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| Iraq |
| ’Free Iraqi Forces’ Join U.S. Troops |
| 2003-03-14 |
| The 50 Iraqi exiles trained by the U.S. military to act as interpreters and guides have joined American units in the Persian Gulf awaiting a possible war with Iraq, the Army general in charge of their training said Friday. The first group of "Free Iraqi Forces" finished a monthlong training course at a base in Hungary earlier this month, Maj. Gen. David Barno told Pentagon reporters in a telephone interview. Barno said his group of Army soldiers is training another group of Iraqis and preparing for a third class. The graduates are all deployed with military "civil affairs" units, which move into areas after combat to help provide food, shelter and other relief to civilians, Barno said. Good place for them. The Iraqis - exiles who were living in the United States, Canada and Western Europe - are trained to work with U.S. military units that provide humanitarian assistance, Barno said. They are not intended to join front-line combat units, though U.S. field commanders have the final say on that question, Barno said. The Army trainers taught the Iraqis basic self-defense skills, like using a 9mm pistol and wearing protective gear in case of chemical or biological attacks. The Army also trained the Iraqis how to coordinate humanitarian aid between the U.S. military and relief groups such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Commission for Refugees. "They're not experts, but they're well attuned to the requirements," Barno said. The Iraqi recruits range in age from 18 to 55, and many were businessmen or teachers with advanced degrees, including one man with a doctorate, Barno said. They represent all regions and the three main ethnic groups in Iraq, he said. "They came together very cohesively despite their varied backgrounds from different parts of Iraq," he said. Although the "Free Iraqi Forces" are not formally part of the U.S. military and wear distinctive patches on their uniforms, they will be expected to follow the orders of U.S. commanders, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. The Iraqis are paid a small stipend that's less than a U.S. private would make, Barno said. Three Iraqi recruits have had to drop out of the training because of personal or medical problems, Barno said. The recruits are screened before their training to try to prevent the forces from being infiltrated by agents working for Saddam Hussein, Barno said. "I'm very confident that these individuals ... are absolutely trustworthy," he said. Tick..tick..tick.. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 ;) Right up there with "I Was a Cock-Teaser for Roosterama!" |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-03-15 00:27:19 |
| #2 I thought "Free Mexican Air Force" was a song by Flaco Jimenez.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-03-14 18:23:45 |
| #1 Nah, they ain't got no B-25's... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-03-14 13:46:21 |