These Commanders always manage to wrangle MORE WAR out of the civilian government. They haven't got enough to do that they have to create and lengthen the USA government's expenditure of a military presence.
It always happens, as soon as there is a new head to the DOD or there is a change of President, the military goes into overdrive to protect its territory.
There are plenty of mercenary forces in the world that would love to continue to train Iraqi soldiers. The USA does not have to be there.
This is an outrageous demand by the military on a country that has its own problems of which the military ambitions of the past are among them!
What's the strategy? Because a military presence without a sincere purpose or strategy is unconstitutional. Being a mother-hen to a training force is bullshit.
I sincerely doubt Former Secretary Gates would allow any extension based on a training team. This is the tail waging the dog. Wasn't it the Former Secretary of Defense that said, (paraphrasing) "Any President that goes to war in the Middle East is crazy." Something like that. I doubt he would prolong any operation that was suppose to end ON SCHEDULE.
The US Military doesn't know how to keep a schedule? They CAN'T GET THE JOB done on time and BUDGET? They need to do better and they can train themselves to do better right here in the USA!
