Saddam improving top units

Despite seven years of United Nations sanctions, six of Saddam Hussien's elite Republican Guard divisions are armed and equipped at roughly 80 percent of typical American army divisions, the commander of US forces in the Middle East said on June 26.

Gen Binford Peay, head of US Central Command and commander of the 101st Airborne Division during the 1991 Gulf War, told reporters the Iraqi leader was gradually improving the overall quality of his armed forces. But the process has been uneven, Peay said, and Iraq remains no match for the

American military.

He said Saddam has more capable commanders in place through a series of purges, and the Iraqi air force over the past two months has begun nighttime training for the first time in years.

Iraq has about 300 warplanes, although it is not known how many remain operational because of a severe shortage of spare parts caused by the sanctions.

Peay said Saddam has put top priority on restoring the strength of his Republican Guard, a pillar of his regime and which was hit hard during the Gulf war.

Through cannibalizing arms and equipment in other Iraqi units, the Republican Guard has managed to rebuild, Peay said.