Samarra, Iraq
THE DEVELOPMENT OF the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)–consisting of Iraqi Police (‘IPs,’ who are under regional control), National Police (‘NPs,’ who belong to the federal government’s Ministry of Interior), and Iraqi Army–has been both a priority and a point of frustration for the Coalition forces who are trying to train them as quickly and effectively as possible to fill the role currently being served in Iraq by the U.S. military.
For the most part, when working with–or supported by–Americans, both their planning and their execution are carried out at a relatively high level. When working on their own, they are less proficient at their duties and more prone to attack (as they present a softer target than Coalition forces do); however, if backed by the Coalition (both verbally and through the provision of extra firepower, even if it is only to be used in the case of emergency), the forces perform relatively well, and, though they cannot yet hold a candle to their American counterparts in either proficiency or professionalism, they are showing improvement as they get more time and practice under their belts.
