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Inadequately Trained PA Forces Deploying in West Bank

[Washington Post] Griff Witte and Ellen Knickmeyer - There have been significant problems with the training of the first class of Palestinian security officers under a multimillion-dollar U.S. program to strengthen the Palestinian Authority, including a final round that one American involved in the program described as "a complete fiasco." The first 430 to be trained, members of the Presidential Guard, returned to the West Bank from Jordan in April. One American said the final field exercise included the "'killing' of civilians and blue-on-blue engagements (firing on friendly forces)." Steve Smith, a veteran of international police training programs, resigned from this one in protest over what he said was inadequate training, equipment and curriculum being provided to the Palestinians. In a letter to Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Smith said the recruits were not ready for deployment. "I believe in the peace process, in the two-state solution, and in General Dayton's idea that a viable Palestinian security force is necessary for peace," Smith wrote. "Unfortunately, the training program will not achieve that goal without significant additional training."
2008-05-05 01:00:00
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