.A far from model army but Iraq's troops battle on
The Iraqi army soldiers in their surplus US uniforms on checkpoint duty were not unduly surprised by the rattle of machinegun fire nearby but their reaction would have disappointed their American trainers.
Instead of assuming combat positions and assessing the situation, the soldiers raced out into the surrounding traffic to try to locate the gunman, beating the sides of cars and shouting at one another while waving their weapons in the air.
There was a screech of brakes as a young sergeant was almost knocked down by a minibus. His comrades surrounded it, waving the butts of their Kalashnikovs at the frightened driver and began berating him for not realising he was in the middle of a military operation.
Military discipline and the gunshots were forgotten.
Colonel Ghassan al-Jibouri, the men's commander, shrugged his shoulders. "We still need some American help for now," he said.
On Monday Tony Blair and the new Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, laid out an ambitious programme for the Iraqi army to take over responsibility for security from coalition forces in 16 of Iraq's 18 provinces by the end of the year.
Spending a day with Col Ghassan as he toured the dozen or so checkpoints established within his zone of control in eastern Baghdad, the strengths and weaknesses of the new Iraqi military were clear.
Driving a white non-armoured pick-up truck, with a mobile phone constantly pressed to his ear to talk to his officers, Col Ghassan complained: "We need the weapons to fight. We are attacked often. Maybe it will take one more year, maybe longer."
Adequate armour, powerful radios and weapons other than Kalashnikovs are top of his wish list.
The US promises armoured Humvees and heavy machineguns will be provided in the next 12 months, though the Iraqi army would still lack air power, artillery and night-vision goggles.
Yet this army has been built from scratch in just over two years. Now it officially has more than 120,000 men and is responsible for 60 per cent of Baghdad's security.
Across Iraq, 34 of the US's 110 operating bases have been handed over to Iraqi forces. Though no one claims they are close to the competence of a Western army, none has yet been overrun. Morale is up. A year ago most Iraqi soldiers at checkpoints dressed in balaclavas because they feared they would be killed if recognised. Now such a sight is rare.
However, troops going absent without leave remains a problem. One unit in Fallujah almost mutinied this month when it was told it was to be posted elsewhere.
But the force has so far resisted fragmenting into its sectarian parts, despite the Shia-Sunni attacks racking the country. So far it also appears to be one recognised by many of the Iraqi people.
At a checkpoint in a Sunni area people came to beg for protection from the police, who are viewed by many as a front for sectarian death squads. "If you do not help who will?" asked one.
As long as that sentiment holds, displays of ill discipline at checkpoints are a minor problem.
Telegraph
Instead of assuming combat positions and assessing the situation, the soldiers raced out into the surrounding traffic to try to locate the gunman, beating the sides of cars and shouting at one another while waving their weapons in the air.
There was a screech of brakes as a young sergeant was almost knocked down by a minibus. His comrades surrounded it, waving the butts of their Kalashnikovs at the frightened driver and began berating him for not realising he was in the middle of a military operation.
Military discipline and the gunshots were forgotten.
Colonel Ghassan al-Jibouri, the men's commander, shrugged his shoulders. "We still need some American help for now," he said.
On Monday Tony Blair and the new Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, laid out an ambitious programme for the Iraqi army to take over responsibility for security from coalition forces in 16 of Iraq's 18 provinces by the end of the year.
Spending a day with Col Ghassan as he toured the dozen or so checkpoints established within his zone of control in eastern Baghdad, the strengths and weaknesses of the new Iraqi military were clear.
Driving a white non-armoured pick-up truck, with a mobile phone constantly pressed to his ear to talk to his officers, Col Ghassan complained: "We need the weapons to fight. We are attacked often. Maybe it will take one more year, maybe longer."
Adequate armour, powerful radios and weapons other than Kalashnikovs are top of his wish list.
The US promises armoured Humvees and heavy machineguns will be provided in the next 12 months, though the Iraqi army would still lack air power, artillery and night-vision goggles.
Yet this army has been built from scratch in just over two years. Now it officially has more than 120,000 men and is responsible for 60 per cent of Baghdad's security.
Across Iraq, 34 of the US's 110 operating bases have been handed over to Iraqi forces. Though no one claims they are close to the competence of a Western army, none has yet been overrun. Morale is up. A year ago most Iraqi soldiers at checkpoints dressed in balaclavas because they feared they would be killed if recognised. Now such a sight is rare.
However, troops going absent without leave remains a problem. One unit in Fallujah almost mutinied this month when it was told it was to be posted elsewhere.
But the force has so far resisted fragmenting into its sectarian parts, despite the Shia-Sunni attacks racking the country. So far it also appears to be one recognised by many of the Iraqi people.
At a checkpoint in a Sunni area people came to beg for protection from the police, who are viewed by many as a front for sectarian death squads. "If you do not help who will?" asked one.
As long as that sentiment holds, displays of ill discipline at checkpoints are a minor problem.
Telegraph
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