NYT: Worry Grows as Iraq's Defense Ministry Falls Short of Expectations

[Goldmund]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 1 - The reformed Iraqi Ministry of Defense, a crucial element of any American plan to withdraw troops, is riddled with crippling problems that have raised concerns about its ability to keep Iraqi units paid, fed and equipped once it assumes full responsibility for the army, American and Iraqi commanders say.

<snip>

"What are lacking are the systems that pay people, that supply people, that recruit people, that replace the wounded and AWOL, and systems that promote people and provide spare parts," said a top American commander in Iraq, who asked not to be identified because his assessment of Iraqi abilities went beyond the military's public descriptions.

<snip>

So concerned are military planners that, in the event that American combat troops do indeed leave over the next year, they are preparing to keep large numbers of support troops and supplies in Iraq or in nearby countries, ready to assist Iraqi units fighting insurgents, the American commander said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/03/international/middleeast/03ministry.html?oref=login

[karlrschneider]

1. Translation: Only Allah knows how to fix this clusterfuck and she's not

telling anybody.

[Selatius]

2. I'm not sure it's possible to build an effective fighting force anymore

Not in this environment. They're riddled with saboteurs and informants working for the resistance groups, and God knows how many of them have gone AWOL or even joined the resistance.

[Goldmund]

3. .