Institutionalized Failure in Iraq

The Security Pact signed between the U.S. and Iraq reversed the positive momentum and gains achieved during 2007-8. Press releases by U.S. forces in Iraq are overly optimistic and conflict with the recent Congressional testimony of GEN Odierno. In late September he stated the following:

Since 2006, we have systemically decreased the number of foreign fighters entering Iraq and significantly reduced al Qaeda in Iraq to a small ideological core that recruits disenfranchised Iraqis and criminals. In the north, AQI and some remnants of Sunni insurgent groups continue in their attempt to reestablish a foothold with the objective of expanding back into Anbar and Baghdad.

Taking a sample of MNF-I press releases from October 1st to October 24th U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested 125 al Qaeda in Iraq members. If 125 arrests have demonstrably no impact on a "a small ideological core that recruits disenfranchised Iraqis and criminals" it is time to reevaluate our current strategy.

The biggest mistake the U.S. can continue to make is to back a dictatorial and sectarian regime. The current Iraqi government continues to blame every security incident on the defunct Baath Party and al Qaeda in Iraq. Apparently, the Shiite-dominated government is one of the few remaining groups in the world linking Saddam Hussein's regime to al Qaeda. A foreign force conducting population-centric COIN can only serve as a buffer between a government and its people. Only the host nation government can truly reconcile with its people, something a Maliki government is unwilling to do.

MNF-I Press Releases Referenced:

http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28323&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28417&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28396&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28388&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28364&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28363&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28358&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28331&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28332&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28322&Itemid=132
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28332&Itemid=21
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28324&Itemid=21
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28323&Itemid=21
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28322&Itemid=21
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28299&Itemid=21
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28266&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28272&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28253&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28245&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28204&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28190&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28197&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28201&Itemid=128
http://www.cjtf7.army.mil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28157&Itemid=128
http://www.mnfi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28144&Itemid=21