BAGHDAD, Dec 21: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Thursday and said they discussed how the US could help him better secure Baghdad, but not additional troops.Mr Gates said he came away impressed by the government's determination to improve security and address other major challenges facing the country.
“What we discussed is how we can help the Iraqi government in establishing better security here in Baghdad,” Gates told reporters after the meeting.
“I can say no number of additional troops or troops was discussed. Our focus was mainly on overall approach, including the possibility of some additional assistance. As I say we really didn't discuss any numbers,” he said.
Mr Gates, who arrived here on Wednesday on a lightning trip to assess the situation, discussed a possible surge in US forces with US commanders and what it might achieve.
Before setting out for his meeting with Mr Maliki at his offices in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone, Mr Gates met with a group of 15 rank and file soldiers some of whom told him more US troops were needed.
Reminded of their comments later, Mr Gates said, “Like most people on the front lines, they always like more forces.” ”We have to take into account the views of the Iraqi government, the views of our own leadership, and the views of our own military leadership,” he said, adding he was impressed with the calibre of the young soldiers.
Over breakfast, Mr Gates acknowledged that situation was not improving and quizzed some 15 soldiers about what they thought should be done.
“Sir, I think we need to just keep doing what we're doing,” said Specialist Jason Glenn of the 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat team.
“I really think we need more troops. With more presence on the ground, more troops might hold them off for long enough to where we can get the Iraqi army trained up,” said Glenn, of Mountain Grove, Missouri.
Mr Gates has met with top military commanders as well as the Iraqi leadership on the options before President George W. Bush as he decides how to change course.
Mr Gates has withheld comment on his own views, except to stress the importance of reconstruction and job creation programs as part of the pacification strategy.
He said the Iraqis will gain control over most of their own forces over the next couple of months.
Gen George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq, said he was not opposed to the idea of boosting troop numbers but added that if they were brought in, their mission should fit with broader strategic objectives.
US military chiefs have warned that a surge could not be maintained for long and would have repercussions on already stretched US ground forces.
But enlisted soldiers from three US divisions and representing a cross section of military specialties and units appeared to favour an increase in the size of the force.
Mr Gates asked the soldiers twice whether they thought more troops were needed, both times drawing nods of agreement. None rejected the idea.
“I think we do need more troops over here,” Private Cassandra Wallace told Gates. “More troops would help us integrate the Iraqi army into patrols more.” The soldiers also gave a decidedly mixed review of the performance of the 323,000-strong Iraqi security forces, saying they were showing improvement but that many of them did not show up for work.
One soldier said the Iraqi army saw itself as Iraqi but the police identified with their sect or tribe and had conflicting loyalties.
“The raw numbers seem pretty robust. But what you're saying is they're not really showing up,” said Mr Gates.
Mr Gates told the soldiers a lot more effort had to be put into reconstruction, saying “something needs to happen within hours” of operations to clear and hold strife-torn neighbourhoods.—AFP
