Iraq army not ready before US withdraws

Iraq's defense minister, says its armed forces will not finish a modernization program before US troops withdraw from the country.

With the aim of helping the army rebuild following the 2003 invasion, the program is scheduled to finish in 2020.

US troops are set to speed up their withdrawal from Iraq after a March the 7th parliamentary election in time for a full withdrawal by 2012.

Standing alone without US troops will be a big challenge for Iraq's armed forces.

Members of the newly-minted Combined Security Force, which includes Iraqi, Kurdish and American security forces, stand in formation at a graduation ceremony in Kirkuk, north of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)