General: Iraqi Military Faces Major Shortfalls

WASHINGTON — Most Iraqi military units arriving in Baghdad for an American-led security crackdown have only 75% of their assigned soldiers, a senior Army general said yesterday. About one in six Iraqi policemen trained by U.S. forces has been killed or wounded, has deserted or has just disappeared.

The slow development of Iraqi security forces — and continued sectarian violence — raise doubts about when Iraq will be able to stand on its own and what the consequences of an early U.S. troop withdrawal would be.

Major General Martin Dempsey told a Pentagon news conference that Iraqi security forces are gradually improving in skill and commitment.

However, he said, they must be expanded again next year to fill gaps in units in Baghdad.

General Dempsey just completed a 22-month tour in Iraq as head of the U.S. military mission to train and equip the Iraqi army and police so they can replace U.S. troops.