http://www.conversationamongfriends.org/taxonomy/term/37 Comments for "Iraq" en http://www.conversationamongfriends.org/iraq-good-news#comment-153 <p align="justify"> That&#39;s a list of good things.  I&#39;m glad to read it. </p> <p align="justify"> I don&#39;t feel too good about the Iraqi police, soldiers, etc.  In mid-2007, Brig. Gen. Pittard says &quot;&quot;it&#39;ll take years&quot; for Iraqi security forces to become self-reliant in protecting the country from internal and foreign threats. He suggested that it will be at least two years before the forces, which number 348,000, can &quot;fully take control&quot; of the situation in Iraq.&quot;  (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501599.html" target="_blank">link</a>)<br /> </p> <div align="justify"> </div> <p align="justify"> Some &quot;liars&quot; claim that a significant fraction of hospital staff are members of the Mahdi militia and/or death squads: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/04/eveningnews/main2064668.shtml" target="_blank">link 1</a>, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/29/AR2006082901680.html" target="_blank">link2</a> </p> <div align="justify"> </div> <p align="justify"> They also claim that rebuilding projects often don&#39;t have much longevity: <a href="http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40F11FF385A0C7A8EDDAD0894DF404482" target="_blank">link</a> <br /> </p> Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:18:03 -0400 Jonathan comment 153 at http://www.conversationamongfriends.org