Iraqi armed forces need the presence of U.S. Army army to maintain security in the country 2711111

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Defense News - Iraq
 
 
Sunday, November 27, 2011, 04:16 PM
 
Iraqi armed forces need the presence of U.S. Army army to maintain security in the country.
Iraqi forces need an American troop presence, or at least U.S. training forces, President Jalal Talabani has said, according to a Nov. 26 statement on the Iraqi presidency's website. Regarding "internal security, I believe that the police and army forces are capable of maintaining security as it is now," Talabani said in an interview with Iraqiya television, according to the statement.
     
Iraqi forces need an American troop presence, or at least U.S. training forces, President Jalal Talabani has said, according to a Nov. 26 statement on the Iraqi presidency's website. Regarding "internal security, I believe that the police and army forces are capable of maintaining security as it is now," Talabani said in an interview with Iraqiya television, according to the statement.
U.S. Army Soldiers of the 573rd Clearance Company, 1st Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, climbs into his mine resistant ambush- protected vehicle before departing on a convoy route clearing mission near Tikrit, Iraq, Feb. 22.
     
"But there is a big problem in air and naval defense, and in using new weapons," Talabani said.

"I have read, as the president of the republic, reports from officers responsible ... for the air force and the navy and armor and infantry," he said.

"And all these reports found that Iraq needs an American presence or at least the presence of American trainers, because they say we are not capable now of defending our skies and our waters, nor to use the weapons we will buy or obtain from the Americans."

Iraqi officers "want the Americans to stay either as trainers or as forces to help Iraq against terrorism and against external interventions," Talabani said.

But he added: "I do not think the U.S. withdrawal will be a disaster for Iraq, as I believe Iraq is able to maintain its internal security."

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Oct. 21 that all U.S. troops would depart Iraq by the end of the year, bringing to a close an almost nine-year war that has left thousands of U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis dead, and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.