Here Goes Nothing ...

[Schneed10]

The biggest problem: Iraqi citizens who don't support the insurgency are afraid to cooperate with American troops because if they're seen doing so in public, the Insurgents target them and kill them to discourage others from helping us. That's a dilly of a pickle, I don't know how you solve that issue.

Another major problem: fighters from Iran and Syria entering Iraq. We have to secure the borders along those countries much better. Ideally, we'd have help from the Iranian and Syrian governments. But we shouldn't count on that. We have to boost troop levels along the borders, and be much tougher about who is allowed into the country.

Another problem: Some Iraqi groups feel like they're left out of the political process in Iraq. Especially some of the militias. We have to find a role for them in the operations of the government, and they need an incentive to participate. Al-Sadr for one is willing to be a part of the diplomatic process, but he feels like he's been excluded from the table.

As far as us being able to leave, ultimately the country has to be stable enough for the current Iraqi military to feel comfortable that it can control the country. Either that, or the Iraqi military has to get strong enough to deal with the current situation in Iraq. We have to be involved in the recruiting of more Iraqi soldiers and their training. The problem is, these people are discouraged from doing so by the threat of vengeance from the insurgents.

Very tough problem. I think we'll be there for years (as we should be).