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| Iraq |
| Iraqi, US units replace Georgian troops |
| 2008-08-18 |
| Iraqi and U.S. troops have replaced the Georgian contingent in Kut, south of the capital, that was withdrawn to face up to the crisis back home with Russia, the U.S. military has said. "Iraqi security forces will partner with the 41st Fires Brigade and occupy several checkpoints and patrol bases previously manned by the 1st Georgian Brigade," it said Saturday in a statement. Georgian troops manned a key checkpoint about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Kut and patrolled the city. "Right now, the Iraqi soldiers have taken over the responsibility of the traffic control point, but we are going to train them to be able to take over the entire patrol base," U.S. 2nd Lieutenant Charles Hines said in the statement. Most of the 2,000-strong contingent, posted in Iraq since August 2003, were rushed back to Georgia since August 10 on board U.S. military aircraft to support their comrades in battle with Russian forces. Local Iraqis on Saturday appeared unmoved by the departure of the Georgian contingent. "The Georgian forces had no experience, they didn't know how to fight. They didn't follow army orders, that's why their duties were to man checkpoints and search cars," said Mohammed Khudaia, a former officer in Saddam Hussein's army. Taxi-driver Amer Abid said 200 dollars went missing after a search at a Georgian checkpoint. "The departure of the Georgians is a good thing. They're just the same as the other occupation forces. The Iraqi forces are quite capable of taking care of security," said Saab Ali, a 49-year-old trader. As the third largest contributor to coalition forces in Iraq after the United States and Britain, the departure of the Georgian troops has entailed adjustments for the U.S. military. |
| Posted by:Fred |