U.S. General: Iraqi Forces to Be Fully Ready in '09

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Washington Post

Iraq's army and police will be fully manned and operational by mid-2009, possibly as early as April, the top U.S. general in charge of building Iraqi security forces said yesterday, signaling the prospect that Iraqi forces could assume primary combat responsibilities in the country while U.S. troops shift to a supporting role.

Asked when Iraqi ground forces could handle security so U.S. troops would not have to, Lt. Gen. James Dubik told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the strength of Iraq's ground forces had grown significantly. "The ground forces will mostly be done by middle of next year; their divisions, brigades and battalions are on a good timeline," Dubik said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. "Could be as early as April. Could be as late as August," said Dubik, who until last week led the effort to train Iraqi forces.

While U.S. commanders' predictions on Iraqi security forces have proven excessively optimistic in the past, the general's assessment is central to the debates in Washington and Baghdad over a timeline for when Iraqi forces can take charge of security, allowing the bulk of the approximately 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq to withdraw.

Dubik's projection came as Iraqi leaders this week pressed for a firm timetable for the departure of U.S. troops as part of a long-term security agreement the two countries are negotiating.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070900264.html?hpid=topnews

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Remember that old Bush mantra when "when they stand up, we'll stand down"? Let Obama bring them home in 2009. No excuse anymore.

[frylock]

1. 3009

[wmbrew0206]

2. You need to change the title of this thread because it is misleading

The term "Iraqi Forces" refers to the Iraqi Army, Air Force, and Navy(yes, they have one). The article says the Iraqi Army will be fully manned and operational, not the "Iraqi Forces."

The General or the article did not say that the Iraqi Forces would be "fully ready." It said that they would be able to handle security. Being "fully ready" would mean that they would be able to provide their own artillery, engineers, etc. The articles says that they are still not ready to do that for another couple years.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Per DU rules in LBN I posted the exact headline

Send the complaint to the Washington Post headline writer not moi.

[niyad]

3. the iraqi forces were fully operational before der chimpenfuhrer invaded and bremer

disbanded the military.