Pentagon Admits Shortfalls in Training Iraq Forces

Mon Sep 20, 7:00 PM ET
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon acknowledged on Monday broad shortfalls in the U.S. training and equipping of Iraqi security forces, but said a majority of Iraq will be under the control of these forces by the end of December.

Army Lt. Gen. Walter Sharp, director of strategic plans and policy for the U.S. military's Joint Staff, released figures showing that only about 53,000 of 101,000 Iraqis already on duty in police, border control and other domestic security forces assembled by the Pentagon have undergone training.

Compared to the total deemed necessary for these forces by the Pentagon and the interim government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, only 41 percent of weapons were on hand, as well as 25 percent of vehicles, 18 percent of communications equipment and 28 percent of body armor, according to the figures.

At a hastily called briefing for reporters, Sharp did not directly answer when asked how many Iraqi security personnel were fully trained and fully equipped...