On Tuesday night, President Obama announced the U.S. would hand over leadership of security operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014. Retired U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. David Phillips says any time we let the enemy know when we plan to pull back or leave gives that enemy an advantage we don’t need to give them. Phillips also discusses whether Afghan security forces are up to the job and what the benchmark is for determining if those forces are up to the job. Gen. Phillips was also commander for all police operations in Iraq. He explains why he thinks the Iraqi army and police forces are an example of a successful training program. But Gen. Phillips says the greatest threat to Iraq comes at the very top – the deep loyalty of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to the Iranian government. He says that alliance threatens Iraqi stability and makes Iranian dissident groups like the MEK at risk for annihilation. Phillips says he personally promised the MEK that they would be protected by the U.S. government. However, he points out American policy changed toward the MEK in 2009 and it has suffered many deaths and injuries ever since.