General: Iraqis working to expunge 25% of police force for sectarian alliances

Efforts are underway to weed out up to one-quarter of Iraq's national police who are thought to be sympathetic to militias involved in sectarian violence, a key U.S. general said.

Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who is in charge of training Iraqi forces, said yesterday that Iraqi officials are working to reform police, take more responsibility for their security and make financial investments in troops and equipment -- all steps toward freeing U.S. troops to return home.

"My message to you is that Iraq is reaching out to take control of its own security," Dempsey told a Pentagon news conference.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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