[Restorer]

Mr. Buckley’s second postulate assumes that Americans would succeed in training Iraqi soldiers to handle insurgents bent on violence. He followed this by saying that this did not happen. His conclusion is absolutely false.

I believe Mr. Buckly was referencing the many reports that Iraqi police and military did not interfere with, and apparently sometimes participated in, Shia attacks on Sunnis and their mosques.

This is a giant problem that cannot be dismissed by simply saying he is wrong.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Unless you know from observation, as the Colonel does, that Mr. Buckley is wrong...

Also, Buckley "empical" evidence is base on "not so" credible sources.

[Coop]

This is a giant problem that cannot be dismissed by simply saying he is wrong.

Nor can the stunning success of the Iraqi military and police be dismissed by you or Mr. Buckley simply saying "They've failed."

[McGavin999]

This is a giant problem that cannot be dismissed by simply saying he is wrong.

No doubt there are some members of the militias who have made their way into the military and police, but they are being weeded out. Those who stood by and did nothing during the dust up will be called to task. I think the upshot of this is that a secular minister will be appointed to Dept of Interior and that will be quickly brought under control. That has been helped by Sistani asking the tribes to protect the shrines, a duty the so called militias were formed to do. That is the first step to disbanding the Shiia militias.