US Assessing Whether Iraq Forces Can Hold: Martin Dempsey

Honolulu, Hawaii: A top US military official says a key role of the American troops in Iraq is assessing whether the country's security forces can hold together and whether its leaders are confident they can do their jobs.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday to reporters after a speech that some of the 750 troops in Iraq are specifically there to help determine what the United States might do next to help Iraq fight an insurgency.

Dempsey says the troops will assess whether Iraq's force still represents all Iraqis.

Dempsey says the assessment happens as Iraq's political leaders try to form a government. He says how Iraq's people are included in the government will be an important factor in determining US policy toward the country.