Iraq... An Update

The New York Times published work from the Brookings Institute discussing their take on the overall situation in Iraq (http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/1229_iraq_ohanlon.aspx).

Their overall numbers can be found here:(http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/12/29/opinion/20081229_IRAQ_GRAPHIC.html).

They have taken numbers from November's 2004, 2006 and 2008 and compared them. Oddly enough, I was here for 2 of those Novembers: 2004 and 2008.

The numbers presented only tell a part of the story.

Just remember that Operation Al Fajr (the HUGE offensive where Marines took back Fallujah the second and final time) took place in November 2004. Large scale operations were executed during that month, causing not only high numbers of incidents, but also significant displacement of people. Their first statistic that discusses only 2,650 civilian deaths from war in November 2004 is AWESOME considering all the infrastructural havoc we wreaked that month.

The numbers addressing Iraqi Security Forces and Judges.... Those they had back then had very little training and were mostly Sheik's personal security details. The ones they have now have much more training and coalition support.

In working with the IP's, they seem to be taking leaps and bounds forward in some areas and in other areas they are not doing so well.

In general, they are manning posts and attending training like they should, but in doing the details and supervising those details to effective completion, they are still struggling. Delegation is very un-natural to them. They prefer the appearance of power over its application. They prefer the appearances of authority over its responsibilities.

That is all in general of course. Specifically speaking, there are many good, solid leaders who are there for the betterment of Iraq and are consistently working to achieve it.

At this point however, I am not so sure we Americans are doing much good. If we act to make a situation better, those security forces who should be doing that appear incapable, so we are undermining those supposed to be doing the job. If we don't act, then why are we still here?

Semper Fi,
m