Topic: U.S. military unveils new Iraqi national police uniform to be issued

Team Infidel

Media: The Associated Press
Byline: n/a
Date: 14 August 2006


BAGHDAD, Iraq_The U.S. military Monday unveiled a new uniform for Iraq's
national police that will be difficult to copy _ a move aimed at preventing
insurgents, death squads and common criminals from impersonating officers of
the law.

The new bluish-gray uniform, presented to reporters by Maj. Gen. Joseph
Peterson, is similar to that worn by U.S. soldiers but with the Iraqi flag
embedded in the print. It will be issued in October, he said.

"This one is very hard to duplicate. It is very distinctive," said Peterson,
who is in charge of training the Iraqi national police.

Current uniforms are easy to copy and are widely available in Baghdad. As a
result, numerous attacks and kidnappings have been carried out by gunmen
disguised as police.

However, it is widely believed that some of the abductions and killings are
carried out by police, whose ranks have been infiltrated by sectarian
militias and insurgents who would have access to the new uniforms.

Peterson said U.S. and Iraqi officials are aware of the infiltration problem
and are trying to deal with it. But the new uniforms will help combat the
problem nonetheless, officials said.

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