Stop training local forces in Iraq

Once again, as in previous times when the US has supported a battle against insurgencies, our political leaders are suffering from the illusion that success can be won by training local security forces. In effect we are arming different sides in a civil war.

Training or equipping these forces is not a solution. The fundamental problem with the Iraqi security forces is that they lack allegiance to the national government and the will to fight and die for a non-existent Iraqi nation.

We are giving more weapons and training to an Iraqi force of about 350,000, who fight an enemy of about 20,000. We are only increasing the level of violence.

~ William Odom, former director of the National Security Agency and Lawrence J. Korb, former assistant secretary of defense, Financial Times