As the US army readies to redeploy its combat troops outside Iraqi cities, there are some concerns regarding the ability of Iraqi forces to pass this test and maintain security. “We have a weak government, affected socially and economically since the invasion, that during six years had US troops giving protection and support,” Hakimat al-Wishah, a secondary school teacher in Baghdad, told IslamOnline.net on Sunday, June 28. “Are they prepared for this responsibility?” Under last November’s Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), US troops will redeploy outside urban areas on Tuesday, June 30, leaving the task of security to the Iraqi army and police. But many have concerned about the ability of the Iraqi army and police to maintain security especially that the country has already been hit by a series of deadly attacks this month, killing more than 100 people. “We hear from senior government officers that Iraq is passing through a phase of stability but we know that it is untrue with the daily incidents,” Jihaish Abdel-Jalil al-Jihaish, a political science teacher at Baghdad University, said. But US General Ray Odierno, the commander of US-led forces in Iraq, is confident that the Iraqis are ready to take over security operations in the cities. “I do believe they are ready,” he told CNN. “They’ve been working towards this for a long time.” “I believe this is the time for us to move out of the cities and for them to take ultimate responsibility.” Some say the redeployment will be less dramatic than assumed because the US army can still intervene if Iraqi security forces appeal for help.
US REDEPLOYMENT TESTS IRAQ SECURITY
As the US army readies to redeploy its combat troops outside Iraqi cities, there are some concerns regarding the ability of Iraqi forces to pass this test and maintain security.
