Study: Iraqi security forces not ready
Updated: 2007-09-06 09:44
"No matter what these reports suggest or what Congress infers from them, it is clear that it is time to develop a post-surge strategy," wrote 13 lawmakers, including three Republicans, on Wednesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
But other lawmakers were expected to take keen interest in Jones' report, which is a rare, detailed look at individual pieces of Iraq's emerging security force. The report was requested by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the No 2 Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said he wanted an assessment independent of the Pentagon's findings.
According to the study, the panel agreed with US and Iraqi officials that the Iraqi army is capable of taking over an increasing amount of day-to-day combat responsibilities but that the military and police force would still be unable to take control and operate independently in such a short time frame.
"They are gaining size and strength, and will increasingly be capable of assuming greater responsibility for Iraq's security," the report states, adding that special forces in particular are "highly capable and extremely effective."
The report is much more pessimistic about Baghdad's police units. It describes these units as fragile, ill-equipped and infiltrated by militia forces. And they are led by the Interior Ministry, which is "a ministry in name only" that is "widely regarded as being dysfunctional and sectarian, and suffers from ineffective leadership."
Accordingly, the study recommends disbanding the national police and starting over.
"Its ability to be effective is crippled by significant challenges, including public distrust, sectarianism (both real and perceived), and a lack of clarity about its identity - specifically whether it is a military or a police force," the report states.
A group of liberal Democrats said Wednesday the US should stop supporting these forces entirely and withdraw US troops.
"How can we be sure we are not putting guns into the hands of a future enemy and empowering them for generations to come?" said Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.
Other Democrats say party leaders have set their sights on the $147 billion Bush requested for the war as a means of forcing a drawdown of US forces. The money was requested by Bush to pay for combat in budget year 2008, which begins October 1.
Rep. James Moran, D-Va., a member of the House panel that oversees the military budget, said an option being considered is a bill that funds the troops, but in three- or four-month installments, and directs the money pay only to bring them home.
The approach would guarantee another showdown with Bush on the war before year's end, putting Republicans squarely in the middle of the debate. With Democrats lacking the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, they need GOP votes to force legislation ending the war.
GOP leaders say they are waiting to hear from Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq. But they said they aren't so sure they'll lose members to the Democrats' anti-war push.
"The success our troops have had put some oxygen back in the room, both for the party and the American public," said Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., the No 3 House Republican.
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