From the ever-interesting www.strategypage.com:
The new American troops coming into Iraq, and replacing those who have been there for a year, are also going to take a less active roll in policing Iraq. In the cities, including Baghdad, American troops will move to compounds on the outskirts and leave it to Iraqi police and security forces to keep the peace. There are about 14,000 Iraqi police and security troops in Baghdad now, and another 5,000 being trained. The US is making police recruits undergo far more training than Iraqi police have ever had in the past. Traditionally, most of the police were seen as larcenous thugs, and this is being changed by exposing the police recruits to modern police methods and the concept of being an honest cop.
This seems like a wise and necessary step. I hope the security forces are up to the job. |