The U.S. Army is Providing Intelligence Training to Iraqi women

The U.S. army announced on Thursday that it has started providing intelligence training to Iraqi women so that they work alongside the coalition forces to avert attacks targeting American and Iraqi forces. In its announcement the U.S. army also declared that trainers have received, this week, the first batch of Iraqi women within the framework the training plan on “Military Intelligence Principles.” Furthermore, addressing the trainees, Major Mary Leidger, Head of the Coalition Forces Intelligence in Iraq, said: “You will work with us along with the men and women of the Iraqi Security Forces to transport the battle to the enemy’s territory.” The announcement did not indicate the number of trainee women nor the training venue or length of time. Iraq has witnessed an escalation in female suicide attacks in the last few months, amongst them war widows.

It is believed that thewomen trainees are driven by poverty, despair and a desire to avenge the killing of their relatives.