Iraqi forces 'failed to fight' in Ramadi: Pentagon chief

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Yahoo News:

Washington (AFP) - Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Sunday that Iraqi forces "failed to fight" in Ramadi, which has fallen to Islamic State militants, adding the troops lacked the will to defend themselves.

 

IS jihadists took control of the strategic city, the capital of Anbar province, a week ago, in Baghdad's worst defeat in almost a year.

 

Carter said the city fell to the militants because Iraqi forces -- despite strength in numbers -- were not mentally ready for battle.

 

"What apparently happened was the Iraqi forces showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered, and they vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and they failed to fight and withdrew from the site," Carter told CNN.

 

"That says to me, and I think to most of us, that we have an issue with the will of the Iraqis to fight ISIL and defend themselves," he said, using an alternative name for the group.

________

 

Translation: "It's not our fault..."