Iraqi forces failing

I know it isn't a revelation that the Iraqi forces are incapable of "standing up," but to have it said so bluntly by such high level officers is news.

The U.S. commander of a new offensive north of Baghdad, reclaiming insurgent territory day by day, said Sunday his Iraqi partners may be too weak to hold onto the gains.

The Iraqi military does not even have enough ammunition, said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek: "They're not quite up to the job yet."

His counterpart south of Baghdad seemed to agree, saying U.S. troops are too few to garrison the districts newly rid of insurgents. "It can't be coalition (U.S.) forces. We have what we have. There's got to be more Iraqi security forces," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch.

I'm coming to believe that this is why some US commanders are now standing up Sunni insurgent forces, trying to convert them into something approximating Shia militias. It's desperation.

In an effort to control violence now, they're creating the basis for a long term Sunni resistance.