US general paints candid picture of Iraq army, police

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, June 10 (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces should be in a position to take control of 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces by year's end, although they will not be ready to fight on their own for some time, a top U.S. general said on Sunday.

Giving a candid assessment of their capabilities, Lieutenant-General Martin Dempsey, in charge of U.S.-led efforts to reconstruct Iraq's security forces over the past 22 months, also said there was a critical shortage of good senior officers.

Creating a new police force and army, disbanded after the U.S.-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein in 2003, is a prerequisite for a U.S. withdrawal. U.S. soldiers though have voiced frustration at what they see as slow progress.

~snip~

Asked how ready Iraqi security forces were to take over from U.S. forces, he said: "Unanswerable in general and answerable when you talk about different parts of Iraq. I can't say they are all ready or they're not.

"Seven provinces are under Iraqi control, by the end of the year potentionally most of the others. I'm a little concerned about Baghdad, Diyala, Salahaddin, Anbar. Fourteen of the provinces could certainly be handed over (but) being completely self-reliant is a ways off."

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL047296.htm

[Eugene]

1. The 4 exceptions are the same 4 ungovernable provinces as always.

The general gives a more optimistic assessment of the Iraqi
security forces and the political situation than others do.

It is telling that control of Baghdad province by the end
of the year is uncertain even as the U.S. applies an all-out
effort there.

[Tempest]

2. Take control but unable to fight on their own?

Isn't that a contradiction?

[cliss]

3. Quote:

"...there was a critical shortage of good senior officers."

Now, I wonder why that is :smoke: