Pentagon Pushes Back Against Israeli Critique Of Iraq

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon and State Department rejected criticism from Israeli officials on Monday that the US has inadequate security training programs, ostensibly demonstrated by this month's breakdown of the US-trained army in northern Iraq.

In a news report published Monday night, multiple Israeli officials— speaking on the condition of anonymity to maintain relationships with their American counterparts— said that Israel had internalized the collapse of the Iraqi security forces, funded by billions of US dollars, to the Sunni terrorist militia known as ISIS.

Those officials said ISIS' territorial gains across the region reinforced Israel's position to maintain an IDF presence in the Jordan Valley— and undermined a US security plan for the natural borderland, proposed as part of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

The plan, which would replace the IDF with an international force, was put together by US General John Allen, who earned his stripes on counter-terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Responding to the report, one senior US defense official told The Jerusalem Post that the criticism fundamentally misread the security threats facing Iraq— and the contingencies facing the Jordan Valley, should peace come to pass between Israel and the PA.

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http://www.jpost.com/International/Pentagon-pushes-back-against-Israeli-critique-of-Iraq-360445