Iraq problem 'far too big for America'

Senior Russian defense ministry official Vladimir Shamanov said today that more US troops in Iraq “won’t be able to radically change the situation with ensuring peace and security".

Senior Russian defence ministry official Vladimir Shamanov said today that more US troops in Iraq “won’t be able to radically change the situation with ensuring peace and security".

He said the main weakness of the US plan is that it sends most of the additional troops to Baghdad: “Without firm authority in the provinces, it’s not possible to establish law and order in the country,” he told the ITAR-Tass news agency.