We have enough troops in Iraq? Is that why we have one Bn covering 380 miles of the Syrian border. If as you say we have enough then a serious look at force laydown needs to be done. So start flaming away on me but hurry up as I leave for the 3rd time.
In the north and in the south life has vastly improved. As well as we have finally done what Saddam did and moved in troops from other tribal areas to the sunni regions. They are rough but getting better, if only they would shi+ in the heads and not on the ground where ever they please.
But hey, Arab solutions to Arab problems.
Not me.
You're the guy (or gal) I'll want to pay attention to . . . even if I don't agree or don't think you have it right, because I might come to agree because you do have it right.
The border area is a huge expanse of desert. At the same time there are traditional, well identified routes of travel through that desert.
The best way to deal with a desert border area is with airpower backed up with intense surveillance.