Despite efforts to maintain U.S. military oversight of this volunteer force, the situation in Iraq is such that the force could very well end up becoming another militia -- and in the long run create competition for security forces. It could also hurt the U.S. objective to create a strong Sunni bulwark to counter Iran and its Shiite allies, because this new force will empower another cross section of the Sunnis, leading to further fragmentation of the Sunni community.

Additionally, given the area, the Sunnis could press even harder to receive their fair share of Iraq's oil revenues, and for Kirkuk to stay out of Kurdish control in exchange for help against jihadists.

There also are questio...

Despite efforts to maintain U.S. military oversight of this volunteer force, the situation in Iraq is such that the force could very well end up becoming another militia -- and in the long run create competition for security forces. It could also hurt the U.S. objective to create a strong Sunni bulwark to counter Iran and its Shiite allies, because this new force will empower another cross section of the Sunnis, leading to further fragmentation of the Sunni community.

Additionally, given the area, the Sunnis could press even harder to receive their fair share of Iraq's oil revenues, and for Kirkuk to stay out of Kurdish control in exchange for help against jihadists.

There also are questions about the success of the approach to empower Sunni community groups in order to destroy the jihadists. While jihadist attacks are down, scores of al Qaeda-related operatives have been killed or arrested and large areas have been cleared, it is unclear whether this is a short-term victory.