US: Iraqi Security Forces Improving

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

US: Iraqi Security Forces Improving

By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer

Monday, June 25, 2007

(06-25) 08:43 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Iraqi security forces are becoming less sectarian and more
capable, but the U.S. should not be in a hurry to hand over
control before they're ready, an American commander said
Monday.

Since last fall, Iraqis have cleaned out some of the sectarian
bias from the national police force, removing many Shia
commanders and replacing them with Sunnis, said Army Brig.
Gen. Dana Pittard, who heads the day-to-day program for
training Iraqi forces.

"The growth of the Iraqi security forces over the past couple
of years has really been quite dramatic in many ways," he
said, but it will still be "a couple of years" before they can
fully take control of Iraq security.

Coalition forces are helping train Iraqi army soldiers, police,
border security agents and others. U.S. officials have said
repeatedly that getting Iraqi forces capable of managing the
violence in the country is key to bringing U.S. troops home.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/25/national/w083428D82.DTL

---

(emphasis mine)

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. trust us. All we need is a little more time. really. We mean it this time.

honestly. No, we are not kidding. I mean, we are so close now, you can almost taste it. Trust us. We really, really, really, really, mean it, cross my heart and hope to - er - ah - and hope you really really believe us.

[babylonsister]

2. Amazing, considering they were out of ammunition yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1175597

[fazoolius_2006]

3. At least there is some progress

Now we just need them to speed up that time line of a "couple of years" to tomorrow.

[soothsayer]

4. lol! seems like only yesterday we were fretting about them

wait, it WAS yesterday.

[maddezmom]

7. was thinking the same, from yesterday: U.S. generals doubt Iraqi force strength

U.S. generals doubt Iraqi force strength
Source: AP

BAQOUBA, Iraq - The U.S. commander of a new offensive north of Baghdad, reclaiming insurgent territory day by day, said Sunday his Iraqi partners may be too weak to hold onto the gains.

The Iraqi military does not even have enough ammunition, said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek: "They're not quite up to the job yet."

His counterpart south of Baghdad seemed to agree, saying U.S. troops are too few to garrison the districts newly rid of insurgents. "It can't be coalition (U.S.) forces. We have what we have. There's got to be more Iraqi security forces," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch.

The two commanders spoke after a deadly day for the U.S. military in Iraq. At least 11 soldiers were killed on Saturday from roadside bombings and other causes, leaving at least 31 dead for the week.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2892072&mesg_id=2892072

[Danieljay]

5. uh ya, right. n/t

[grytpype]

6. "Less sectarian?" Bullshit.

According to this new Time article, the insurgents are making their fighters sign up for the Iraqi army so they can get the passes they need to move freely around.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1636722,00.html

I am sick of making plans based on pure wishful thinking. "The IA will be able to take over security. There will be a political reconciliation." Bullshit!

I'd like to see what their plans are based on the following assumptions:

1. The Iraqi security forces will be infested with insurgents and will be unreliable.

2. There will be no political reconciliation.

3. The violence will continue to spiral out of control.