BAGHDAD — The United States plans to expand Iraqi special forces
units after early successful results.
U.S. officials said that over the last six months the Iraqi police
special forces have demonstrated a high level of skills in a range of
special weapons and tactics [SWAT] operations. They said the Emergency
Response Unit [ERU] unit has captured leading insurgents in
both joint and independent operations.
The Iraqi police special operations squad has been training in Camp
Dublin near Baghdad International Airport, Middle East Newsline reported. Training began in July 2004 by
the U.S. military's Civilian Police Assistance Training Team.
Officials said the training has focused on three areas: SWAT, emergency
response, and VIP protection, similar to functions carried out by the U.S.
Secret Service. They said the U.S. training team has also been responsible
for organizing, training, equipping and mentoring the entire Iraqi police
force.
"We never had this kind of organization, this kind of specialized
training," an Iraqi company commander said.
About 30 percent of cadets graduate after eight weeks of basic and
advanced courses, officials said. ERU was meant to
carry out missions such as hostage takeovers or high-risk search and arrest
operations.
U.S. Army Col. Ted Westhusing, senior adviser for the special operations
training program, said ERU comprises three companies of 60 members each.
Westhusing said that by June 2006 the U.S. military hopes to form a
regimental-size unit and add support, training and headquarters companies.
In March 2005, ERU helped the U.S. Army in efforts to free hostages held
by Sunni insurgents. The Iraqis captured what the U.S. military termed two
high-value targets following an attack on the 25th Infantry Division that
resulted in U.S. casualties as well as a suspect charged with the abduction
and beheading of one of the Iraqi police team members.
Officials said the U.S.-led coalition intends to train a total of 20
SWAT teams of 27 members each. One team would be deployed in each of Iraq's
18 provinces. The additional two would be placed in provinces with large
cities, such as Baghdad. Nine teams have graduated so far.