U.S. Training Iraqi Troops ‘As Quickly As Possible’: White House

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U.S. Training Iraqi Troops ‘As Quickly As Possible’: White House

Iraqi troops are being trained as rapidly as possible to take over security duties and move toward a U.S. withdrawal, a White House spokesman said June 28.

”The most important thing is, our forces are doing everything they can to help Iraq get trained up as quickly as possible, period,” spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.

The White House official would not say whether President George W. Bush is happy with the progress made. “The president — satisfied or dissatisfied, they’re moving as quickly as they can.”

The administration and its supporters have cited preparedness of Iraqi troops as a benchmark for reducing the U.S. troop presence, three years after the U.S.-led invasion.