Iraqi soldiers take part in a shooting training course supervised by the U.S. army at a military base in Nassiriya, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of Baghdad, February 19, 2011. Picture taken February 19, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Atef Hassan

Exclusive: Washington Wants NATO To Help Retrain The Iraqi Military -- Gopal Ratnam, Foreign Policy

With the Islamic State pulling ever closer to Baghdad, the Obama administration believes rebuilding the shattered Iraqi military could require up to 1,000 foreign trainers from the United States and its top European allies.

The difficult and dangerous task of retraining Iraqi security forces to take on the Islamic State militants who've made impressive gains in the north and west of Iraq will require large numbers of trainers from the United States and NATO nations, according to a person familiar with joint assessments by the American-led coalition and the Iraqi government.

The expanded retraining effort being proposed by the United States may require as many as 1,000 foreign trainers from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Australia to restore the beleaguered Iraqi security forces to a battle-ready state led by American advisors, said the person who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made. The United States already has about 1,500 advisors in the country, and Western European allies have signaled their ability to send hundreds of trainers each, the person said.

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My Comment: Islamic State forces are already at the gates of Baghdad .... this is too little .... and far too late.