Graham Allison on why the surge probably won't change the basic equation in Iraq or lessen our dependance on the Iraqi army and police.

No American military commander imagines that US forces can win the battle of Baghdad by themselves. Without the Iraqi army units required to accompany American troops in clearing neighborhoods, and holding those neighborhoods after Americans have moved on, the results of the third phase of this battle will be more of the same. Three months or six months on, President Bush will find himself in another crisis where failure of Iraqis to do their part in rescuing themselves will leave Americans even deeper in the hole he finds us today.

Depending on the Iraqi police and army to solve the long-term sectarian violence problem seems slightly misguided since, in large part, the Iraqi army and police are the problem.