Al Amarah Blues
Al Amarah shows just how tough it can be to hand over security to local forces in Iraq. With public support waning for the U.S. occupation and casualties mounting, the Bush administration tentatively plans to draw down U.S. troop strength to roughly 100,000 by May. To replace them, Coalition administrator L. Paul Bremer intends to expand Iraq’s total police force from 50,000 officers to 75,000 and its Army from a single battalion to 40,000 troops....