Officer: Iraqis lack supplies

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Officer: Iraqis lack supplies
By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, February 9, 2009

AL-MUTANABI, Iraq — An Iraqi officer says his soldiers are ready to assume control of a joint security station near the Iranian border, but can’t because they lack basic supplies, including water, fuel and generators.

Those supplies are now provided by a group of 60 U.S. soldiers living at the base near Kut in Wasit province. But when the Americans leave, probably within the next month, they’ll take their electricity and water with them.

Shortages are common in the Iraqi army, where soldiers often have fewer weapons than insurgent militia groups, said 1st. Lt. Dieaa al-Mansory, one of 40 Iraqis stationed at al-Mutanabi.

"My guys, they do a good job but they don’t have enough equipment," he said through an interpreter. Iraqi soldiers even have to buy parts of their uniforms sometimes, he said.

Dieaa said his unit’s biggest problem is a lack of weapons. But of they also have only three vehicles — one Humvee and two non-military vehicles — of the 12 they’re supposed to have.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60581