Agence France Presse, 27 June 2006
Iraq's security forces will not become capable of fully independent operations for some time, the US general responsible for building the force said.
"It's just not appropriate yet to be thinking in terms independent anything in Iraq. This, remember, is a nation at war," said Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey.
The strength of the Iraqi security forces, however, is a lynchpin of the US strategy for reducing the size of its 127,000-member force in Iraq.
The White House acknowledged this week that it is considering a reported plan to reduce US combat forces in Iraq by some 30,000 by the end of 2007 as Iraqi forces assume more responsibility for security.
Dempsey said the Iraqi security forces should be armed and trained by the end of 2006, but still lack the institutional underpinnings to sustain them.
The police force, which is about 82 to 83 percent trained and equipped, is subject to corruption, local influence and infiltration by militias particularly in contested areas like Baghdad, Al-Anbar province and lately Basra, he said.
"We think we'll have to be closely partnered with the ministries for at least two years," Dempsey said.
The Iraqi security forces now stand at 263,400, according to the
Pentagon.
The goal is to field a total Iraqi force of 315,500, both military and police.
"We fully anticipate that we will achieve the desired endstate number by the end of calendar year '06," Dempsey said.
Dempsey suggested that the transition to Iraqi security forces could be eased if a national reconciliation process launched by the new Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki leads to reduced violence.
"That will be the precursor, potentially and hopefully, of a reduction of the insurgency and a corresponding willingness on the part of the militias to disband, disarm and integrate," he said.
He said he was prepared to advise the government on how to integrate militias and insurgents into the security forces.
"I think this issue of national reconciliation has to progress before you make that move against militias," he said.
"Because until the militias are convinced that the legitimate government is acting on their behalf there is little incentive for them to disband," he said.
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Citation: "Iraqi forces will not be independent for some time: general," Agence France Presse, 27 June 2006.
Original URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060628/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqmilitary
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