Rumsfeld Defends Iraqi Troops' Progress

[sabra]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1173591

Rumsfeld Defends Iraqi Troops' Progress
Rumsfeld, Gen. Casey Defend Iraqi Troops' Progress, After Commander Says Only One Battalion Ready

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Sep 30, 2005 — Iraqi security forces are getting better, not worse, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Friday, a day after a top U.S. commander told Congress that the number of Iraqi army battalions capable of fighting without U.S. help had dropped from three to one.

"Every day, the number of Iraqi security forces are getting bigger, and they're getting better, and they're getting more experienced," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon.

...

But standing side by side with Rumsfeld Friday, Casey said Iraqi security forces are progressing and continue to take on a more prominent role defending their country with coalition forces.

"Next year at this time, I'll be much more concerned about it" if few Iraqi battalions are still considered battle-ready by American officers.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Is it just me

or is he beginning to sound like Baghdad Bob?

[sabra]

2. LOL - many here have been saying that for awhile now.

peace.

[Gregorian]

3. Haha. Saddam has weapons of mass distruction. Saddam is a bad man.

It's not Rumsfeld, but it's my rendition of Baghdad Bob.

[xxqqqzme]

4. government by excuse

I swear these criminals are making the shit up as they go along. Ask any of them a question & they tell U want they think U want 2 hear.

[Barrett808]

5. Next year this time Republicans will be fleeing the foundering Bush ship

In a desperate and vain atatempt to win the midterm elections.

[paineinthearse]

6. self-delete

[tainowarrior]

7. how the hell can he defend the training of just

500-600 Iraqi troops in more than 2 years. The insurgency is estimated to be anywhere from 5,000-30,000 combatants. What the hell are 500-600 troops gonna do against that, and let me remind everyone that the insurgents are composed of some of the best fighting men in that country, the most experieced officers, and the most patriotic/high morale too. Hard to fight that with 500-600 recruits. Those wouldn't last two seconds with the insurgents.

Mr. Rumsfeld...there's no way to spin it. Either the training sucks, or the situation is so fucked up that it is impossible to train soldiers because the insurgency has infiltrated the forces so much.

Either way, it' sucks, and we failed. Don't try to defend THAT (lack of) progress.

[tabasco]

8. Remember the debates?? Chimpy said 100,000 trained & ready!!

I laughed when he said that. What incredible liars they are!!

40% of the American People are apparently too stupid to know when they are being lied to.

[SodoffBush]

9. Rumsfeld is so full of shit, I don't know where to begin

debunking his mythology.

[fooj]

10. When are you going to reimburse our troops you SOB???

My God...they have to buy their own BODY ARMOR? OMG!

Peace.

[damntexdem]

11. Well, I guess negative progress is still progress --

just the wrong way.

Will he also praise Brownie's response to Katrina?

Next year, he'd have reason to be more concerned if MORE Iraqi battalions were battle-ready -- so ready to be used by their respective militias to fight the civil war, or perhaps to be thrown against any U.S. troops still there.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. They are progressing into coffins quite nicely.

Gotta wonder what these people enjoy, considering what they've brought to the world.

[LynnTheDem]

13. There were THREE (3) battalions...now there is only ONE (1) battalion.

That is NOT progress, Rumsfailed.

DUHHH.

[meganmonkey]

14. There is no way to spin this in their favor

The truth is that we aren't accomplishing any of our so-called goals, we are just spending money (on what?) and killing and dying. It is chaos and it is not improving at all.

[norml]

15. Rumsfeld touts U.S.-trained Iraqi troops

Rumsfeld touts U.S.-trained Iraqi troops
Sat Oct 1, 2005 7:29 AM BST


By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday said U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces were improving daily, downplaying the fact that the number of Iraqi battalions able to fight without U.S. help had melted to one.

"There are an awful lot of people chasing the wrong rabbit here, it seems to me," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon, when asked about the number of Iraqi battalions that can operate independently.

"The important fact is ... that every day, every week, every month the Iraqi security forces are larger, they're better equipped, they're better trained and they're more experienced. And that is the central fact," Rumsfeld said.

Pentagon officials have said that creating Iraqi security forces able to defend their own country is a prerequisite to an eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. But there are persistent questions about the quality of these forces and the degree to which they have been infiltrated by insurgents.

Rumsfeld said there are 194,000 U.S.-trained Iraqi army troops and police.


snip


http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-10-01T062907Z_01_MOL123282_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-USA-RUMSFELD.xml&archived=False

[jamesinca]

16. This is the 3, I mean 1 battalion

At least I think this is the same one. When there is only one battalion, it is hard to get them mixed up.

[OKDem08]

17. 'chasing the wrong rabbit '--what is this guy smoking?

how are we able to train the Iraqis to do something we are incapable of doing which is disabling the insurgency?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. "More tea, Mr. Rumsfeld?"

[pinniped]

18. Well, next time this assclown pays Iraq a visit they can provide...

his security. I'm sure they cost less than the mercs.