U.S. looks at adding more Americans to Iraqi units

[Barrett808]

U.S. looks at adding more Americans to Iraqi units
Eric Schmitt, New York Times
Tuesday, January 4, 2005

Washington -- Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, is reviewing a proposal to add hundreds of American military advisers to work directly with Iraqi units, whose disappointing performance could jeopardize the long-term exit strategy from Iraq, senior military officials said Monday.

Americans are training Iraqi police officers and national guard troops to replace them in securing the country, but the results overall have been troubling, with growing desertion rates, gaps in leadership and poor battlefield performance, U.S. military officers and troops say.

The advisers would bolster the Iraqi will to fight, help train officers who would lead the troops, curb desertion and provide Iraqi forces with the confidence that American units would back them up -- in some cases fighting alongside them if needed, military and Pentagon officials said.

Several hundred U.S. troops are already embedded with Iraqi units, following a long tradition in American military actions. But the proposal would greatly expand this presence.

The details of the proposal are still being discussed among American and Iraqi officials, and more troops will probably not be embedded until after the Jan. 30 elections, when Iraqi forces will play a crucial part.

(more)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/01/04/MNGGDAKPO61.DTL

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. great

Let the fragging begin. Watch your back, guys.

[DireStrike]

2. We have a long term exit strategy?

That's news to me. And no, "leave when it gets better" doesn't count.

[Supersedeas]

3. Mercenaries are us....US troops embedded in foreign units and

Foreign units wearing the US uniform.

That could become 'politically' convenient some day, no?
When turning embedded units against political foes...who is really accountable?

[Moderator]

4. duplicate topic, please discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1119317