After 2.5 years, one Iraqi Battalion said capable

[odannyboy]

After almost 2000 American's have made the ultimate sacrifice the top commander in Iraq says one Iraqi Battallion is able to operate without U.S. help.

At this rate all the troops will be home in about 50 years.

(CBS/AP) Only one Iraqi army battalion seems capable of fighting without U.S. help, a senior American general told Congress on Thursday, leaving some lawmakers worried about worsening conditions there despite his assurances that the overall military strategy is working.

The comments came on a day when three suicide attackers detonated car bombs nearly simultaneously in a mainly Shiite town north of Baghdad, killing at least 60 people and wounding 70 others, a hospital official said. In the western town of Ramadi, the military said a roadside bomb killed five American soldiers.

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the number of Iraqi army battalions rated by U.S. officers as capable of fighting without U.S. help had dropped from three to one.

That equals roughly 700 soldiers. Casey did not explain the reduction
but insisted many more -- roughly 21,000 -- can carry out operations backed up by American troops. He pointed out that in the recent assault on Tal Afar, Iraqi troops outnumbered American troops for the first time, CBS News correspondent David Martin reports from the Pentagon.

However, this prompted expressions of concern by Democrats and Republicans alike, at a time when many lawmakers and members of the public are growing restless about the U.S. involvement in Iraq and the nearly 2,000 American troops who have died there.

"That contributes to a loss of public confidence in how the war is going," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said of Casey's remarks. "It doesn't feel like progress when we hear today that there is only one Iraqi battalion fully capable."

In related developments:

<LI>A judge has ruled that pictures of detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison must be released over U.S. government claims that they could damage America's image.

<LI>A Pentagon analyst charged with providing classified information to an Israeli official and members of a pro-Israeli lobbying group will plead guilty, according to the U.S. District Court clerk's office. Lawrence A. Franklin, 58, of Kearneysville, W.Va., was indicted in June on charges of leaking classified materials — including information about potential attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq — to two members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and an Israeli official.

<LI>In two attacks, gunmen opened fire on a Shiite bakery shop in the Dora neighborhood, killing three civilians, and on a minibus carrying government cleaners to work, killing two and wounding seven, police said. Elsewhere in the capital, two civilians and four police officers were killed in drive-by shootings, and a 12-year-old child living in a homeless shelter died when a mortar exploded nearby, police said.

<LI>North of Baghdad, three members of the Al-Khalis city council were killed by gunmen on their way home from a meeting, and an Iraqi woman was killed and three other civilians were wounded when five mortar rounds hit them in Samara city, police said.

<LI>On Wednesday, in a suicide bombing in northwestern Iraq, a woman disguised in a man's robes and headdress slipped into a line of army recruits and detonated explosives strapped to her body, killing at least six recruits and wounding 35. It was the first known suicide attack by a woman in Iraq's insurgency.

The Iraqi troop ratings are important because the Pentagon has built its Iraq strategy on the expectation that it can start bringing American troops home as the Iraqis gradually take the lead in the fight against the insurgency.

CBS News correspondent Lara Logan reports from Baghdad that the progress of Iraqi troops is mixed. If U.S. forces pulled out tomorrow, there wouldn't be any Iraqi battalions that could fight alone and that means everything from logistics to signals, to heavy weapons to close air support.

Also, while Iraq's forces have improved, penetration by pro-Iranian militias into the battalions raises questions over their reliability, Logan adds.

Underscoring the continued U.S. presence in Iraq, the House on Thursday passed, 348-65, a bill funding Pentagon operations at roughly current levels as part of a stopgap funding bill for federal agencies whose budgets will not have passed by Saturday, the start of the 2006 fiscal year. The Senate was expected to pass the measure later by Friday.

The effort to train Iraqi troops and police has progressed far slower than once expected, and Casey conceded it has been hurt by infiltration of the army and Iraqi police by insurgents and their sympathizers.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he was troubled that with such uneven progress in training the Iraqi army, the Bush administration is still planning for the possible withdrawal of some U.S. troops from Iraq next year.
<LI>Casey said troops reductions are an important part of the overall military strategy for stabilizing Iraq. He declined to predict, as he had in July, that the Pentagon could make a fairly substantial troop withdrawal next year if political progress continues and the insurgency does not grow more violent. But he said under questioning by committee members that troop reductions were possible in 2006.

Casey pointed out that the average insurgency lasts nine years and said there is no reason to believe the insurgency in Iraq will be any shorter, Martin reports.

"You're taking a very big gamble here," McCain said to Casey "I hope you're correct. I don't see the indicators yet that we are ready to plan or begin troop withdrawals, given the overall security situation."

There are now about 149,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, and the number is likely to top 150,000 as Casey bolsters the force to prepare for an expected increase in violence before an Oct. 15 referendum on the Iraqi constitution.

The coordinated car-bomb attacks occurred just before sunset, around 6:45 p.m., hitting a bank, a vegetable market and another location in downtown Balad, a mostly Shiite city 50 miles north of the capital, witnesses said.

Dr. Khaled al-Azawi of Balad Hospital said at least 60 people were killed, and 70 were wounded, including the town's police chief, Col. Kadhim Abdul Razzaq, and four other policemen.

Also, a roadside bomb killed five American soldiers Wednesday during combat in the western town of Ramadi, the military said. It was the deadliest single attack on U.S. troops since a roadside bomb killed 14 Marines near Haditha in western Iraq on Aug. 3.

The five dead Americans were assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force and were hit Wednesday while "conducting combat operations" in the insurgent hotbed, a statement by the Marines said.

The deaths brought to 13 the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq in the past four days. According to an Associated Press count, 1,934 U.S. troops have died since the war started in 2003.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/...in541815.shtml

[BrianK]

Not likely "all" the troops will be home in 50 years. We still have troops in Japan, Germany, & South Korea.

I suppose we could do as people like Cindy Shehan wants and have all the troops home now. Somehow it strikes me that having Fort Benning Ga. filled to the max with troops "home" would make an excellent target. What better way to really demoralize America? Or if all the major bases were filled with returning military, the ones "Cindy" wants home now what would prevent some semi intelligent terrorists from figuring out how to wipe out those bases & all the troops?

I used "Cindy Shehan" as a representative for the mindless that don't see a larger picture.

Semi intelligent terrorists was sarcasm. The planning and execution of terror activity hasn't been accomplished by poorly educated people. They are in no hurry. Terrorism by it's nature is a slow and continous process unless stopped.

When and if the "Cindy" crowd open their eyes to the reality that this is a war not a video game that will go away when the switch is turned off. Then and only then will the sacrifices being made on their behalf sink in.

I sincerely doubt the "Cindy" crowd understands that rather than being able to develope a socialist society.They will be the 1st. to be on their knees learning to pray 5 times a day.

[odannyboy]

Brian, fighting terrorism is a delicate balance that one must strike. Flailing away and being slowly drained of resources, seeing rising casualties and costs, is not surprising to some folks. So far, like Iraq has turned out to be (like many worried it would) aint the answer. It isn't the smartest way to fight terrorism. We have to be honest here. No more "toeing the line" but being open and honest.


Ms. Sheehan is a few apples short of a bushel and does nothing for those who truly want a realistic solution to the mess in Iraq. I can tell you this, the "liberal" media is ANYTHING but liberal, it ias part of the conjoining of the corporate and political elite in a strange friendship, one where one benefits the other. I do believe that the Sheehan's will be the only ones given any media attention, and the end result will be no oppostion voice and a continuing struggle that won't improve with a 'stiff upper lip' as the mother country used to say. You have to have not only long term strategic vision but your battles have to be chosen wisely. This mess that was planned in Iraq is inversely proportional to genuinely fighting, to say nothing of reducing terrorism. At least thus far. We are, after 2.5 years, seeing an increase. Should be no surprise, we are in those scumbags backyards and we pissed off a few MILIION of them (Sunni's) to say noithing of leaving the backdoor open to porous borders. So far we are creating it, and by extension American casualties and deaths daily. That is not the solution either.

[JohnRN]

Originally Posted by BrianK

I sincerely doubt the "Cindy" crowd understands that rather than being able to develope a socialist society.They will be the 1st. to be on their knees learning to pray 5 times a day.

Whats opposing the Iraq War gots to go with creating a socialist society?

Granted people like Sheehan get all the publicity, but that don't make the rest of the opposition rebels without a just cause.

For example: The American Libertarian Party is opposed to this war. Does that make them "socialists" ?

[odannyboy]

Originally Posted by John.

Whats opposing the Iraq War gots to go with creating a socialist society?

Granted people like Sheehan get all the publicity, but that don't make the rest of the opposition rebels without a just cause.

For example: The American Libertarian Party is opposed to this war. Does that make them "socialists" ?

That is what I mean about giving Cindy all the attention, she may even relish the attention but it is no conicidence that the media will focus on her. By doing so our much vaunted "liberal" media is afraid to raise any hard questions to our President, who seemingly lives in a bubble.

We need the voice of experience to override the voice of confusion and poor planning. We need to reassess and quit letting these clowns in positions of power ruin this country and sacrifice our soldiers by thier bungled plans in Iraq and seemingly everywhere they decide to recklessly abuse power. Did you hear that Pat Tillman opposed the Iraq war? He did a tour there. We need to listen to our soldiers and they need to be able to speak openly and honestly without the fear of being sacked. No more Shineski's. No more ridicule. There was another three star who was critical, he got sacked. Nailed him for having a girlfriend even though he was only legally seperated. They are shutting down they who should be listened to. We need to listen to guys like this.

http://www.nathanielfick.com/more/NYT9-20-05.pdf

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by John.

Whats opposing the Iraq War gots to go with creating a socialist society?

Granted people like Sheehan get all the publicity, but that don't make the rest of the opposition rebels without a just cause.

For example: The American Libertarian Party is opposed to this war. Does that make them "socialists" ?

My comments concerning socialists was directed at people with beliefs like Cindy Shehan.

As for the Libertarian Party they are far from being socialist. They are as anti war as they are anti just about everything else. I can understand the popular idea of anti tax and anti welfare but when it comes to anti regulation of business that seems to me to be anti competative which in theory keeps pricing reasonable. Some of their "anti" positions have appeal but then so do the two major parties have appeal.

Rebels without a just cause? What cause would that be? Better question would be to get an answer to how the rebels would convince the radical Islamics to end their quest. That quest was stated very clearly to be to bring western civilization to it's knees. From there forward would be the conversion of the worlds citizens to one religious belief.

Complaining about how it's being done is easy, I haven't heard one anti war activists come up with a solution. Surely there is brilliance enough in that segment to be able to.

[odannyboy]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Complaining about how it's being done is easy, I haven't heard one anti war activists come up with a solution. Surely there is brilliance enough in that segment to be able to.

How does invading Iraq "fight terrorism"? I have not heard one pro-war supporter say how this policy is either:

1) Effectively reducing terrorism
2) Creating stability in the region
3) Furthering the aims of this country in any way, shape or form.

Someone tell me why it is in this country's best interests to remain in this place WITHOUT resorting to "Leaving and the terrorists take over" which seems to be the best answer. One of, basically, we are stuck there. If that is the case we can use the "Q" word because that is all it is.

Most people remain apathetic or blindly supportive, only a very small segment is speaking out. However, more than half of this country is no longer supportive of this venture because it quite simply is not bearing fruit and probably never will.

I'm baffled people think this invasion of Iraq was ever in any way, shape or form a strike against terrorism. That is what it was sold as. Fancy packaging.