A disturbing Washington Post piece today regarding the handoff of military duties to the nascent Iraqi Army in Mosul. Apparently, the U.S. military brass are really trying to accelerate the process of giving the Iraqi's counterinsurgency responsibilities. But its the comments of the ordinary soldiers and Marines who are on the ground with the Iraqi troops that tell a disturbing story.
More below....
The Washington Post articles can be seen here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7411080/
Here are some the quotes that made me raise an eyebrow, Spock-style:
- "The ambitious strategy is being questioned by some U.S. military advisers who work closely with the Iraqi forces. They say that although the Iraqis are progressing, they are being rushed into battle before they are ready in an effort to speed the withdrawal of American forces."
- "'It's all about perception, to convince the American public that everything is going as planned and we're right on schedule to be out of here,' said one adviser, Army Staff Sgt. Craig E. Patrick, 40, a reservist from Rock Island, Ill. 'I mean, they can [mislead] the American people, but they can't [mislead] us. These guys are not ready.'"
- "The Iraqi forces are still poorly equipped, U.S. advisers and Iraqi soldiers agreed. Most ride into battle in "Road Warrior"-like white Nissan pickup trucks with machine guns welded into the bed and makeshift armor supported by plywood and even cardboard. Iraqi units lack medics, adequate communications equipment, computers and other battlefield necessities. 'This is the 21st century,' said Lt. Col. Raad Abdul Hassan, an Iraqi company commander with the 23rd Battalion. 'It's shameful what we have.'"
[I think we've found Zell's spitballs!]
- An Iraqi "...company commander was replaced shortly after he hid behind a wall when a small group of insurgents attacked a polling site on election day with grenades and small-arms fire."
- Marine Staff Sgt. Lafayette Waters "...said, if the United States tries to transfer authority at the current pace, 'they won't be ready. No way. You can quote that: There's no way.'"
I know I'm focusing on the negative comments. Positive comments are included in the article from more senior officers and commanders. But, if we take the lower ranking soldiers at their word, then the senior commanders seem to be wearing rose-colored glasses.
This is happening right now over there, while we watch endless coverage of the Pope (and Terri Schiavo before that). What does it really mean? I would venture to guess that the Pentagon has tired of Iraq and want to get out as soon as possible. There really isn't much concern over the quality of post-occupation security, which ties into the theory that the Bush Administration is more interested in "neutering" Iraq and Afghanistan than establishing a stable, functioning democracy.
But, I digress! The question one has to ask after reading this report is this: if the U.S. accelerates the handover to the Iraqi troops before they're ready, and then they get hammered by insurgents, will we actually bother to go back in and clean up the mess?
I suspect not.