WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The central question for the new Iraq strategy is whether the Iraq government will hold up its end of the deal, and what will happen if it does not.
In a tense exchange on Capitol Hill last Friday, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., forced Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, to admit that the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's track record is not good.
Maliki has not yet delivered on any commitments he's made in the battle for Baghdad, but Bush administration officials have refused to say what measures it will take if Iraq once again does not live up to its promises.
That battle started in June, showed signs of failure by July and was given more U.S. troops in August as thousands of civilians were executed by death squads in the capital city.
At the time, Maliki agreed to provide four Iraqi army battalions, two coalition brigades, and five military police companies -- a total of 12,000 additional Iraqi forces.
"Did that happen?" asked Levin, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman.
"No, sir," replied Pace.
Maliki also promised to leave forces in neighborhoods "cleared" of militia and insurgents to hold onto security. Once again Pace admitted that had not occurred.
Maliki also said in October that militias would be disbanded at the end of 2006 or by early 2007. Pace confirmed that militias had not been disbanded, nor that the government had yet called on militias to lay down their arms as promised.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates admitted the track record is not encouraging, but said he believes the Iraqi government is serious this time.
"They really do seem to be eager to take control of this security situation," Gates told the committee. "I think that there is a sense of confidence ... that they have every intention of fulfilling their commitments this time."
