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New Iraq army hit by resignations
US plans to create a new Iraqi army have suffered a setback after hundreds of recruits resigned. The armyâs first 700-man battalion lost 300 troops who were within weeks of being deployed, Pentagon officials say. The battalion is the only one trained so far for what is eventually hopted to be a 40,000-strong force. The US-led coalition in Iraq has played down the incident, saying it was just a dispute over pay and many more men were ready to join up. "They used to be paid two dollars a month and now the recruits are being paid $60 a month, but they feel they ought to be paid more than that," he told the BBc World Serviceâs Newshour programme. "Thatâs fine, if thatâs what they want, then they can go find another job. There are plenty of people queuing up to join the new Iraqi army."Posted by: Paul Moloney 2003-12-12 |
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