Anthony Cordesman
Anthony Cordesman
Anthony H. Cordesmanholds the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studiesand is a national security analyst on a number of global conflicts...
battalions broader essential iraqi leave line next situation troops
It's an essential part of the broader strategy. But you won't have a situation where Iraqi battalions come on line and U.S. troops leave the next week.
along concerns ethnic fall large lines ways
It's going to be 'Let's Make a Deal. The important thing in some ways was that there was a large vote. The concerns that it would fall along ethnic and sectarian lines were validated.
cripple largely
This was a largely punitive operation. It did not cripple any of Saddam's capabilities.
army create dependent iraqi plan roughly strategy success three
We did not plan three years ago to create more than token Iraqi forces. Now we're at 230,000 roughly and counting. Our whole strategy is dependent on the success of the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police.
deal specific
Everything I know about counterterrorism is, you deal with specific cells.
acceptance additional best clearly constitution months outcome prelude start vote wins
Even if the constitution clearly wins acceptance by most Shiites and Kurds and some Sunnis, this is only the start of a process, not the end. Even the best outcome of the vote is the prelude to months and years of additional effort.
call words
I would call it a show of words.
airport green level obviously overall secure security stop
On a day-to-day basis, the overall level of security is obviously low. We can't secure the airport road, can't stop the incoming into the Green Zone, can't stop the killings and kidnappings,
highlights lack obviously support time
Obviously every time you get a weakening of the coalition, it highlights the lack of international support for the U.S. mission.
chosen develop military mission obligation serve serving soldiers trained tremendous
Serving soldiers develop a tremendous sense of obligation to their comrades, and are trained to see the mission through. They know the military and the risk, and they have already chosen to serve their country.
climate create exercises gradually outline people problem speeches trust
The problem with the speeches is they get gradually more realistic, but they are still exercises in spin. They don't outline the risks. They don't create a climate where people trust what's being said.
almost certain coalition efforts forces growing inclusive iraqi reach reality
The reality is that if the Shi'ites and Kurds can be inclusive and if they can reach a settlement with most of the Iraqi Sunnis, then the efforts of U.S. and coalition forces and the growing Iraqi forces are almost certain to be successful,
issue large
The real issue is that they have a very large booster under development.
achieve mean potential states technical
That doesn't mean the potential should be minimized. We know these states can achieve technical surprise.