Iraqi Defence Minister: Iraqi forces may not be ready to defend the country at least till 2018; GAO criticizes Iraqi reconstruction efforts; Heavy fighting near Basra and Nassiriya
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    • Debates over the American troop levels continued with reports noting that a troop drawdown further than the pre-surge levels of 130,000 by the middle of the year would have a negative impact on the security situation1. The Iraqi Defence Minister Abdul Qadir on his part during a visit to the United States noted that Iraqi forces may not able to take over full internal security duties till 2012 and not be able to protect Iraq’s borders without help till at least 20182. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton asserted that if she came to power, her administration would withdraw all Amerian troops within 2 months.

    Meanwhile, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a report released on January 15 noted that Iraq had spent only 4 per cent of its reconstruction budget till August 20073. Iraqi reconstruction efforts, both those undertaken by the Iraqi government as well as by the Untied States, have been criticized regularly for having failed to deliver.

    Sectarian violence continued with insurgents targeting a Shiite mosque in Diyala province on January 17 killing over 10 people. The previous day, a female suicide bomber had targeted another Shiite mosque killing 8 people. Militants also targeted Shiite pilgrims on the occasion of Ashura, killing over 15 people. Heavy fighting was also witnessed during the week in Basra and Nassiriya in the south of Iraq when Iraqi forces battled elements of a Shiite-cult group called ‘Soldiers of Heaven’, which left dozens killed4.

    Among other developments, the Turkish armed forces revealed that over 60 PKK targets, including command posts and training areas were destroyed by raids across the border5.

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