Iraqi troops *less* capable than several months ago?!
General George Casey testified today in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that only one Iraqi battalion was operating fully independently. This threw many for a loop, as several months back when he was in front of the committee, there were reportedly three Iraqi batallions operating independently.
Gen. Casey - "We fully recognize that Iraqi armed forces will not have an independent capability for some time, because they don't have an institutional base to support them. And so Level One is one battalion."
Sen. McCain - "It was three. Now it’s gone from three to one?"
Gen. Casey - "Things change in a battalion. We're making assessments on leadership, on training. There are a lot of variables that are involved here, senator."
