Iraqi Military's Readiness Slips (WP)

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Iraqi Military's Readiness Slips
Report Says That Since January, Fewer Units Can Operate
Independently

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 13, 2007; Page A04

Despite stepped-up training, the readiness of the Iraqi military to
operate independently of U.S. forces has decreased since President
Bush's new strategy was launched in January, according to the White
House progress report released yesterday.

Combat losses, a dearth of officers and senior enlisted personnel, and
an Iraqi army that has expanded faster than the equipment available
for it have resulted in a "slight reduction" in the number of units
designated at Level 1 status, or "capable of independent operations,"
the report said.

The report's assessment of progress on 18 congressionally mandated
benchmarks is likely to fuel ongoing disputes over what is really
happening in Iraq. But the fine print in the 25-page document contains
some remarkably candid descriptions of problems, as well as qualifiers
for claimed achievements and briefly referenced, unexplained new facts.

The Pentagon refused yesterday to elaborate on the "slight reduction"
in independent Iraqi units. Any information about the number, size or
designation of such units is "in the classified realm," said a
spokesman, Lt. Col. Mark Ballesteros.

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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/12/AR2007071202084.html