Americans Forced to Supply Iraqi Military

[Barrett808]

Americans Forced to Supply Iraqi Military
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer

KHALDIYAH, Iraq - The troops on patrol in this city west of Baghdad are Iraqi, part of the U.S. strategy to hand over more responsibility to the new Iraqi military. But the ammo in their weapons and the fuel in their vehicles were delivered by the Americans.

U.S. commanders have identified the lack of an effective supply chain as a major weakness of Iraq's military, and until one is in place, the United States and its coalition partners cannot fully hand over security responsibilities.

"The biggest weakness that the Iraqi army has right now is logistics — where to get the stuff, how to get it. They just don't have it yet," said Marine Maj. Ted Wong of San Francisco, who helps train Iraqi soldiers in this sector 50 miles from Baghdad.

For example, the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Iraqi Division recently took over security responsibilities from American forces in most of this Sunni Arab city in volatile Anbar province.

But most of the supplies still come from a nearby American base — delivered by American convoys. Trucks that ferry Iraqi soldiers refuel at the U.S. base. Food for the Iraqi soldiers is provided by Western contractors — whose local offices are protected within the American compound.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060203/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_logistics_shortfall

[benburch]

1. As the Iraqi Military is intensely disloyal...

much of what we supply them goes directly to the insurgency.

[Barrett808]

2. And to the various militias. n/t

[Tempest]

3. And the end result is that the weapons will be used against us

Especially if Iran is attacked.

[Barrett808]

4. Yes, all hell will break loose in "peaceful" S. Iraq if we attack Iran

But the neo-cons are delusional enough to do it.

[phantom power]

5. Is this that same war that was going to pay for itself?

[FloridaPat]

6. Where is all that oil money going?