'Don't be cowardly in facing rebels'

'Don't be cowardly in facing rebels'

SITUBONDO, East Java: Army Chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu boosted on Wednesday soldiers' fighting spirit, saying they should not imitate the way Iraqi soldiers defended their country against the U.S.-led coalition forces.

"Iraq troops have big mouths, but after their country was occupied by the coalition forces, they were not willing to strike back and, instead, ran away. They failed to show responsibility to defend their own country," Ryamizard said in a written speech which was read by a senior Army official to participants of a combat training in Situbondo, East Java, on Wednesday.

Ryamizard added that all soldiers must have the spirit to fight and resilience in facing the country's enemies in any situation and, therefore, the soldiers must win the ongoing war against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh. -- Antara