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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: michael97123 who wrote (175276)11/18/2005 1:35:30 PM
From: Orcastraiter  Read Replies (1) of 281500
 
From what I understand, the "good Iraqis" will have to defend themselves and their fledgling nation with AK 47's from the backs of unarmored flatbeds and pickups.

Per the report to the Senate last month, There is only one Iraqi Unit capable of independent operation, and this after 2.5 years of occupation.

The amount of money it's going to take to equip and train the "good Iraqis" is going to be staggering. The additional $50 billion on the table in the current budget negotiations (hung up because of the torture ban language!) is to maintain the US presence...not to arm and train Iraqis.

Reports indicate that much of the money spent on equipment for the "good Iraqis" was spent on old surplus stuff, that is slightly better than junk.

If the goal was to prepare Iraqis for their self defense, then we have failed at that task. I've yet to see a budget item that fully entails the cost for such equipping and training. Then there is the subsequent support of such a force. If we need $50 billion a year for our forces now...a similar amount will be needed to support the "good Iraqis".

This administration has not been forthcoming with the Congress and the American people about the costs and timing of transferring the defense of Iraq to Iraqis. This makes me think that the real plan is to continue the occupation and construction of permanent military bases in Iraq. Nothing from this administration has indicated otherwise, either in the record of what has transpired, or in the plan for what's ahead.

Orca
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