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| 7/16 |
| 2004/4/8-9 [Politics/Foreign/MiddleEast/Iraq] UID:13100 Activity:nil |
4/8 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Police.html http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-US-Iraq-Military.html It is now more apparent than ever that disbanding the Iraqi army was a terrible mistake. It resulted in (1) lots of jobless and angry military trained people, (2) totally alienated all the sunnis, (3) destroyed the only Iraqi institution that can keep order (the police force put together by Bremer has proven to be totally useless and they are viewed as lackeys). US should have learned from the colonial brits and made use of the conquered Iraqi army. Now, I don't see how a police / military force can be put together, cause the provisional government is now seen as a US lackey, and any police / military force will also be seen as a US lackey, and will only attract lackeys, unfortunately. the pro-US patriotic Iraqis can at most stand on the sidelines now. we are stuck there forever. \_ Bremer (who shares responsibility with Rumsfeld, et al. on disbanding the army) said we were going to be handing over power on June 30, and he said that on Tuesday. Then again, Kerry says the Administration hasn't explained how the handover will take place, who we are transferring power to, and what relationship this will have to the U.S. forces who will apparently remain behind to provide security \_ Remember our president "doesn't do nuance" (actual quote). In his mind: June 29: Sovereignty in US hands June 30: Sovereignty in Iraqi hands. That's it. Don't try to think beyond that. \_ Yeah, if he did do nuance, he would have ignored the asinine calls from the left for a definitive handover date. Now all we hear is how stupid it was to name a handover date since we gave the enemy a target to hit. Kind like the liberals who opposed Saddam's ouster in '91, but poke with glee at Bush41 for "not finishing the job". |
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| www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Police.html Iraqi Police Abandon Posts During Uprising By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: April 8, 2004 Filed at 8:08 pm ET BAGHDAD, Iraq AP - During this weeks uprising, Iraqi police have abandoned stations or stood by while gunmen roamed the streets, raising concerns about their role in a future Iraq. In the southern city of Najaf, a policeman watched helplessly on Thursday as a pickup truck carrying a dozen heavily armed Shiite militiamen went past his police station - already in the militias hands. In many cities, the unexpected strength of a Shiite Muslim militia known as the al-Mahdi Army - now in full or partial control of at least three cities in the south - has cowed the police force that United States administrators are counting on to maintain security in the future Iraq. The Iraqi interior minister, who is in charge of police, resigned Thursday and complained of the divided loyalties among the nationwide force of 75,000. The coalition appoints policemen, clerics appoint policemen, as do political parties and militias. All these things led to a lack of security, Nuri al-Badran told journalists in Baghdad. Iraqs police force was started from scratch by the United States-led coalition after the overthrow of Saddam Husseins regime, but a lack of resources and unity means it remains largely ineffective in the face of better-armed gunmen. Policemen across the country complain that they dont enjoy the trust of the Americans and that local communities view them with suspicion. In some provincial towns, theyre also reluctant to do battle with relatives or fellow tribesmen. In Sadr city, a Baghdad neighborhood thats home to almost 2 million Shiites, policemen abandoned three stations to regroup in a fourth during clashes between United States forces and followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Martin Dempsey, the United States commander responsible for security in Baghdad, gave a mixed assessment of the police performance during Sundays battle, in which he lost eight soldiers. Some officers showed bravery and fought alongside the Americans, while others chose to stand aside, he said. In Falljuah - where Marines are battling Sunni insurgents - police were conducting operations with United States forces, said Gen. But, he said, There are other instances where Iraqi forces have not been as aggressive. In Sadr City, three police officers led by a colonel sat alongside clerics at a reviewing stand while thousands of militiamen filed past in a parade on Saturday. Al-Sadr makes no effort to conceal the cooperation between his militiamen and the police in Najaf, where he is based. I would like to thank my honest brothers in the Iraqi police who are cooperating with the Iraqi people, he said in a statement Thursday. Police appeared to have more control farther south in the towns of Nasiriyah and Amarah, where al-Sadr followers have battled Italian and British troops. Residents said an understanding was reached between Shiite clerics loyal to al-Sadr and the Italians in Nasiriyah. Clusters of al-Sadr militiamen were also out in public, but unarmed. In Basra, police agreed Thursday to continue to maintain security provided that British troops stay out of the heart of the city, according to police chief Brig. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said American troops need to step up training of Iraqis, but added the number of Iraqi police deaths shows the local forces are pulling their weight. |
| www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-US-Iraq-Military.html Most of the unit is based in Germany, and a sizable contingent is based at Fort Riley, Kan. It has been stationed in Baghdad, and was scheduled to be replaced by the 1st Cavalry Division, which is already in Iraq. John Abizaid, head of United States Central Command, told The Washington Post he wanted to increase his combat power in Iraq by 10,000 troops. By preventing the 1st Armored from rotating home, he would accomplish that because it would supplement forces that have recently arrived to take its place. Abizaid on Friday suggested that no further reinforcements would be required, saying he had everything he needed inside the region Central Command oversees. Rumsfeld said that there are 135,000 American troops in Iraq, and he indicated that United States commanders want to hold that level for some period rather than reduce to 115,000 as previously planned. He did not say the Germany-based 1st Armored would be retained, but other officials said that appeared a near certainty. The main body of 1st Armored is the last of several units to complete a cycle of rotation duties; For this reason, it was seen as the most convenient option to bolster the United States forces, defense officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. In April, United States troops in Iraq have faced a sharp increase in violence as they faced off against two generally unconnected adversaries: Sunni fighters west of Baghdad and a Shiite militia in southern Iraq. The new fighting prompted generals to consider increasing the size of the United States force in Iraq. |