Iraqi troop training

Re “Bombs Kill 105; U.S. Toll Grows,” Sept. 30

Many years ago when I was in the Army, it took 12 to 16 weeks of basic training to provide a company of 250 troops trained and ready for war. There were always hundreds of companies being trained at the same time. We have been in Iraq for more than two years. Now the generals are telling Congress that we have maybe one battalion of Iraqis ready to protect their own country. That is four to six companies of trained personnel. If we can train 150,000 troops to send there, why can’t we train more than 1,200 Iraqis in two years to care for their own freedom?

ROBERT F. FALLER

West Covina