Chambliss: Making Iraq safe for democracy will take years

<p>Morale is high among American troops deployed to fight terrorism overseas and they are satisfied with their equipment, but securing Iraq for democracy will be a long process perhaps lasting years, Sen. Saxby Chambliss said Monday.</p><p>"When the people of Iraq understand what freedom is all about, they will make the commitment to destroy the terrorists themselves," the Georgia Republican said. "But it's not going to happen in 12 months."</p><p>The process could take five to 10 years, he said.</p><p>Chambliss commented in a conference call with Georgia reporters after returning from a Thanksgiving week visit to Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and a military hospital in Germany.</p><p>"It was the most special Thanksgiving I've ever spent in my life. I was truly inspired. It was very emotional," he said.</p><p>Soldiers from Columbus, Monroe and Pike County were among those at his Thanksgiving dinner table.</p><p>"Everywhere we went, the morale of those young folks was just unbelievable. These folks are professional soldiers. They would certainly rather be home, but they knew when they joined the military they were likely to be put in harm's way. I just can't say enough about the morale of those folks," he said.</p><p>Chambliss said the soldiers also were "very satisfied" they had the body armor and other equipment they need to combat terrorism, despite concerns earlier this year the troops were inadequately equipped.</p><p>Of special concern to Chambliss and other members of the delegation, however, was the training of Iraqi policemen to protect their own country.</p><p>The training program is attracting high numbers but the quality of recruits is not high enough, he said.</p><p>"They are becoming trained in an eight-week program and going into Iraq, and we've seen cases where police stations are overrun and the police just throw down their arms," he said.</p><p>The recruits who are undergoing the training just to get a job "simply don't have the commitment in their heart," he said.</p><p>But he stressed the program also is drawing patriots and said, "it's that higher quality of individual we need."</p><p>After briefings by a wide range of military and other leaders, Chambliss said his group came away more impressed with the U.S.-led assault on Fallujah than it had been through hearing about it from outside the country.</p><p>"We took a nest of the nastiest, meanest people in the world and really destroyed their network," he said.</p><p>But until the deposed former Iraqi dictator is put on trial, he will continue to serve as a beacon of hope to those who oppose democracy, Chambliss said.</p><p>"One thing I think we need to move forward with is the trial of Saddam. Nothing is on the table now as to when that's going to happen. This guy needs to be put away and the Iraqi people need to see that. A lot of people who have been Saddam loyalists think he's coming back."</p><p>___</p><p>Dick Pettys has covered Georgia government and politics since 1970</p>