Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Quote of the day: Ambassador Crocker on the core problem facing the Iraqi military

Best Defense is in summer re-runs. This item originally appeared on September 30, 2014. From one of the best American analysts of Iraq: “Iraqis have a strong military tradition. They’ve got good soldiers. They need good leadership. And clearly, the current government is aware of that. We’re in a position to help to get the right commanders ...

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cropped_ricksmiddle1721746230_ea8915fc4a_b_0

Best Defense is in summer re-runs. This item originally appeared on September 30, 2014.

Best Defense is in summer re-runs. This item originally appeared on September 30, 2014.

From one of the best American analysts of Iraq:

“Iraqis have a strong military tradition. They’ve got good soldiers. They need good leadership. And clearly, the current government is aware of that. We’re in a position to help to get the right commanders in the right places, to serve their troops and their country well.”

“The Iraqi military is not rotten to the core. It was rotten at the top.”

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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