In testimony to the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees
on Sept. 10, Petraeus said the development of the Iraq Army would lead to
the assumption of Baghdad government responsibility over several provinces
by 2008. The general cited southern Iraq, controlled by the British Army and
which has been withdrawing troops from Basra, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Indeed, in many cases, regardless of what their operational readiness
assessment may be, there may be no coalition assistance whatsoever in some
of the southern provinces that have moved to provincial Iraqi control, for
example," Petraeus said.
Petraeus, citing figures that differed from those by the State
Department, said 445,000 people were working in Iraq's Interior and Defense
ministries, responsible for the army and security forces. He said the number
of Iraq's security forces would increase by as much as 40,000 by 2008.
Still, the Iraqi military and security forces continue to be plagued by
poor leadership and logistics. Petraeus said Iraq's security forces
frequently lose commanders, soldiers and equipment as a result of
insufficient combat
preparation.
"These losses are among the shortcomings identified by operational
readiness assessments, but we should not take from these assessments the
impression that Iraqi forces are not in the fight and contributing," the
general said. "The Iraqi army is still viewed as a national instrument,
certainly. The citizens again view the army with more confidence than any
other Iraqi security force institution."
The U.S. military plans to continue to support Baghdad's security forces
amid a shortage of Iraqi noncommissioned officers. Officials said the
Interior Ministry has offered to employ former military members and
accelerate operations at the nation's four military academies.
"We will work with the two security ministries as they continue their
efforts to expand their basic training capacity, leader development
programs, logistical structures and elements, and various other
institutional capabilities to support the substantial growth in Iraqi
forces," Petraeus said.
