us army major general jeffrey buchanan was the chief military spokesman as the americans left in two thousand eleven. even then he says there are concerns about the iraqi security forces' ability to defend the country they had some significant gaps that we all recognize they recognize that the us failed to reach a deal with iraq to allow american troops to remain in the country the us embassy was left with the task of providing counter terrorism support to iraq and it struggled to muster the necessary manpower and resources from washington finding the money funding the illegal parties finding the legal justification to keep those people and country getting mclaren from iraqi government how we label were able to do some of that but far less than we thought we would because that's what happens when you don't military forces and country in the lesson areas. don't forget that in afghanistan but no omar if the us institute for peace is among those who questioned the need for extending the american presence in iraq. i always questioned how much are we prevent a bloodbath and how much are w