Good things that fail to be reported...

[therealUT]

Skeptics and those opposed to the war contend that young Iraqi men join because of a lack of opportunities in that country. The army, they say, offers about $300 a month. "But the enemy will pay a person $300 a night to plant roadside bombs," says Bolger. "It is more than money. It is patriotism and a sense of duty. In fact, one of the most often heard reasons for Iraqi privates joining the army is, "It is my duty."

Unfortunately, many Americans seem clueless to that fact. On Sunday's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert asked Senator John McCain, if "American kids" are "trained for a couple of months and sent to Iraq," why can't the same be demanded of "Iraqi kids?"

Fact is, like their U.S. counterparts, thousands of young Iraqis—Bolger's "right sort of men"—are volunteering for service and training to become soldiers at several basic training facilities and officer academies located across Iraq.

training lasts five weeks (comparable boot-camp training lasts nine weeks for the U.S. Army, eight weeks for the U.S. Navy, six weeks for the U.S. Air Force, and 12 weeks for U.S. Marines). "Iraqi basic training is shorter than American basic training because the Iraqi military has fewer weapons and less complex equipment and tactics," says Bolger. "There is, of course, room to grow."

Like American GIs, newly minted Iraqi soldiers move on to advanced training. Infantrymen, for example, must attend an additional seven-week course in infantry skills and tactics.

"There is the same emphasis [as in American boot camps] on teamwork, physical fitness, mental toughness, and shooting," says Bolger. "Iraqi soldiers in the former army fired 12 bullets a year. Today's Iraqi recruits each shoot more than 600 rifle rounds in marksmanship training."

For a point of reference, Army cadets, training to be officers, fire at most 100 rounds per year. During their officer basic course, as Lieutenants, most officers fire less than 200 rounds (the exception to that rule is the Infantry School.)