Hakim al-Zamili
Posted on 02/08/2007 5:52:53 AM PST by TexKat
Official linked to Moqtada Al-Sadr arrested over corruption
BAGHDAD, Feb 8 (KUNA) -- The Multi-National Force (MNF) said Thursday an official at the Ministry of Health had been arrested over claims of corruption.
American and Iraqi troops arrested the MoH uundersecretary, Hakem Al-Zamli, earlier today, at the Ministry premises in Baghdad.
A statement by the Multi-National Force said "Special Iraqi Army Forces captured a senior Ministry of Health official today, who is suspected of being a central figure in alleged corruption and Jaysh Al-Mahdi (Al-Mahdi Army or Al-Sadr militia) infiltration of the MoH." It added that "The suspect is implicated in the deaths of several MoH officials, to include the MoH Director General in Diyala Province." The director's name was not revealed.
According to the statement Al-Zamli "is reported to openly intimidate and threaten MoH officials who disagree with and question his actions." It also pointed out that the suspect reportedly "orchestrates several kickback schemes related to inflated contracts on MoH equipment and services. These kickbacks are funneled to JAM elements to support sectarian attacks and violence targeting Iraqi civilians." He is suspected of funding JAM through large scale employment of militia members.
The Multi-National Force did not disclose if the charges against Al-Zamli were filed by the American military or the Iraqi government but it referred to reports that the militia members targeted Iraqi civilians using the Ministry's facilities and services for sectarian kidnapping and murder. Al-Zamli's corruption is believed to have provided millions of U.S. dollars into JAM.
In a phone call with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), a ministry source said a joint military force disarmed all the ministry guards who stood aside as the arrest was carried out in the ministry building.
According to the MoH Inspector General, Adel Mohsen, the forces had broken into the building, beat employees, broke windows and doors, fired arms and then led Al-Zamli away.
The raid took place during the weekly meeting of the Iraqi Cabinet; Minister of Health All- Al-Shimri, was attending the meeting presided over by PM Nouri Al-Maliki.
The Iraqi Ministry of Defense said it had not known about the arrest.
Mohsen noted that he had contacted the Iraqi military who said they had no idea.
US and Iraqi troops have repeatedly carried out "mop-up" operations targeting hideouts of the hardline Shiite organization, charged with involvement in "sectarian cleansing" acts.( pick up previous) mhg.
msa
KUNA 081549 Feb 07NNNN
http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=950276
Just how do you disband a tribe that's been in exsistance for 1,000's for years?
Strategypage.com
Don't Piss Off the Locals
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20061030.aspx
October 30, 2006: A key element in dealing with irregular (or guerilla) warfare, is to make sure that most of the local people are on your side. Those who neglect this rule, whether insurgents or counter-insurgents, will lose. This rule can be found in any handbook on how to fight guerrilla wars, such as the Marine Corps's famed Small Wars Manual. But it is most often honored in the breach. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, US and Coalition forces have certainly committed a number of serious blunders that have alienated some locals. But so too have our opponents.
In Iraq, al Qaeda's heavy-handed efforts to get the Sunni tribes of Anbar province to submit to its leadership in the struggle against the government has backfired. The tribes were perfectly willing to resist the government, but resent outside interference, especially when it comes with a lot of strings attached. Among these was a much stricter version of Islam than the already conservative tribes were used to. So al Qaeda decided to force cooperation, by fighting tribal militias, and even bumping off tribal leaders. The primary result of this was that the tribes have more or less made peace with the government and formed a pro-government coalition among the largely Sunni tribes in Anbar.
One of the most important leaders of this movement is 41-year old Abd al Sattar Ftekhan, a leader of the Rishawi tribe. Although himself connected to smuggling and criminal activity, he has become the principal advisor to the Government and Coalition security forces in the province. Abd al Sattar's father was killed by agents of al Qaeda.
A similar situation is developing in Afghanistan. The Taliban's Spring/Summer offensive was largely defeated in the field, with heavy casualties. But it did permit the Taliban to take control of some areas, particularly those inhabited by sympathetic Pushtun tribes. Taliban efforts to strengthen its control over the tribes, however, backfired. In addition to torching schools, especially schools for girls, some Taliban commanders began killing local leaders who weren't totally enthusiastic about the new order. This led to fighting between Taliban and tribesmen. It has also led to orders from very senior Taliban leaders, including perhaps Mullah Omar, to "respect" the Afghan people. In one case a prominent regional Taliban commander has been flatly told to stop beheading people, or face serious consequences. At least one Taliban leader was "disciplined" to death. Over the Winter, it's expected there will be many heated discussions among Taliban leaders in Pakistan, over how rough to play in 2007.
You know what they say about the size of a mans foot. :-)
Hakim al-Zamili
Iraqis gather in front of a hospital in Fallujah, 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, to inspect a body of a young man that was killed in a U.S. army air raid on the nearby village of Zaidan. A U.S. airstrike Thursday killed 13 insurgents in a volatile area west of Baghdad, the military said, while local officials claim 45 civilians, including women and children, perished in the attack. (AP Photo)
U.S. says 13 rebels killed in airstrike
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. airstrike Thursday killed 13 insurgents in a volatile area west of Baghdad, the military said. Local officials said 45 civilians, including women and children, died in the attack.
American forces launched the attack after intelligence showed suspected insurgents were assembled in two safe houses for foreign fighters northeast of Amiriyah, 25 miles west of Baghdad, the military said.
Five militants were detained and a weapons cache including armor-piercing ammunition was found in an initial raid on a nearby target, the military said. That operation was followed by the airstrike on the two suspected safe houses in which the military said 13 insurgents died.
Police and hospital officials in the area offered a conflicting account, saying the airstrike hit the village of Zaidan south of Abu Ghraib and flattened four houses, killing 45 people, including women, children and old people.
An Associated Press photo showed the body of a boy in the back of a pickup truck at the nearby Fallujah hospital and people there said he was a victim of the Zaydan airstrike. Other photos showed several wounded children being treated in the hospital.
Thamir al-Dulaimi, a doctor with the Fallujah Public Hospital, said 20 other civilians from the village were being treated, while a highway patrol officer said civilian cars were being used to bring the wounded to the hospital.
Amiriyah is in volatile Anbar province, an insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad where hundreds of U.S. troops have been killed.
Great, thanks for the pic blam. I had been looking for one and could not find one.
Lol, that is why I was just sitting here staring at it in amazement :-)
lol, you are a mess!
LOL. I wish I could say that -- honestly, that is.
Do Iraqi's come in that size?
To tell you the truth EATB, I would'nt know :)
Aha! Things are starting to happen!
Take that, dimocrats!
Amazing how they parrot Democrat rhetoric so accurately. ;)
He looks like he would be at home in a Vegas Bar....
The minister, Hakim al-Zamili, is a key member of the political group led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. He is accused of aiding Shia militiamen and using ambulances to move weapons, a ministry source told the BBC.He got the idea from the PLO in Israel and Hizzies in Lebanon.
Thanks for the ping. I have to get ready for work. But this is great news. Things are starting to really cook.
Yea. Wish I had more time but have to shower and shave and go to work. Things are starting to shake and bake.
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