Don't rush training of Iraqi forces -US commander [View All]

[ProSense]

Don't rush training of Iraqi forces -US commander

Thu 7 Dec 2006 22:24:13 GMT

By Andrew Gray

WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - A U.S. military commander warned on Thursday against rushing the training of Iraqi security forces, a day after a top advisory panel recommended a substantial boost to the effort within the next year.

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Maj. Gen. Carter Ham, commander of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division that prepares teams of U.S. troops to embed with Iraqi forces, said he could boost his operations with more resources but Iraqi units also needed to gain experience.

"This is experience that sometimes only time can bring," he told the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.

"I think we're all interested in being faster but we must also be careful not to make it so fast that it would put units in harm's way before they are ready," he said.

Ham said the failure of an ill-prepared Iraqi unit in battle would have consequences not just for those troops.

"That undermines the confidence not only of the unit but undermines the confidence of the government and of the people in their security forces," he told Reuters after the hearing.

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Basic Training

KERRY: By taking control. I mean, this is a country that fought a 10-year war with Iran, lost a million people in the process of that. These are not people who are incapable of taking over their security. But as long as we have been the security blanket, they have had no incentive to do it. And the real issue, ultimately, is diffusing the reason that it is insecure. That requires the political settlement.