Rumsfeld refuses to estimate the size of resistance in Iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/17/2005

The US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld refused to give any estimates about the size of resistance the American forces and the Iraqi army are facing in Iraq. This was expressed in his testimony before the armed forces committee at the Congress.

Rumsfeld said: I will not give figures about ( resistance) because my job is not intelligence, noting that he doubts the contradictory figures given by the intelligence on the size of resistance.

An elected official said that estimates show that some 15,000 gunmen were killed or arrested during the past seven months. He added "had we lost 15,000 of our soldiers in a similar period of time, our defense means would be affected," yet, the resistance copes with the situation and increases attacks.

For his part, chief of staff Gen. Richard Meyers said he suspects the estimates given by the Iraqi intelligence because they do not correspond with the estimates given by the American intelligence.

The Iraqi intelligence department estimated the number of Iraqi fighters at 40,000 supported by others 200,000 who provide information, money and shelters.

Previous Stories:
  Rumsfeld met Allawi in Baghdad   (2/12/2005)
  Rumsfeld in Musil   (2/11/2005)
  American forces release 300 Iraqi prisoners   (2/7/2005)

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