Keep On Trainin'

Juan Cole gives us an update on the training of Iraqi's to be policemen, using the Pentagon's own assessment (so you know it has to be right!):

' The Pentagon report cited a litany of problems with the police. For example, it said as few as 40 percent of those trained by coalition troops in recent years are still on the job. Also, due to combat loss, theft, attrition and poor maintenance, a "significant portion" of U.S.-issued equipment is now unusable.'

Cole:

Just to underline what is said here, 60 percent of the policemen who got even the very minimal training on offer to them have disappeared from the force; and not much is left of the weaponry ("equipment") that the US gave the Iraqi police.

As for other progress? Read them and weep:




Note the first chart shows little change in the casualty rate. The second chart shows a drop in August in the number of attacks. But since casualties remained essentially unchanged this simply means that the attacks are getting more deadly .... hardly a good development.

What more can be said?