H. Melville: Yes, only one Iraqi battalion is currently at Level 1 capability, able to operate with no U.S. support whatsoever. But 36 battalions (of a total 116 army and special police battalions in Iraq) are at Level 2 capability, able to lead counter-insurgency operations with U.S. support. That’s double the number of Level 2 battalions there were only 5 months ago. We’ve already handed over security operations to Iraqi forces in Najaf, Karbala, and, yesterday, Baghdad.
You mention parallel universes. Perhaps you’d prefer the one outlined by Victor Davis Hanson last week, where Saddam was left in power? That, to me, would be the real disaster.
