Agreeing to disagree is still disagreeing
NATO Signs Off on Deal to Train Iraqi Forces
Mon Jun 28, 2004 07:16 AM ET
…The deal had to be left deliberately vague and differences remain still on whether NATO should train Iraqi officers inside Iraq under an alliance flag, or limit itself to training outside the country and acting as a clearing house for national efforts.
France insists the training is a job for allies not the alliance as a whole, and there should be "no NATO flag" on the ground in Iraq.
The administration of United States President Bush, keen in a U.S. presidential election year to persuade others to help share the security burden in Iraq, is pushing for the most active NATO role possible.
It says NATO's role should be comprehensive, training the army, police, border security forces and bulk of the national defense.
