2008 Woodie Awards
Iraqi Prime Minister tries to convey sympathy for Hussein.
International Updates
Erika Rohrssen
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: News
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Iraq's Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's claims differ from reports in The New York Times on Monday. According to MSNBC staff and news service reports, Allawi claims Saddam is "distraught and depressed." Also, Allawi claims that Saddam "begged for mercy." Allawai's account contrasts with what was written in The New York Times. The newspaper claims, "Saddam has refused to acknowledge wrongdoings or show remorse for the people who were killed during his twenty-four year rule."
Allawi defended his position and says that because of Saddam's "confession," his life has been threatened numerous times. He claims to have survived countless assassination attempts since he was appointed interim Prime Minister. He also states that it is unacceptable for organizations to threaten him and his interim government. Lastly, while Allawi admits that there was some Iranian interference with Iraqi affairs, Iran's government was in no way involved.
The Pentagon tries to establish "local control" in Iraq.
On Monday, September 20, United States officials admitted that there were shortcomings in the training and equipping of Iraq security. Sources say these troops will be more adequate by the end of the year. The director of strategic plans and policy for the U.S. military's Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Walter Sharp, reported to the Associated Press, "Only about 53,000 of 101,000 Iraqis already on duty in police...have undergone training." Along with these numbers, the Pentagon also gave figures about the weapons and equipment needed in Iraq.
While it was reported that Lt. Gen. Sharp would not comment directly on the number of fully trained and sufficiently equipped men that were on duty, he was quoted saying, " we are now on the path of getting manned, trained and equipped Iraqi security forces into the field as quickly as possible."
Along with adding more Iraqi soldiers, the Iraqi interim government, along with the Pentagon, has increased the number of U.S. trained police personnel along the border of the country.
Allawi defended his position and says that because of Saddam's "confession," his life has been threatened numerous times. He claims to have survived countless assassination attempts since he was appointed interim Prime Minister. He also states that it is unacceptable for organizations to threaten him and his interim government. Lastly, while Allawi admits that there was some Iranian interference with Iraqi affairs, Iran's government was in no way involved.
The Pentagon tries to establish "local control" in Iraq.
On Monday, September 20, United States officials admitted that there were shortcomings in the training and equipping of Iraq security. Sources say these troops will be more adequate by the end of the year. The director of strategic plans and policy for the U.S. military's Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Walter Sharp, reported to the Associated Press, "Only about 53,000 of 101,000 Iraqis already on duty in police...have undergone training." Along with these numbers, the Pentagon also gave figures about the weapons and equipment needed in Iraq.
While it was reported that Lt. Gen. Sharp would not comment directly on the number of fully trained and sufficiently equipped men that were on duty, he was quoted saying, " we are now on the path of getting manned, trained and equipped Iraqi security forces into the field as quickly as possible."
Along with adding more Iraqi soldiers, the Iraqi interim government, along with the Pentagon, has increased the number of U.S. trained police personnel along the border of the country.