US Tries to Stem Iraqi Army Desertions

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=716&e=1&u=/ap/20031213/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

<snip>
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, speaking at a news conference, said the major reason for the defections was pay, specifically allowances for married soldiers who were struggling to support their families on $60 a month.

"We're working to review the pay scales and I think we'll have a decision in the coming weeks," Sanchez said.

But he said the setbacks shouldn't harm the overall goal of training 40,000 members of light infantry battalions by next October. That contradicts reports that the U.S. military had scaled back that goal.

"I believe our targets in training for the new Iraqi army are still valid," Sanchez said.

Sanchez, who had previously given the number of detainees under coalition control in Iraq (news - web sites) as about 5,000, conceded that the number is now "almost to 10,000."

[JFR919]

1. Suprised?

The army is disbanded, administrators are let go because of party affiliation, so there is no basic security, no lights, no gas, no schools with books. The tritest words can be the truest. Follow the money. What choice do so many of these people have? The lies from all involved are a disgrace. But they will never feel the shame that they should.

[displacedtexan]

2. "Outsourcing" run amok?

Okay, let me get this straight: 'we' invade on false pretense; kill and/or maim untold thousands of civilians; label Saddam's army as maximum evildoers and target as many as possible; disband said army and send them running, which in turn creates a lethal paramilitary force which 'we' can't beat; realize our huge mistake in disbanding the army and reinstate soldiers, arm them, and train them in American tactics; then 'we' expect them to risk their lives for our oil interests, and 'we' pay them as if they were Dell IT customer service reps.

And 'we' wonder why they are bailing?

'We,' (meaning Repukes-In-Control) AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO SUCCEED IN THIS DISATROUS ENDEAVOR.

[ClintonTyree]

4. The Iraqi's arent'...............

as stupid as pResident Pinhead believes they are. They know a clusterf**k when they see one. How can you have faith in a system that has absolutely no continuity? The plans for Iraq change hourly (other than the stealing and rape of their economy, that remains constant). Why would any sane Iraqi want to abet the "coalition" when they have no idea what the "coalition's" goals are?

[UpInArms]

5. here's the poop on the "outsourced" training of Iraqi

military:

http://www.vinnell.com/iraq_military.htm

Military Trainers
Vinnell Corporation, a Northrop Grumman Company, is the Prime Contractor to train the New Iraqi Army. Following skills will be needed: recently separated U.S. Army and Marine Corps Officers and Senior NCOs (E-6 and above) in the following specialties: light infantry, special forces, special ops, force recon, maintenance, logistics. Former TRADOC writing and/or instructor experience or equivalent is welcome and basic training drill instructor experience is highly desirable.

Battalion and support trainers must be in excellent physical condition and will perform daily PT and forced road marches.

US ARMY ENLISTED E-6 and above.
Infantry 11B
Drill Instructors
Special Forces 18B
Small Arms Repair 45B
Unit Supply Specialist 92Y

US ARMY OFFICER (CPT to LTC)
Infantry 11A
Special Forces 18A

US MARINE CORPS - Officer and Enlisted E-6 and above.
Infantry All 03s
Drill Instructor 8511

[lebkuchen]

8. a favor?

Reference the article and send your comments here w/name and phone number for verification:

[e-mail]

[mw]

3. They're just following the example of Bush

They love Bush so much, they think that deserting/AWOL is a virtue.

[Gin]

6. They joined at 60.00 per month.....the real reason is their own safety....

they will be attacked if they support "the invaders." Money is important...but I won't be surprised if more money does not fix this problem.

How sad that our new name is "the invaders".

[susu369]

7. Do you suppose the deserting recruits

got to keep their military-issued weapons?

Not talking about the "bad guys" who are "separated" from their weapons:

"Among those are 3,800 members of the Iranian militant group Mujahedeen Khalq, who are restricted to their camp northeast of Baghdad and are "separated" from their weapons, Sanchez said. The Mujahedeen have been fighting Iran's religious government from bases in Iraq and the coalition considers them a terrorist organization."

[Robb]

9. They're just wondering,

like a lot of recruits, when exactly they get to go waterskiing in Germany. ;)

[demconfive]

10. Or maybe....

Maybe they're in Alabama helping with republican elections, or on hooker and cocaine benders? It could happen.