So much for those Iraqi Security Forces

The other day we reported on how at least some of the Iraqi Security Forces were preparing to be active participants in a civil war. Well now we learn that it has become necessary for G.I.'s to Increase U.S. Supervision of Iraqi Police.

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 29 - American commanders are planning to increase significantly the number of soldiers advising Iraqi police commando units, in part to curtail abuse that the units are suspected of inflicting on Sunni Arabs, a senior commander in Iraq said Thursday.

Under the plan, which the officer said he expected would be formally approved in a few weeks, the number of advisers working with the Iraqi units would be greatly expanded. The advisers themselves would be under the command of American officers.

American advisers now accompany commando units as part of the vast effort to train and equip security forces to take over the fight against the insurgency and to maintain order.

But the number of advisers is relatively small: currently, groups of about 40 American soldiers each are attached to seven of the nine special Iraqi police brigades.

Under the new plan, which would be put in force in and around Baghdad, all the Iraqi units would get American advisers, and the advisers' total number would be increased by several hundred, said the commander, who spoke to reporters in Baghdad only on condition of anonymity.

This gives you a pretty good idea of how things are going in Iraq. It is a slow motion civil war and genocide in progress and an increased American presence will only accelerate it. Look for increased incidents of "friendly fire" casualties as the increased US presence is implemented.