02 December 2005
Defense Department Report, December 2: Iraq Update
United States supports Iraq's restoration of its security forces
The U.S. military commander in charge of training and equipping Iraqi security forces says his troops are partnering with and training new and seasoned recruits on how to protect and serve in a democracy.
That training, says Army Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey, includes emphasis on respect for the rule of law and observing human rights. U.S. military personnel, he said, serve as role models as “they coach, teach and mentor on proper conduct in a democratic society.”
Dempsey made his remarks from Iraq December 2 during an exchange with reporters linked via videoconference about how to promote self-reliance for Iraq’s indigenous forces. Working with the special police forces of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, he said his transition teams oversee their Iraqi colleagues and “cajole and do whatever they’ve got to do” to bring them along as contributors to Iraq’s national cohesion.
The United States is not alone in this train and equip role. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said November 30 that U.S. military personnel are working very hard but so, too, are those of neighboring nations as well as those of NATO. “There are a lot of people involved in this and dozens of countries trying to help train these Iraqi forces,” he said.
Dempsey is overseeing a plan to establish 10 Iraqi army infantry divisions of 160,000 forces by 2007. Responsibility includes training and developing personnel from the level of defense minister down to that of individual soldiers.
Development efforts also include creating systems for budgeting for security and establishing payroll systems.
Professionalization is part of the package so that the Iraqi military units reflect the diversity that exists within the society. Dempsey acknowledged that corruption has been a problem, saying bad habits have to be overcome.
He also pointed out that Iraq’s Constitution outlaws private militias. Militias are forbidden because they may be used to undermine legitimate Iraqi security forces.
Currently, he said, 225,000 Iraqi security forces are ready to secure the polls during the December 15 election for a permanent government.
In their counterinsurgency role, Dempsey said physical courage and superior training will make the winning difference for Iraqi security forces.
Courage was a subject addressed, too, by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, during remarks to students at the National Defense University December 1. He offered a recent example of courage demonstrated by Iraqi security forces in Mosul. (See related article.)
Forty police recruits were lined up recently when a bomb exploded killing or seriously injuring 12 of them. But the next day, he said, the 28 who were unscathed return again to sign on. That type of courage is demonstrated again and again throughout the country, he added.
For more information, see Iraq Update.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
