Nato to expand its IRAQ operations.

NATO ready for ‘new era’ in Iraq ties

BRUSSELS: NATO is ready to expand assistance to Iraq with military training and equipment as part of a “new era” of relations, but ruled out any role in combat operations, said the alliance’s secretary-general on Thursday.

The 26-member military pact was torn in two over the 2003 US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, and its subsequent presence has been limited to small missions to train Iraqi security forces. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki formally requested more assistance during a visit to the alliance headquarters in Brussels and Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO was in principle ready to give more help.

“It is the start of a new era. All NATO allies would like to see a stable, secure, prosperous Iraq, where we all have a lot at stake,” de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference with al-Maliki after their talks, adding, “NATO will not take the place of coalition forces in Iraq, but it will enhance its training.”
[/NATO ready for ‘new era’ in Iraq ties

BRUSSELS: NATO is ready to expand assistance to Iraq with military training and equipment as part of a “new era” of relations, but ruled out any role in combat operations, said the alliance’s secretary-general on Thursday.

The 26-member military pact was torn in two over the 2003 US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, and its subsequent presence has been limited to small missions to train Iraqi security forces. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki formally requested more assistance during a visit to the alliance headquarters in Brussels and Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said NATO was in principle ready to give more help.

“It is the start of a new era. All NATO allies would like to see a stable, secure, prosperous Iraq, where we all have a lot at stake,” de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference with al-Maliki after their talks, adding, “NATO will not take the place of coalition forces in Iraq, but it will enhance its training.”