embassy Staff by Half

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Posted by Steve White 2012-02-08 08:53|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 The bottom line was that when we went in, we assumed that Iraq would be the new Germany, and HQ for AFRICOM, from where we could police the whole region, working off the Cold War model with Iran taking the place of the Soviet Union.

That idea fizzled for any number of reasons, leaving us with a white elephant. While Obama is criticized for pulling out of Iraq, the bottom line is that there is not a heck of a lot we could do there anymore, it's expensive as hell, and we've given the Iraqis every chance, so they're on their own.

They have no excuse left when they foul up.

On the plus side, they are at least taking a law and order point of view, hanging a lot of deserving scoundrels they couldn't with the US there. That in itself shows a more realistic attitude.

Their military, while unfinished, is showing great signs of being able to function on its own, and it is based on the stable US model. So if Iran gets ambitious towards them it will have the pluperfect snot kicked out of them.

Posted by Anonymoose 2012-02-08 12:15|| 2012-02-08 12:15|| Front Page Top

#2 No, the Iraq army could not 'knock the snot out' of the Iranian army right now. The Iraqi military can handle day to day security, for the most part, and do relatively straight-forward security ops.

However, they do not have the strategic abilities, planning, logistics and combat support to sustain independent, division level ops in the field. From what I've read, I don't think they can do brigade ops.

If we had stayed in Iraq for twenty years the Iraqi army would have developed along the same lines as the ROK army and have become quite capable. But we aren't there and (I believe) the Iraqis won't develop their country to do this.

Posted by Steve White 2012-02-08 15:32|| 2012-02-08 15:32|| Front Page Top

#3 Silk purses and sows' ears, Dr White.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2012-02-08 16:09|| 2012-02-08 16:09|| Front Page Top

#4 Why would the Iraqis want to "knock Iranian snot"? Most the Iraqi leadership took refuge in Iran, are their coreligionists and received their training from Iran. Suck Iranian snot, maybe.

BTW, I submitted this article yesterday.

Posted by Shimble Guelph5793 2012-02-08 16:19|| 2012-02-08 16:19|| Front Page Top

#5 BTW, I submitted this article yesterday.

Yes, very late in the day.

Apologies on behalf of the staff that it wasn't carried over.

Posted by Pappy 2012-02-08 18:23|| 2012-02-08 18:23|| Front Page Top

#6 As a general principle, if you submit an article after about 3pm ET, please set the date to the next day and the time to 00:00. That way it will be included in the rollover, and get maximum reader exposure.

Posted by trailing wife 2012-02-08 19:05|| 2012-02-08 19:05|| Front Page Top

#7 I'd expect no less from trying to help any Islamic country: greed, impatience, corruption, incompetence, lies, and blame.

Posted by Fat Bob Unotch3711 2012-02-08 19:34|| 2012-02-08 19:34|| Front Page Top

#8 "greed, impatience, corruption, incompetence, lies, and blame"

Sounds like Washington, Bob. :-(

Posted by Barbara 2012-02-08 19:36|| 2012-02-08 19:36|| Front Page Top

#9 Apologies on behalf of the staff that it wasn't carried over.

No need. I thought it may have been sink trapped due to an acerbic comment.

Posted by Shimble Guelph5793 2012-02-08 19:42|| 2012-02-08 19:42|| Front Page Top

#10 I thought it may have been sink trapped due to an acerbic comment.

Oh my dainty ears!

Posted by gorb 2012-02-08 22:12|| 2012-02-08 22:12|| Front Page Top

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