BAGHDAD (Feb. 19, 2008) - Iraqi National Police graduated from the second Carabinieri-trained Iraqi National Police Course Feb. 19 at Camp Dublin in Baghdad.
More than 500 graduates were commended by Iraqi Army Gen. Babakir, chief of staff for the Iraqi ground forces; Iraqi Police Maj. Gen. Hussein, Iraqi National Police commander; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik, NATO Training Mission - Iraq commander; Italian Maj. Gen. Alessandro Pompegniani, NATO Training Mission - Iraq deputy commander; U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Phillips, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, Coalition Police Advisory Training Team commanding general; and Italian Ambassador Maurizio Melani.
Each of the speakers told the police graduates that the Carabinieri-trained National Police Course takes into account Iraq’s unique security concerns and the challenges of maintaining security for a free Iraq. The national police must consider national, regional and local priorities when performing duties to protect citizens.
"I want to congratulate each of you for a job well done," said Hussein.
"You have learned the duties of your job, and now I want you to paint a good picture of the national police in all you do."
The Carabinieri training represents a concerted effort by the Ministry of Interior to provide the Iraqi people the most professional law enforcement service possible.
Babakir expressed his support of the Carabineri training for the Iraqi National Police. The training helps to improve the overall professionalism of the national police and builds upon the basic training skills already possessed.
The training is part of Iraqi Minister of Interior Jawad al Bolani and Hussein’s program of continuous improvement of the national police. The training will also make the national police a better skilled, better led and a more responsive and caring force, they said.
"Our goal at NATO Training Mission - Iraq is to help the Iraqis build up a security structure that is self-sufficient and not dependent on foreign assistance," said Pompegniani. "The key to this is a progressive approach from training to advising and then mentoring."
Iraqi National Police graduates demonstrated a variety of skills, which they learned in training for the attendees such as crowd and anti-riot control, building breaches and vehicle searches before dancing jubilantly in the streets to celebrate their recent mark on history.
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