From: "Rich Gauszka" 


"Mark"  wrote in message news:44011a2a{at}w3....
> "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
news:440116d7{at}w3....
>> First General Casey downgraded the Level One units from 3 to 1 and now
>> they are at zero yet you are still hanging on to some flimsy 'air power'
>> rationale that no one in the military has used. ( or anyone in authority
>> that I can find a link to ). I'm saying that I suspect there is some
>> other reason.  I just don't know what and they're not telling.
>
> You cited the "Level One" requirements, they are not in
dispute. I'm not
> sure why we're not connecting here.
>
> If an Iraqi battallion is to be rated "Level One" it must be able to
> operate with complete autonomy which includes air support etc., if any one
> of those requirements is not up to snuff, they don't qualify for "Level
> One" but just because they are not at that level on their own, doesn't
> mean they cannot perform as if they were with air support (or artillery,
> or any of the other requirements that they may be lacking) provided by the
> US.
>
> So let us say, for example, that a battillion needs 3 jets to qualify but
> only has 2 available, if the US provides the 3rd jet they will be
> operating at a "Level One" capacity, but won't actually be
"Level One"
> because they're not doing it fully on their own. Certainly that doesn't
> make their assisted ability any less than if they were alone, does it?
>
>

It's in dispute because you keep throwing in 'air power'.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/nia.htm

Overall, operational units were assessed as: a.. capable of planning,
executing, and sustaining counterinsurgency operations independent of
Coalition forces (Level 1); a.. capable of planning, executing, and
sustaining counterinsurgency operations with Coalition enablers (Level 2);
or a.. capable of conducting counterinsurgency operations only when
operating alongside Coalition units (Level 3). a.. Level 1, 2, and 3 units
were all engaged in operations against the enemy.

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