Manual Diemer, the COIN academy's commandant, speaking in his spare briefing room at Camp Taji.

NPR: Baghdad School Trains Troops to Combat Insurgents

More than 40 people were injured in the blast in the town of Taji, about 20km (12 miles) north of Baghdad.

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West said there were no further ambushes on U.S. forces in Taji until he was relieved of his leadership post on October 4.

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He says if Taji and then the smaller town of Bader a few kilometers to the east are taken there will be little between his men and the doorstep of Tripoli.

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For example, when American soldiers at Camp Taji recently discovered a bomb buried in a trash heap by the side of the road they could have simply blown it up but that would be thinking the old way, says Lt.

NPR: Baghdad School Trains Troops to Combat Insurgents