Iraqis Units Short of Qualified Leaders

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

By ROBERT BURNS

BAGHDAD (AP) - The Iraqi army and police are growing so fast that their forces enter battle with far less than the usual number of qualified officers, a senior U.S. general told The Associated Press.


Lt. Gen. James Dubik is seen in his office during an interview with the Associated Press on Saturday, July 28, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq. Dukik said that the biggest obstacle to building Iraqi security forces is finding leaders who are experience and not bound by sectarian loyalties. (AP Photo/Robert Burns)

While a serious problem, it is not stopping the Iraqis from becoming "good enough" to partner with U.S. troops in fighting the insurgency, Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik said Saturday.

"We still have very difficult problems with (Iraqi military unit) leaders - very difficult," Dubik said in his first extensive interview since taking command in June of training and equipping Iraqi forces.

Too few have the right level of experience and a nonsectarian attitude, he said. This shortcoming is evident even as tens of thousands of new soldiers and police join the security forces.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070728/D8QLMFV00.html

[Paranoid Pessimist]

1. The WORLD is short of qualified leaders! n/t