JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND FOLKS FOLLOW:

More NATO Countries Offer to Help Train Iraq Forces (David Gollust, 09 February 2005, VOA News)

Senior Bush administration officials say more NATO countries are coming forward with offers to join an alliance program to train Iraqi security forces.

A number of NATO member states had been reluctant to join in the training program. But U.S. officials say attitudes appear to be changing in the wake of the massive turnout for Iraqi elections January 30. [...]

At a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Ms. Rice said several thus far uncommitted alliance members came forward with offers to join the training effort. "I can say with gratitude to colleagues around the table that there were a number of countries that immediately agreed to contribute, and a number of others said that they would intend to contribute because everyone understands the importance of training the Iraqi security forces so that the Iraqis are capable of taking on their own security tasks, something that they're not yet capable of doing," she said.

A senior State Department official said six or seven NATO countries offered to provide direct assistance in training Iraqi security forces to fight the insurgency.