Gen.: Iraq 10 years from defending its borderBy Anne Flaherty - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 17, 2008 12:10:15 EST
A senior military commander told a House panel Thursday that Iraq’s security forces are on track to add 80,000 personnel by the end of the year, but it’s a long way from becoming self-sufficient.
Lt. Gen. James Dubik, head of the Multi-National Security Transition Command, said the Iraqi defense minister has been insistent with him that the country would not be able to assume full responsibility for internal security until 2012 and be unable to defend its borders until at least 2018.
There are “positive signs, indeed, and steps forward, but the truth is that they simply cannot fix, supply, arm or fuel themselves completely enough at this point,” Dubik told the House Armed Services Committee.
Article at:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_dubik_080117/