Did I hear right? Is the US no longer training troops in Iraq?

[mistertrickster]

I thought I heard that from on the Moyer's specials.

Anybody else heard this and/or got a link?

[babylonsister]

1. You heard right:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070422/NEWS07/704220606/1009

U.S. plan backs off training of Iraqis
Policy shift entrusts security to American troop buildup

April 22, 2007

BY NANCY A. YOUSSEF

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON -- Military planners have abandoned the idea that training Iraqi troops will enable U.S. troops to start coming home and now say American forces will have to defeat the insurgents and secure control of troubled provinces.

Training Iraqi troops, which had been the cornerstone of the Bush administration's Iraq policy since 2005, has dropped in priority, officials in Baghdad and Washington said.

No change has been announced, and a Pentagon spokesman, Col. Gary Keck, said training Iraqis remains important.

"We are just adding another leg to our mission," Keck said, referring to the greater U.S. role in establishing security that new troops arriving in Iraq are to undertake.

more...

[grytpype]

2. No, not exactly.

We're still training them, but now the military is admitting they won't be able to take over security duties so we will keep having to fight the bad guys ourselves.

[mistertrickster]

3. Ah ha! THANKS TO ALL. We're still training them--we just don't think it's going to do

any good . . .

Brilliant.

[dave_p]

4. Brilliant indeed

It's a metaphor for the whole war. It goes on, but the benchmark for success is now off the table. So it just goes on. And on. I guess it's a strategy of sorts. Quagmire accomplished.