Thursday, December 11, 2003


TheStar.com - `Third' of new Iraqi army quits
WASHINGTON—Plans to deploy the first battalion of Iraq's new army are in doubt because a third of the soldiers trained by the U.S.-led occupation authority have quit, defence officials said yesterday.

Touted as a key to Iraq's future, the 700-man battalion lost some 250 men over recent weeks as they were preparing to begin operations this month, Pentagon officials said.

"We are aware that a third ... has apparently resigned and we are looking into that in order to ensure that we can recruit and retain high-quality people for a new Iraqi army," said Lt.-Col. James Cassella of the Pentagon.

It was uncertain exactly why they abandoned their new jobs, though some had complained that the starting salary — $60 a month for privates — was too low, officials said. Iraqi police are paid $60 a month and the Civil Defence Corps $50, officials have said.