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Iraq aide laments troop failings Bush to consider new Iraq tactics
(about 4 hours later)
The Iraqi president's security adviser has said Iraqi forces trying to improve security in Baghdad are under funded, badly trained and poorly equipped. US President George W Bush has said he will consult senior US generals to see if a change of tactics is needed to quell spiralling violence in Iraq.
Wafiq al-Samarra'i said that sometimes the insurgents had better weapons. But he insisted he would not change his overall strategy.
US President George W Bush said the situation in Iraq was "tough" and that he would consult senior US generals to see if a change in tactics was needed. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraqis should take responsibility for security "sooner rather than later".
Their comments come a day after the US military said a two-month operation in Baghdad had failed to reduce violence. Their comments come amid fears that the administration's Iraq policy could cost Republicans control of Congress in mid-term elections next month.
Launched in June, Operation Together Forward is a joint US and Iraqi security drive in which thousands of extra troops have been deployed in Baghdad. Concerns about rising violence in Iraq have been further fuelled by clashes between Iraqi police and gunmen loyal to the radical cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, in the southern town of Amara.
The Iraqi troops are so poorly armed to the point that sometimes the terrorists and death squads have better weapons Wafiq al-Samarra'iIraqi security adviser href="/1/hi/uk/6070104.stm" class="">UK may return to crisis city Medical sources say 31 people were killed in street battles, and many more were injured.
"Circumstances are responsible for the plan's failure," said Staff Maj-Gen Wafiq al-Samarra'i, the Iraqi presidential adviser for security affairs, during an interview with the BBC Arabic Service. Correspondents say the clashes are a major test of the Iraqi government's ability to tackle sectarian militias.
"The state revenues are not enough to safeguard security in the whole of Baghdad, with its seven million inhabitants and 2,500 sq km. British troops had handed over control of Amara in August to Iraqi security forces, but say they will return if needed.
"The Iraqi troops are so poorly armed to the point that sometimes the terrorists and death squads have better weapons," he said. Constantly adjusting
Tactics 'adjusting'
Amid mounting domestic pressure for a change of strategy in Iraq, President Bush said he planned to hold consultations on tactics with Gen John Abizaid, the top US commander in the Middle East, and Gen George Casey, the leader of the US-led coalition in Iraq.Amid mounting domestic pressure for a change of strategy in Iraq, President Bush said he planned to hold consultations on tactics with Gen John Abizaid, the top US commander in the Middle East, and Gen George Casey, the leader of the US-led coalition in Iraq.
Top US officials will discuss whether new tactics are neededBut he stressed that the overall US strategy remained the same. Top US officials will discuss whether new tactics are needed
"Our goal hasn't changed, but the tactics are constantly adjusting to an enemy which is brutal and violent," he said."Our goal hasn't changed, but the tactics are constantly adjusting to an enemy which is brutal and violent," he said.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said the meeting was one of a series of regular consultations and had been scheduled "for weeks".White House spokesman Tony Snow said the meeting was one of a series of regular consultations and had been scheduled "for weeks".
Opinion polls suggest two-thirds of all Americans think the president's strategy in Iraq has failed. Opinion polls suggest two-thirds of Americans think the president's strategy in Iraq has failed.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the figure could translate into catastrophic election losses in mid-term elections next month, which might see the Democrats back in power in Congress, and the Bush presidency becoming the lamest of lame ducks. The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the figure could translate into catastrophic election losses in mid-term elections next month, which might see the Democrats back in power in Congress and the Bush presidency becoming the lamest of lame ducks.
The US president's comments came two days after he said the escalation of violence in Iraq "could be" comparable to the 1968 Tet Offensive against US troops, which helped turn public opinion against the Vietnam War. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC there should be a rethink of tactics in Amara.
'Below expectations' He said Iraqi and international forces would have to assess whether the city and the surrounding province were ready to be handed over to Iraqi control.
On Thursday US military spokesman Maj Gen William Caldwell said there had been a "disheartening" 22% rise in attacks in Baghdad since the end of last month. But, asked about the clashes, Mr Rumsfeld said that while US troops did from time to time have to step in, it was ultimately up to the Iraqis to control their own security.
Operation Together Forward was seen as key to asserting the authority of the Iraqi government over all of the capital and eventually the rest of the country, paving the way for the withdrawal of US forces. "The biggest mistake would be to not pass things over to the Iraqis and to create dependency on their part," he said.
But Gen Caldwell said attacks on US troops and Iraqi forces in Baghdad had risen significantly in the first three weeks of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the operation had "not met our overall expectations". 'Disheartening'
And in another development, the Iraqi president's security adviser said Iraqi forces trying to improve security in Baghdad were under-funded, badly trained and poorly equipped.
Wafiq al-Samarra'i said that sometimes the insurgents and death squads had better weapons than the security forces trying to combat them.
The comments come a day after the US military said there had been a "disheartening" 22% rise in attacks in Baghdad this month, despite a two-month-old security operation.
Launched in June, Operation Together Forward is a joint US and Iraqi security drive in which thousands of extra troops have been deployed in Baghdad.
On Wednesday, President Bush said the escalation of violence in Iraq "could be" comparable to the 1968 Tet Offensive against US troops, which helped turn public opinion against the Vietnam War.
With 73 US soldiers killed so far, October is on course to become the deadliest month for US forces in Iraq for two years.With 73 US soldiers killed so far, October is on course to become the deadliest month for US forces in Iraq for two years.