Willing; but Not Really

Friends,
How does the Iraqi Army feel about it's own strength? More time, more money, more excuses.
After over four thousand United States soldiers deaths and billions of dollars in United States aid; what the Iraqi's now want is more time, more U.S. deaths, more U.S. money?
We must remove ourselves from this quagmire, even if it is of our own (Bush's) making. There are not enough lives or money to fund this illicit and illegal war. Bring our troops home! Now!

Peace and Love,
Rev O

Iraqi Army Is Willing, but Not Ready, to Fight, New York Times
"While Americans and Iraqi civilians alike are increasingly eager to see combat operations turned over to the Iraqi Army, interviews with more than a dozen Iraqi soldiers and officers in Diyala Province, at the outset of a large-scale operation against insurgents led by Iraqis but backed by Americans, reveal a military confident of its progress but unsure of its readiness.

The army has made huge leaps forward, most of the soldiers agreed, and can hold its own in battles with the insurgency with little or no American support. But almost all said the time when the Iraqi Army can stand alone as a national defense force is still years away.

“The army needs more time.”

While the infantry is strong enough, Iraq needs viable artillery units, armored divisions, air force support and more reliable battlefield equipment, the officers said, plus the training all that requires. The soldiers and officers are for the most part zealously patriotic, but their zeal is tempered by the knowledge that they are the ones who may face the armies of neighboring countries, like Iran, after American combat forces withdraw.

"We need the coalition forces until 2015.”

"I’ve asked them what their mission is, and they don’t know,” U.S. Army Major Lauer said.

“Believe me,” he said. “There will be a big disaster, said Colonel Mahumoud.”

Iraqi Army Is Willing, but Not Ready, to Fight
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON, New York Times