Iraqi 'Desert Protectors' Prove Their Worth

American Forces Press Service ^ | Nov 7, 2005 | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2005 – Specially recruited and trained Iraqi forces are making their mark in operations against insurgents in Iraq's Anbar province, a senior U.S. military officer said Nov. 6 in Baghdad. These "Desert Protector" troops operate in western Anbar province alongside more than 2,000 regular Iraqi security forces, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Don Alston, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told reporters. The protectors are Anbar residents, recruited by the Iraqi government and given weapons and other training that they employ to fight insurgents operating in their backyard, Alston said.

Currently, 29 Desert Protectors are trained, Alston said. "They have already taken part in three operations which have resulted in the detention of individuals who are of significant intelligence value," he said.

Alston cited a recent incident in Anbar in which a Desert Protector assisted U.S. Marines in finding a dwelling that had been used by a suicide bomber before he launched his attack.

"The Desert Protector was quickly mobilized to the area of the attack and began to gather intelligence," Alston said. "In a short amount of time, the house where the suicide bomber had been was identified."

Employing Iraqi forces trained to operate in their home environs is a winning formula, Alston said.

"The Iraqi army has an additional powerful weapon in its arsenal to help defend Iraq from terrorists, foreign fighters and insurgents," the general said.

[SandRat]

but,...but,... Teddy said they weren't capable {/sarc

[SandRat]

Iraqi's standing on their own more and more.

[Army Air Corps]

Teddy and company are just rehashing the same racist crap from the Vietnam War (these are the same a$$wipes who said horrible things about the ARVN without ever seeing them in action).

[Dog]

Iraqi Desert Protection force ping..

[RKV]

Maybe we could contract them to supplement our Border Patrol after things settle down a bit in Iraq?

[McGavin999]

Desert Protector. Has a great sound to it and I'll bet it will soon be a sought after position by the tribesmen. They need to see to it these guys get some kind of special recognition so it's thought to be a real honor to gain the title.

[Lady Jag]

You can tell that your average Iraqi wants to westernize. Every day, more of them wear western garb.

It's the raging mad terrorists that want to burn us back to the stone age.

How can we forget the Iraqi citizens who would line up every day to become soldiers and police of freedom, trained under the US and coalition forces? Every day, terrorists would shoot and kill a few in line and every day, more citizens would get in that line. These people have the courage to be free.

[Wiseghy]

The army is definitely coming into it own. The police however are still pretty corrupt, as is the rest of the civil structure. However, that will be their problem to solve, no ours. Rooting out corruption is difficult, but not impossible.

[Calpernia]

"The Desert Protector was quickly mobilized to the area of the attack and began to gather intelligence," Alston said. "In a short amount of time, the house where the suicide bomber had been was identified."

Iraqi Soldiers participates in a squad infantry tactics during the Desert Protector Course in East Fallujah.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT