Iraq PM says more troops for volatile Diyala

Reuters ^ | May 13 2007 | Mussab Al-Khairalla

[ASC2006]

Maliki did not say how many extra Iraqi security forces would follow 3,000 U.S. troops already sent to the religiously mixed province northeast of Baghdad during the past six weeks.

"In the next few days we will increase the number of troops in the Iraqi Army ... and the police on a significant level," he told reporters.

The Iraqi Red Crescent said 768 Shi'ite families have left villages near the town of Khalis in Diyala after militants swept through and forced them out.

"The people of Diyala are going through a humanitarian tragedy. Whole families were forced to leave the Ambugiya villages (around Khalis) and resettled in Baghdad, taking only the clothes they were wearing," said Red Crescent spokeswoman Wafaa Mahmoud.

She said most of the latest victims were Ambugiya villagers who were attacked by suspected al Qaeda militants on Tuesday.

Insurgents have tried to establish a Taliban-style rule by banning smoking, forcing young schoolgirls to wear veils and attacking restaurants and Internet cafes deemed "un-Islamic".

Residents say Iraqi and U.S. security forces rarely venture into many districts of Diyala's provincial capital Baquba.

"We are just hiding in our own houses. We are unable to move anywhere because we are afraid," said Nour Ali, 36.

[do the dhue]

bookmark

[ASC2006]

I have been hopeing for a long time we and the Iraqis increase the forces in Diyala.

The Iraqi Army should also be doubled in size, it would take less time then many think to do it.

[Marine_Uncle]

Well I don't know about doubling in size. It takes time to take a few thousand at a time and run them through basic training, then in some cases advanced infantry and some SASO schooling.
The game plan as you well understand is to do it right this time around and fully trained them, and equip them to take over the battle. They still do not have their logistics and supply depots fully operational as far as I can see. And obviosly they need a lot of light mobile armor units to move about units and get away from the white toyada trucks they have been forced to use.
What is the sense of having a two or three new battalions of barely trained troops that have no means of rapid mobility.
This year, we shall see increasing amounts of mobile units that can move about with enough of supply trucks to keep them supplied with food, gear, and ammo.
We tend to forget so much of their ex army hardware is no longer operative. But surely they are on the right track.