Iraqi Navy is still not ship shape (US sham)

[leftchick]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1001451,curpg-1.cms


~snip~

Soon, Iraq's navy, which formally came into being late last month, will be responsible for the protection of two key oil terminals currently guarded by the Americans – Kohr al-Amaya and Mina al-Baka.

The Navy's deputy commander, Captain Adel Hafid, exudes quiet confidence as he rejects all desire and attempts to talk about the past. "Yes, we were in the Navy in the old regime but don't talk about that. Now, we expect to grow, help build our country and work for its development."

Alas, he cannot say how. And with what. For all its grand title, the Iraqi Navy has just five Chinese-built harbour patrol boats, 20 fast aluminium boats (FAB) and a few-hundred, slouching, sloppily-dressed marines and officers, many of whom are running to fat.

Somewhat pathetically, the naval training exercise is executed on a dusty field with tin barrels, rough planks of wood and Iraqi marines about as smart and ship-shape as village yokels playing walk-on parts in a Bollywood film.


It is not quite a sham. Just a gaping chasm between the reality of the Iraqi Navy and the Coalition Forces' rhetoric about it. And perhaps, it may be the real story of the impending election.

[0007]

1. Sounds like a bogus story to me and coming from Inida

makes it all the more spurious.

[Tempest]

2. What part do you think is bogus?

The navy part, which does exist or the fact that it's completely inept and unable to perform?


"I have been a sailor for 22 years, but no one ever bothered to teach me how to navigate properly or tie knots," said Haqi Ismail, 39, a toothless sailor, who described how in the former navy he had been sunk on three separate occasions.
http://www.iraq.net/displayarticle5692.html

[leftchick]

3. I believe it I saw photos this AM on yahoo...

It is a bedraggled bunch for sure. 0007 I think it is a very honest piece and a credible source. A huge leap in honesty from the State Run US media machine.