So. We can send our 18 year olds to boot camp. They can finish

[Horse with no Name]

in 13 weeks. This is for the Marines. Toughest boot camp out there.
Once they are out of boot camp--they are given a gun and assigned a post. Many are shipped to Iraq right off the bat.
Why the hell have we not been able to train Iraqi soldiers in the length of time we have been there?
We have the training down to an art form.
Just one of the many things that do not make sense.

[uppityperson]

1. "we" don't want to

[Horse with no Name]

3. But why?

Perhaps because we haven't secured the oil yet?
Perhaps because THAT is what the insurgency seeks to defend from the occupiers?

[uppityperson]

7. because (Halliburton) has not made enough $$ off the war machine, because

bushites haven't secured the oil yet. Indeed.

[QuestionAll...]

9. perhaps because the cull program is working just fine?

weaken the military, weaken everyone in whatever manner they may be.

[Big Kahuna]

2. Iraqis are less susceptible to brainwashing apparently.

Go figure.

[razors edge]

4. concidering the fact that at least two weeks

of training was on customs, courtesy and history, something totally of no use at this point in time for Iraqi troops, boot should be even shorter. not to mention the on the job training they arrive with.

[Glorfindel]

5. Just a thought, but maybe a severe shortage of Arabic-speaking trainers?

How many American NCO's are fluent enough in Arabic to train Iraqis to be soldiers? How many translators are there who can be trusted enough to convey accurately the instructions given, instead of saying something like, "This filthy American pig wants you to do 50 push-ups"?

[Eric J in MN]

6. Suppose the US were occupied by Chinese troops.

How would you feel about Americans trained to be soldiers/policemen by the Chinese?

[heidler1]

8. The American Indians did not scout against their own tribes.

The US does not trust the Sunnis. The US does not trust the Sh ia Modie militia army under Sader. These people do not trust each other. IMO the Kurds don't want any part of joining up. Those who do join act like it's a part time job.

[twilight_sailing]

10. They don't want to shoot their own countrymen.

Neither would you.

If another country did to us what we have done to Iraq, would you join their occupation army and support the puppet government? Or would you fight for the freedom of the USA? What would you think about those who supported (with force) our occupiers?

[GreenZoneLT]

11. Because it's a totally different culture

It's a lot easier to train a boot and integrate him into an existing military than it is to create a military from scratch. The officer corps of the old Iraqi Army were all Baathists, and huge numbers joined the insurgency. Same with many of the senior non-coms. Without NCOs and officers, boots are pretty much useless.