U.S. Seeks to Bolster Iraq Security Forces

U.S. Seeks to Bolster Iraq Security Forces
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - The fledgling Iraqi security forces will be bolstered by the addition of former senior members of Saddam Hussein's disbanded army, the top commander of American forces in the Middle East says.

Gen. John Abizaid told reporters Monday that a number of Iraqi police and civil defense corps members "did not stand up to the intimidators" during battles last week in restive Sunni and Shiite cities. Some abandoned their posts, some refused to fight. Others joined the insurgency.

The cornerstone of the U.S. military's strategy for getting out of Iraq is Abizaid's plan to put newly trained Iraqi forces in charge of the country's security. At least 200,000 police, border guards and other forces have been trained, but the intensified insurgency has exposed worrisome lapses, including defections, desertions and incompetence.

"It's also very clear that we've got to get more senior Iraqis involved — former military types involved in the security forces," Abizaid said. "In the next couple of days you'll see a large number of senior officers being appointed to key positions in the ministry of defense and the Iraqi joint staff and in Iraqi field commands."

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=ap/us_iraq_security

with occupation forces against Iraqis...

nice logic!

the utmost faith that the Republican Guard will do the "right" thing. :crazy:

bush is doing doing everything he has vowed not to - use the UN, turn to ex hussein supporters etc.... what an incredibly stupid man - everything in his whole life was a disaster even with millions in the bank!

will be released and granted the status of General. May as well.