Goaded into battle by US troops keen to curb a soaring casualty toll, the Iraqi national guard got off to a bumpy start but frontline experience is earning it much-needed legitimacy and confidence.”After the fall of Saddam, people were scared to join. We had to beg for recruits but now everybody wants to be in the Iraqi national guard,” said Colonel Shaker al-Azzawi. This former general in the toppled regime commands the 1,550 men of the guard’s 203rd battalion, responsible for the region around Balad north of Baghdad, and considered one of the most efficient in the fledgling force.Full Story
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