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Iraq-Jordan
U.S. Begins To Hand Over Command To Iraqi Forces
2005-02-24
The U.S. military has begun to transfer authority to Iraqi security forces. Officials said the U.S.-led coalition has been quietly handing over the command to Iraq's military and security units in the four most violent provinces in the country. Fourteen of the 18 provinces have already been under Iraqi security control.
Fourteen of 18, ya say? Golly, I hadn't read that in the New York Times. Sounds almost ... peaceful ... in those provinces.
You still read the New York Times?
In the latest move, the U.S. military has transferred control to the Iraq Army in Baghdad. The U.S. Army's First Cavalry Division has handed over authority in several areas to Baghdad to the Iraq Army's 40th Brigade. "We have reached a certain stage," Iraqi Brig. Gen. Jalil Khalaf said at the handover ceremony on Feb. 21. "The Americans are very accurate. They saw that we reached a certain stage in advanced training and in [the ability to] take over responsibilities."
Posted by:Fred

#7  Mrs D I read that article this morning and came to the same conclusion. It was interesting how Col. Yassir said he wanted his troopers to be his friend. Sounds like bad parenting to me. Consistent discipline, clear expectations of character and performance and leadership by example are what are needed. These are not qualities of the Arab officer corps up till now. It will take time for them to change.
Posted by: Remoteman   2005-02-24 12:15:55 PM  

#6  Jame Retief---I threw out the acronym on a whym, heh heh. Believe it or not, MacNails nailed it! MacNails, have a see-gar!
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-02-24 11:43:12 AM  

#5  Interesting article on page 1 of the WSJ-odt this morning.

"Capt. Jamie Farelly, leader of the nine man U. S. team [and member of the Gen. Mattis of Tomorrow Club], was furious. Even though no one was injured, his men could have been hurt. The Iraqis' commander, who is called Col. Yassir, immediately said it wasn't his fault. His soldiers weren't professionals like the Marines, he said, and shouldn't be expected to perform at the same level.

"' B***s***! It is your fault,' Capt. Farrelly says he screamed at Col. Yassir. "Just like everything here is your fault, because you don't hold anyone accountable. You don't discipline your troops. You don't maintain basic standards.' Col. Yassir confirms the account."

Marines. Gotta love 'em. But that poor Col Yassir has spent 25 years under the Hussein regime learning that every screw-up is somebody else's fault or you die. Now he gets to read about it in the WSJ. Fortunately, there's a new generation coming.

" 'My junior leaders are supbeerb. But my battallion commander is a coward,' says Capt. Chuck Green who leads a U. S. advisory team in Mosul."

We may be there for 20 years till the next generation can fly solo, and that's OK with me.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-02-24 9:39:38 AM  

#4  Wha...?! But what about the QUAGMIRE?! It can't be!
Posted by: Dar   2005-02-24 9:27:32 AM  

#3  Liberal Dip-Shits of the West ? :P
Posted by: MacNails   2005-02-24 9:07:48 AM  

#2  Hey, AP, can you define LDSOTW for the acronymically challenged?
Posted by: Jame Retief   2005-02-24 6:56:11 AM  

#1  This will be another step in the process, another quiet success. While the MSM, the LLL, and LDSOTW knock US policy and actions, President Bush is sticking to the plan and making things happen. When they finally wake up and THEY realize that events and history have passed them by, they will only see a bit of smoke from the train on the horizon.
[/waxing semi-poetic]
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-02-24 12:48:27 AM  

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