Rather than wait for the new Iraqi national police and army to get trained and organized, American military commanders are calling for the immediate organization of an Iraqi paramilitary security force. Ten battalions, of about 350 men each, would be recruited and trained by American brigades or divisions. The Iraqi troops would be used to perform guard duty, and free the American troops for raids on suspected Baath Party or criminal organizations, training, equipment maintenance and recreation. This recruitment plan is possible partly because many more Iraqi "English-Arabic" translators have been hired, despite Baath Party threats against such Iraqi cooperation. Learning English has always been popular in Iraq.