While some U.S. soldiers grumble about the skills of their Iraqi allies, American officers insist that the interim government's army will play an important role in the battle of Fallujah. "They have military objectives. They have a no-kidding mission," said Marine Capt. Jamie Farrelly, 42, of Roanoke, Va., an adviser to the Iraqi Army's 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade.
As U.S.-led forces moved into the Sunni Muslim stronghold Sunday, Iraqi commandos were part of the force that took the main hospital. The Iraqis also are expected to rush houses, search for explosives and set up combat checkpoints, tasks that Iraqi soldiers could not be trusted with seven months ago.
In April, some Iraqi civil defense troops refused to join American units in combat in Fallujah, but Iraqi soldiers improved their fighting reputation in later months when they helped U.S. troops retake Najaf from al-Mahdi Army and conducted raids against Shiite insurgent leaders in Baghdad.
Some U.S. soldiers are not fully convinced
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20041108/ts_chicagotrib/officersconfidentofiraqicohorts&cid=2027&ncid=1480I guess since the officers insist, it's true....can't listen to the average soldier on the ground, fighting side by side with the new Iraqi military. :eyes: