Reply #7: Iraqi troops are "jumpy" [View All]

GEEZE, ya think?

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The joint missions do not always go flawlessly. Many Iraqi soldiers insist on wearing masks while conducting missions and patrols. Sometimes they are reluctant to talk with residents on the street for fear that someone will recognize their voices. That frustrates U.S. military officers, who struggle to overcome the language barrier and have hoped that Mosul's residents would trust local troops more than the Americans who routinely kick in their doors during searches and patrols.

Because the Iraqi troops often ride in unarmored vehicles that are vulnerable to suicide attacks and roadside bombs, they can be jumpy. Sometimes they open fire on passing cars or start shooting without warning during foot patrols.
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"They don't want to fight us," Kurilla said. "They want to take on some Iraqi soldier alone in the city on leave. They aren't even bothering to take potshots at us anymore."