Iraqi forces ready, U.S. trainers say

BAGHDAD, March 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Special Operations trainers in Iraq say their work is nearly complete in preparation for a full withdrawal of U.S. troops by the end of the year.

One Special Ops officer who trains Iraq's Special Forces said the troops "can take care of business themselves," The Washington Post reported Thursday.

"In the beginning, we did the planning and the hits," said the Special Forces captain, unidentified for security reasons. "Now we just give advice after the mission is over."

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's direct command of the elite troops has raised fears among some political parties and factions that the units will morph into a private militia -- fears Maliki said are unfounded. Nonetheless, the United States has pushed for the force to be placed under the direction of the Defense Ministry.

A report by the Office of the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction in October included worries expressed about weak oversight of the special forces, which are divided into two brigades, one in Baghdad and the other in battalions across the country. In February, Human Rights Watch said elite forces operated secret detention sites in Baghdad where prisoners were abused. Some human rights activists said they suspected the Baghdad brigade may have had a role in the violent crackdown last month on pro-reform demonstrations.

The top U.S. Special Forces adviser to the Iraqis told the Post members of the Iraqi force reached full professional levels, were excellent fighters and any questions about legal supervision were beyond his scope.

"These folks are not at the beck and call of (Maliki)," he said. "In the end, it's up to (Iraqi officials) to lay the legal framework for their forces. That is out of our hands."