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.
easier far force iraq might military opponent serious strengths
Iraq might be a far easier opponent than its force strengths indicate. But it also is potentially a very serious military opponent indeed,
collapse far impact iraq pull quickly reasonable serious situation troops
If you pull out troops too quickly now, and you see the situation in Iraq collapse before the midterm elections, the impact is going to be far more serious than if you keep the troops in at reasonable levels.
collapse far impact iraq pull quickly reasonable serious situation troops
If you pull troops out too quickly now, and you see the situation in Iraq collapse before the midterm elections, the impact is going to be far more serious than if you keep the troops in at reasonable levels.
allow capable iraq leading minister prime question step unity
This is the first step to allow Iraq to have a unity government, but it's only a first step. The question is, will the new prime minister be capable of leading the country?
almost along creeping ethnic growing iraq loss process steady
It's almost a creeping polarization of Iraq along ethnic and sectarian lines, We see a slow, steady loss of confidence, a growing process of distrust.
breed further needs nonsense soon stop
The (United States) needs to stop issuing such nonsense as soon as possible. They have so little credibility that they can breed nothing but further distrust.
country defy nuclear stay strengthen treaty
Having a country stay in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that effectively is proceeding to defy it doesn't necessarily strengthen the treaty.
begun care focus gives impression realize
They have begun to realize that when you focus only on the U.S. it gives the impression that the U.S. doesn't care about Iraqis.
arrogance bet bump call daughters fools force lives perfectly sons speed
And to be perfectly blunt, I think only fools would bet the lives of other men's sons and daughters on their own arrogance and call this force a cakewalk or a speed bump or something that you can dismiss.
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.
himself military sees studied tactics
He has studied military tactics and counterinsurgency operations, but I don't think this is someone who sees himself as a commander. This is someone who sees himself as a stimulator.
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.
call words
I would call it a show of words.