trip-wire force in iraq

TPB advocates a South Korea DMZ-style "trip-wire" force in Iraqi Kurdistan. In other words, he wants us to keep enough skin in the game, for long enough, that for the foreseeable future we will serve as a strategic deterrent against.. a potential proxy showdown between Iranian Ayatollahs and the House of Saud.

I'm not buying it. The DMZ is a modern day Maginot line, a trip-wire in and of itself. It's a real, black and white barrier. How many acts of Iranian "intereference" with their Shiite brethren next door will constitute a tripped wire?

If our efforts to strengthen the existing Iraqi military, coupled with an already long-term "advisory" and CT (not to mention naval strike) presence aren't enough skin in the game already, then we're arguably playing the wrong game.

Promoting Saudi-Iranian dialogue by keeping American boots dirty between them? Please.