A leaked e-mail from an officer managing the force transition in Iraq reveals a simmering antagonism that could well boil over into something quite messy:
The acrimony that has marked the transition period has sowed resentment, according to several U.S. soldiers, who said the confidence expressed by Iraqi leaders does not match their competence.
"Our [Iraqi] partners burn our fuel, drive roads cleared by our Engineers, live in bases built with our money, operate vehicles fixed with our parts, eat food paid for by our contracts, watch our [surveillance] video feeds, serve citizens with our [funds], and benefit from our air cover," Bolger noted in the e-mail.
What I'm wondering is if the restrictions being placed on US military by this show of Iraqi 'confidence' is a result of foolish bluster, political grandstanding for the coming elections, or possibly references a more nefarious sort of scheming, ie attacks against US troops by Shiite militias are up - these militias are linked to Iran. Skulduggery afoot? Heavens, no, not in the Middle East, pellucid bastion of common sense and noble ambitions.
