Quote Originally Posted by TheCurmudgeon View Post

1. It would appear to me the we (both the Americans and the Iraqis) have placed the GoI in an awkward position. After the SA, culturally speaking, the GoI and its related politicians MUST be in charge. Any weakness or perceived weakness is an opening for an opponent. The appearance of power is almost more important than actually having power. Regardless of whether they want help or not, they will be very slow in asking for it (at least in any public fashion). Certainly not where it comes to security. It might have been better if the agreement took effect AFTER the fall/winter elections.

Not trying to snipe or beat a dead horse, but this line of thinking fails to separate a government from its politicians.

If we try to shape our operations and agreements to accommodate select individuals within the GoI rather than do what is necessary to support a bilateral agreement between two sovereign nations, we're pandering.

Setting the withdrawal date after the elections and drawing down our forces WITHOUT allowing for the current GoI to be tested would be a gigantic disservice to the people of Iraq. They need to see and experience what their politicians are and are not doing for them. If the people of Iraq feel that the current policies are not providing the stability they need, they have the option to voice that opinion at the polls.

To put a different spin on it, the GoI isn't a uniform entity. At some point, a plurality of ISF will be ready to do their mission without us. Do we wait until that plurality becomes a majority? Do we hold back the progress that some are making until all are at the same level? We’re doing a greater disservice in some very critical areas by staying around.