David Rothkopf argues that a central pillar of Obama’s foreign policy is the use of Other People’s Armies to shift the security burden away from the United States and limit the high costs of war. The risks associated with this approach were on display in Ramadi, where the ISF and local Sunni tribes proved that they were not up to the task. Going forward, is the Obama administration willing to redouble its commitment and provide the necessary diplomatic, economic and military resources to its Iraqi partners? If not, will it stand by as Iraq increasingly turns to its Iranian neighbor for the tangible assistance that the United States is hesitant to provide? There are no easy answers here, but it is unlikely that the Obama administration’s focus on airpower with only limited support for the ISF will succeed. Ash Carter recently said that “If there comes a time when we have to change the kinds of support we give, we will make that recommendation.” In light of the operation to recapture Ramadi and a larger fight looming in Mosul, it appears that now is that time.

James Cook is an Associate Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. The views expressed here are his own.

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