US eyes bolstering NATO's Iraq role after polls

[Barrett808]

The United States wants to further build a NATO training mission for Iraq after upcoming elections, when developing the Iraqi army will be a key task for the new government, a senior US diplomat said.

Nicholas Burns, US ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also urged more countries who have chosen not to deploy troops inside the violence-scarred country to do more to help with training.

"Not all of us agreed two years ago .. on what should be done in Iraq, but I think all of us now agree.. that NATO should be in Iraq, it is in Iraq that we ought to build that mission," he said.

NATO agreed last June to deploy instructors to train officers of the new Iraq army, and has pushed those plans through despite discord over details, notably resistance by countries which opposed the Iraq war like France.

Escalating insurgency attacks are increasing pressure on the country's military ahead of January 30 elections for a new Iraq government, to replace the interim administration which took over from the US-led coalition last June.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050110/pl_afp/natoiraquseuropevote

[Tempest]

1. Never happen

Especially with U.S. generals saying the insurgency will likely increase after the elections.

NATO won't get involved unless the training occurs outside of Iraq.

They've already made that clear.

[bemildred]

2. Fat chance.

This is just another attempt, in a chain of many attempts, to
find some other sucker to leave holding the bag.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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