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Current Events » in reply to A prediction, based on history.

re: A prediction, based on history.

As of June 27 2007 Iraq has 353,100 Iraqi security forces

Back in June 28 2006 Iraq had 268,400 Iraqi security forces.

Ref: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rpt/

According to http://www.icasualties.org/oif/
Total deaths:
U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3595
And
ISF total deaths have been: 7146

So twice as many Iraqis security forces have died fighting on same side as the Coalition as America soldiers have died.

We could argue about how well the ISF fight and how dependable they are. But it seems fair to say that ISF are a more capable fighting force both in terms of quality and in terms of sheer numbers than they were year ago. And it seems like a reasonable guess that ISF will improve as fighting force in the coming years.
One could also say the US forces in Iraq have improved since arriving in Iraq in 2003- they might not improved as much as ISF did [because with the ISF there was and still is a lot room for improvement].

Now as for what Yeti says:
"I also think we can't leave, and should send in however many troops it takes- enacting a draft if we have to."

Now if we drafted a lot Americans, what you would get is a lot of green soldiers. And these soldiers probably would not be as well trained as the average US forces that first entered Iraq in 2003. But more importantly, the problem regarding Iraq has always concerning the costs of the war in terms dollar amount. How does drafting people solve this problem in terms of costs- is there any significant hope the draft will lower costs? Or more importantly is there any realistic hope that by forcing Americans to join the military that this will improve the political support needed to fund this war?

Now, if you wanted to draft Iraqis I can see some benefit, but maybe a better solution would to simply have ISFs get more money and could more be more selective [have higher standards]. If you offered Iraqis 1/10th the amount money you would have pay an American to be drafted, you probably cause riots with Iraqis wanting to enlist- but I don't believe even at the rate they are presently being paid that there is a shortage of Iraqis willing to enlist. So, say 20% increase with promise of further increase in coming years would probably be good idea [regardless of further incentive to enlist].

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