Iraq crisis: New challenges for United States in Iraq

Washington: US teams of special forces going into Iraq after a three-year gap will face an aggressive insurgency, a splintering military and a precarious political situation as they help Iraqi security forces battle Sunni militants.

The Army Green Berets have been training other militaries for decades. But what they would be doing in Iraq this time will be complicated by the collapse of the Iraqi military. Experts say while they may be able to stop the immediate deterioration of Iraqi forces, it will require a broader effort to quell the deep sectarian divide in Iraq.