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Ramadi Is Only Part of the Problem with Iraq

(Defense One) Anthony H. Cordesman - The U.S. urgently needs far more realism in shaping its military efforts. The U.S. cannot focus on the Islamic State as if Iraq and Syria were not failed states with far deeper problems. The Iraqi defeat at Ramadi is a warning, but no more of a warning than the supposed Iraqi "victory" at Tikrit last month. Tikrit was a defeat because it was fought by an Iraqi Army that had to rely on Shiite militias. The Obama administration's limited U.S. effort did keep Americans from suffering casualties, but they also did more in Iraq to empower Iran than win support for the U.S. The Iraqi Army and Ministry of Defense are still broken, unmotivated, and incompetent. A U.S. military effort cannot work unless Abadi's government becomes strong enough to heal the gap between Arab Sunni and Arab Shiite, and limit the role of Shiite militias and Iran. Moreover, there is no solution to Iraq without a solution to Syria. The writer holds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
2015-05-21 00:00:00
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