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Watchdog Stuart Bowen: Iraq Military Not Ready for U.S. Withdrawal

The Iraqi military isn’t ready for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and will have a hard time defending itself, the chief watchdog for Iraq reconstruction warns in an exclusive interview with Eli Lake. Plus, a senior Iraq official says a coup tip reported in the Times was a fake.

articles/2011/11/01/watchdog-stuart-bowen-iraq-military-not-ready-for-u-s-withdrawal/iraq-military-withdraw-problem-lake-tease_duaptn
Mohammed Ameen / Reuters

Iraq lacks formidable air and border defenses, suffers weaknesses in its military supply chain, and may face difficulties defending itself after U.S. troops exit at year’s end, the top American watchdog in the country warns.

“As we pull out of Iraq, the Iraqis will have a difficult time replacing the U.S....

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