US commander now doubts troop cutbacks
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-01 09:21

One of the keys to eventually bringing all American troops home from Iraq is training and equipping enough Iraqi soldiers and police to defend the country by themselves. Casey raised some eyebrows in Congress on Thursday when he disclosed that only one Iraqi army battalion was ready to go into combat without U.S. support. A few months ago three battalions were thought to have that capability. Casey said Friday he was not certain why the number fell from three to one but it might be linked to a shake-up in battalion leaders.

Whatever the case, Casey argued, the more important fact is that more than 30 Iraqi army battalions are deemed capable of leading a combat operation against the insurgents, even if they require U.S. support.

"Next year at this time, I'll be much more concerned about it" if only a small number of Iraqi battalions are still considered battle-ready by American officers, Casey said.

Casey and Rumsfeld appeared before reporters at the Pentagon at the conclusion of a week in which the Bush administration forcefully pressed its case for continued patience among the American public, which polls indicate is becoming more troubled by the daily U.S. casualties in Iraq and uncertain prospects for victory.

Casey and Gen. John Abizaid, the Central Command commander who has overall responsibility for military aspects of the global war on terrorism, briefed several congressional committees — in private and in public — and Rumsfeld painted a picture Friday of the insurgencies in Iraq as well as Afghanistan giving ground.

"The enemy is losing," he said.

Casey predicted that violence would continue in Iraq as the Oct. 15 referendum approaches.

"To be sure, the next months will be difficult, as our enemies also recognize what's at stake. They are already challenging the referendum process with increased terror attacks to create the impression that attempts of progress are futile and that Iraq can never become a modern democratic society. They are attacking the will of the Iraqi people and they are attacking the will of our coalition publics. They are failing in Iraq."

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