The BBC's Matt Frei pointed out tonight, that what NATO leaders are discussing vis a vis a NATO role in Iraq, is so minor, it is telling: whether NATO should conduct the training of Iraqi forces inside Iraq, or outside Iraq. The pro-US contingent at NATO is pushing for the training to be done inside Iraq. France and Germany are pushing for the training to be done outside Iraq. Either way, NATO's involvement in Iraq is set to remain symbolic at most.

Update: Knight Ridder's Jonathan Landay reports Monday from the NATO summit in Istanbul, that the issue was never resolved.

The NATO statement on training indicated that it would be up to individual countries to decide whether to contribute instructors and whether they would teach inside or outside Iraq. NATO ambassadors are to work out details of a training scheme with Allawi's government "on an urgent basis," the statement said.

The lack of specifics reflected persisting differences over how deeply NATO should become involved in Iraq... French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said they would not send instructors to Iraq.

Posted by Laura at June 27, 2004 10:25 PM