"Based on our standards," said the Lt., "they all failed."

U.S. Army slowly cedes missions to its Iraqi counterpart
BY DOUG J. SWANSON
The Dallas Morning News

NAJAF, Iraq - The American soldiers wanted to size up their would-be replacements. So they gave more than 100 Iraqi army trainees a physical fitness test: push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run.

"Based on our standards," said U.S. Army Lt. Jay Lardizabal, "they all failed."

One Iraqi who managed only 13 push-ups explained that he has two wives and was exhausted from a night of pleasure.

At least all the Iraqi soldiers completed the two-mile course this time. During the previous test, some had slipped away to their barracks while others ran. Then they had sneaked back out to finish the final few hundred yards.

The U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas, has an extensive role in the training of Iraqi security forces. As with the physical fitness tests, Iraqi performances have ranged from laughingly bad to relatively competent.

"You've got some soldiers that are good, and some that don't want to do anything," said Capt. Chris Waddell, a West Point graduate from Brazoria, Texas, who supervises instruction in Najaf.

On balance, he said, "They're good enough to fight any Arab army."

But that does not necessarily mean they can maintain a stable Iraq, at least without constant American supervision and support.

From U.S. military officials to everyday Iraqis, many agree that a sharp, quick reduction in American troops would be disastrous.

"It would be chaos," said Col. Majeed Muhammed Hannoon, commander of Najaf's Iraqi battalion.

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