U.S. Troops Ill-Prepared To Train Iraqis?

Of the 140,000 American troops in Iraq, 5,000 of them are training and advising Iraqi forces. But according to the trainers themselves, the army did not prepare them to accomplish their mission, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

Training is what counter insurgency warfare is all about — training local forces to take over the fighting — and the linchpin of the American exit strategy.

But in reports recording their experiences in Iraq, advisors like Colonel Nicholas Demas said the training he received before leaving the U.S. "was a phenomenal waste of time … nearly irrelevant to the current situation" in Iraq.

Lt. Col. Paul Ciesinski said counterinsurgency was our most important mission in Iraq but "there was zero training provided on it."

Because of complaints like that, the army opened a new school at Fort Riley, Kan., to train the trainers. So far 500 have graduated with another 550 there now — a fraction of what's needed.

"The institutional army has not caught up ... with the challenges of counterinsurgency," said Lt. Col. Paul Yingling after he returned from Iraq last March.

Yingling took part in one of the highlights of the war — the retaking of the city of Tal Afar by 3,000 American and 8,000 Iraqi troops, a model for what commanders hoped would happen in other violent cities.

"At the end, the Iraqi police will be the senior partner and the Iraqi army will be the junior partner and the U.S. and the coalition forces will be out of here," says Col. Sean Mcfarland, commanding officer of the 1st Brigade.

Tal Afar proved "the most important thing we do in counter insurgency is building (Iraqi) security forces," Yingling said. "Yet (the army is) designed around the least important line of operations: combat operations."

And it's not just the army. Col. Joseph Disalvo said when he asked State Department officers to teach Iraqis the basics of city management, "they brought nothing to the fight. They were vastly inexperienced."

Army officers say they can double the number going through the school at Fort Riley, but admit they'll still be playing catch up. And commanders in Iraq are calling for even more trainers.

[jackntx]

Here's yet another example of POSITIVE news about Iraqi army officer training occurring right now:

See the article on the Multi-National Force-Iraq website dated today, Friday, November 24, 2006, entitled 'British Instructors Put Iraqi Officer Candidates Through Their Paces.'

[jackntx]

Nere's two more examples of POSITIVE news regarding training the Iraqis:

Access the full stories on the Multi-National Force-Iraq website.

1. Thursday, November 23 story relating how Iraqi army instructors are being trained in Iraq in five week courses. The main aim is to improve the knowledge base and ability of the military academies' instructers in the areas of navigation, conventional platoon light infantry tactics, techniques and procedures and counterinsurgency low-level tactics, techniques and procedures. Counter-insurgency receives special focus.

2. Thursday, November 23 story about the recent completion of a new facility to support the Iraqi Coast Guard, the Border Police and the Customs Police on the Al- Faw peninsula south of Basrah.

Great progress in Iraq is being made and the Iraqis are stepping up to get the job done!

[jackntx]

This article is another example of misleading news about Iraq negative while ignoring reality!
Check out the Multi-National Forces-Iraq website to see what's happening that is largely ignored by the media.
The article ignores these facts:
Building the Iraqi security forces is about 75% complete. See the October 25 article describing the complex environment.
320,000 trained Iraqi security forces exist and 355,000 will be by the end of 2006. See November 11 article quoting Maj.Gen. Caldwell.
Successful efforts: see November 5 article on National Police completing 'Quick Look II' and November 4 article on building relationships at the border.
Iraqi security forces are RIGHT NOW leading in 75% of the operations. See the November 3 article quoting Caldwell regarding Prime Minister Maliki's plans. See the October 27 article quoting Caldwell regarding Iraqis taking responsibility across Iraq.
Rapid progress is occurring to eliminate terrorists and insurgents: in November so far, 722 terrorists and insurgents have been killed or detained, while 48 US military have been killed, resulting in a ratio of 15 to 1 !!! In October, 791 terrorists and insurgents were killed or detained, while 106 US military were killed, resulting in a ratio of 7.5 to 1. In September, 660 terrorists and insurgents were killed or detained, while 72 US military were killed, resulting in a ratio of 9.2 to 1. See the press releases.
Much progress continues in Iraq. We can and will win IF we do not wimp out.

[bob_burd]

Given the nature and inherent rabidity of tribal Iraqis and the muslim fundamentalist culture of hate, revenge and retribution, it won't be long before the trained turn on the trainers.

As for complaints that the US military was not trained to fight this type of war - get used to it. From this point on, all wars are increasingly likely to be either guerrilla or nuclear wars. Welcome to the 21st century, where 21st century meets 13th century.

Selah

[firststate]

Are Christian extremists better than Islamic or Zionist extremists, or are all the fringe sects equally dangerous?

Does anyone else think God might be tired of people killing each other in His name?

[observantx]

So again we have another steaming mess that Rummy has left us. Training the trainers to teach combat instead of counter insurgency. I don%u2019t believe the Iraqis need to be taught how to shoot at one another. They seem to have that pretty well figured out.

Counterinsurgency is not riding around in Humvees and waiting for people to shoot at you or try to blow you up. Counterinsurgency is exerting time, patience and intelligence to discover WHO is shooting at you and setting up the roadside bombs. Counterinsurgency is infiltrating the insurgents and finding out who they are, where they operate from, where their supplies are, who is cooperating with them, where their bomb factories are, who is directing their operations and what their future plans are.

Counterinsurgency is also getting the electric power working, the sewers, the water, the schools and hospitals. It has much to do with finding and supporting the local officials who address the community%u2019s problems quickly, fairly, and without regard to religion or status.

Right now we have the living proof of the dictum %u201CThe guerilla swims in the ocean of the people%u201D. The purpose of counterinsurgency is to net the guerillas and pull them out of the ocean. That is what should be taught. That is what Rummy and Fearless Leader have failed to do.

[firststate]

America is a little safer if the new Congress takes its Constitutional duties seriously. For 6 years, Congress has been confused. Oversight is different from over-looking the administration's conduct. A couple of times a few Senators stood up to them and won concessions like no detainee can be tortured in the Lincoln Bedroom.

Iraq has been a distraction from the "war on terror." The negligence and stupidity of this administration in the conduct of the war in Iraq are indefensible. The technical name of "Duh"baya's condition is cranio-rectalitis. It's something about the location of the head or something like that. It's supposed to result in clear hindsight.

[jn122736]

Religion and logic are mortal enemies.
All my life I have ran into the same dead end when debating creation.

My question: Why should anyone believe in a divine creator?
Bottom line answer: Because we had to come from somewhere.
My response and next question: I agree that is definitely logical but where did god come from?
Answer: Oh, god has always been here.

I find this tactic to be prevalent in most debates about the bible. Using selective parts, verbatim, that support an argument, then when direct to a part that appears to be contradictory, the usual response is, that%u2019s not really what that means.

To refer to specific parts of the bible in debating its validity is like saying %u201Cif you don%u2019t believe it, just ask me.
If you believe in the bible and it's teachings, as almost my entire family does, Then for god's sake (no pun intended) state it as a beiief, not as fact.

[ketch65]

**I could care less about Christianity as a religion!**

Oh and by the way, the scriptures say there is but one religion according to God.

-To look after orphans and widows and keep the world from getting in your way of doing this.-

[ketch65]

Christianity has not changed at all. If you can show me where the origional texts have changed I'll agree with you.

But as it is, the scrolls and parchments still sit written and protected where they always have.

Nothing has changed within the texts.

And now you've begun to talk about Christianity as well as though it were defined by the acts of humans who call themselves Christians.

The words of Christ have not changed.