TAJI, Iraq - The Iraqi military and its American allies are in a race against the clock before a US pullout, with logistics a key priority.
While the Iraqi side appears confident, the US doubts the country's army will be able to stand up on its own in logistics terms by the end-of-2011 deadline for US soldiers to withdraw.
"There's no mission ... without the logistician," said US Colonel Edward Dorman, who runs the US army's day-to-day logistics in Iraq, during a tour of Iraqi facilities in Taji, north of Baghdad.
But in the countdown to the deadline under the two countries' security pact signed in November, their partnership faces an uphill battle.
Australian Major John Snell, whose country supports the logistics training mission as part of the US-led coalition, said supply chain issues were key to rebuilding Iraq's military.
"We have identified the biggest Achilles heel of the Iraqi army," he said as large black crows flew over what used to be Iraq's top military base until it was pulverised into a scrap metal graveyard during the 2003 US-led invasion.
"If we left today they could defend themselves, but they would soon fall apart," Snell said.
The presence of General Nassir Abadi, deputy chief of staff of Iraq's armed forces, during a tour of Taji's supply depot underlined the new emphasis on logistics, repairs, spare parts and training.
As Iraqi army mechanics work to refurbish used Humvees, part of a consignment of 8,500 of the armoured vehicles donated by the United States, other soldiers have been busy sorting and storing parts.
"They can do the basics now," said Dorman.
"They are a nascent force, so there are gaps," he said of Iraq's military which fought three wars in less than 25 years and faced a decade of international sanctions before being disbanded in 2003 and then reformed.
Abadi was confident that modern methods and "the best qualified will come through" in the new Iraq. "We are getting there but it will take time," he said in perfect English.
The process is also bogged down by paperwork because the Iraqi logistics operation is not yet computerised. But video-conferencing to check on supplies has begun to improve timings.
Colonel Philip Battaglia of the US 1st Cavalry Division told reporters in Baghdad this week that Iraq -- whose supply arm has launched a five-year plan and has 84 warehouses to repair -- still has a long way to go.
"A lot of work they need to do is in logistics -- maintenance, training, repairing vehicles, (sourcing) vehicle parts, medical supplies and all forms of logistics," he said, with a support role likely for the US army beyond 2011.
"Frankly, it will take many years."
And since there is no conscription and the army has no fixed-term contracts, army training at Taji in marketable skills such as driving fork-lift trucks can lead to desertions to a higher-paid private sector.
Looking at the broader picture, strategic planning on spending and maintenance is also weak in the Iraqi military.
"It is often a case of catalogue-shopping without trials," said Snell, pointing to Baghdad spending millions of dollars on unusable ammunition from eastern Europe and field kitchens which could not provide three meals a day.
Abadi asked his allies during the Taji tour to help Iraq "look for reliability, to find the right products for our environment, for our operations," Dorman said, adding: "We will get there."
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