Update on Iraqi Armed Forces

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Iraqis are slowly building up their own armed forces. Still have a ways to go, yes, and they may not be capable yet of handling security in Iraq on their own yet, but they have progressed far far beyond where they were a year ago. Here are a few details on their progress.

According to this State Dept progress report (PDF), dated September 14, the Iraqi army numbers 86,400, and police and other Interior Ministry forces number 104,300.

In this issue (PDF) of Scimitar, the official publication of Multi-National Force - Iraq, there is a story on page 2 telling of a ceremony in Najaf, where security control of that city was handed over to Iraqi forces.

The story right below that one tells of the progress MNF is making, and highlights a number of terrorists killed or captured, including Abu Zayd, the al-Qaeda military emir of Mosul.

This issue (PDF) of This Week in Iraq tells of the key role played by Iraqi forces in Tal Afar. The article on page 1 says:

The Iraqi-led operations included more than 11,200 Soldiers from the 3rd Iraqi Army Division, Ministry of Interior forces and the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The operation resulted in the death of more than 150 terrorists, detention of 427 terrorists, and discovery of 53 weapons caches. Additionally, security forces discovered an improvised explosive device-making factory, a cave used to hide people and equipment, and concealed observation and sniper positions. The Iraqi Forces put an end to the acts of terror being carried out against the citizens of Tall Afar, said Maj. Gen. Khorsheed Saleem Al-Doski.

This lengthy document (PDF) by Anthony Cordesman, called a rough draft, is dated August 5 2005, and looks at Iraqi Force Development.

The document explains that there is still work to be done, but there are good signs, particulary in Iraqi recruitment:

Manpower quality was improving, but there were ongoing questions about motivation and loyalty. Recruiting and retention standards were being raised, as were the standards for promotion. Vetting was being improved overall, although reliable personnel data were often lacking a war-torn society. In cases like the police, screening examinations adapted from Western police vetting and testing methods were also being applied for the first time in Iraq’s history.

Recruiting did not become a problem in spite of daily insurgent attacks on Iraqi forces. Insurgents stepped up their attacks on the military and security forces after the election, and singled out Shi’ites for attack in events like the religious festivities surrounding the Shi’ite holiday of Ashura. Even so, the US Department of Defence issued an update on February 16, 2005 that stated that between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqis had shown up at an airfield in southern Iraq to join the army in one day.

At the OpinionJournal website on Wednesday, Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq, had an editorial that anyone interested in Iraq should read.

Talabni begins:

There is no more important international issue today than the need to defeat the curse of terrorism. And as the first democratically elected president of Iraq, I have a responsibility to ensure that the world's youngest democracy survives the inherently difficult transition from totalitarianism to pluralism. A transformation of the Iraqi state and Iraqi society is impossible without a sustained commitment of soldiers from the United States and other democracies.

Talabani goes on to highlight the progress has been made, and points out Iraqi forces are making progress, and he closes with his gratitude for America's help:

If we keep progressing at the present rate, Iraqis may be able to take over many security functions from foreign forces by the end of 2006. That is not a deadline, but it is reasonable aspiration. During my visit to the United States, I was fortunate to meet relatives of some of the brave troops serving in Iraq. They were staunch, and I want their loved ones to have to serve in Iraq not a moment longer than is necessary.
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Without American forces, the vision of American leadership and the quiet fortitude of the American people, Iraqis would be almost alone in the world. With its allies, the United States has provided Iraqis with an unprecedented opportunity. Iraqis have responded by enthusiastically embracing democracy and volunteering to fight for their country. By giving us the tools, your troops help us to defend Iraqi democracy and to finish the job of uprooting Baathist fascism.

Finally, let us not forget the nature of the enemy. This MNF-Iraq press release tells of an incident where terrorists used children as human shields. One child died.

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Betsy Newmark mentions an important issue, that of the Shiite-Sunni tensions in the Iraqi forces.