Former Baath Officials Surrender Arms

SeaMax News ^ | 1/8/2004 | Kristin Billera

[Hugenot]

Yesterday near Mosul, Iraq, a number of senior officials of the Baath party, the former political party of the ousted Iraqi dictator, gathered at the Tall Afar American military base to condemn the attacks that had been carried out against American troops.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Pease of the 101st Airborne Division, a number of former Baath party officials turned over weapons that were distributed before the US invasion in March.

The handover was part of a plan introduced about three weeks ago by the 101st Airborne Division to rehabilitate Baath party leaders.

According to a list published by the division, the senior Baath officials surrendered more than 483 Kalashnikov rifles, 10 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, mortars, and ammunition.

In May, Paul Bremer issued an order that forbid high-ranking Baath leaders from holding state jobs. However, Lieutenant Colonel Pease explained that under this plan, those who turned in their arms and expressed support for the Americans would receive favorable treatment in the new Iraq.

The weapons would be used to supply the new Iraqi army. Pease’s division, the 187th Infantry, hopes to recover 70% of the weapons in their area by offering incentives to those who are armed. "If they stop shooting my people it was worth the effort," he said.

He also added that three soldiers in his unit were killed and approximately 100 others were injured due to attacks by guerrillas in the area.

The former members of Saddam Hussein’s army, which amount to approximately 500,000, Saddam loyalists, and the militia all remained armed after Saddam was ousted. This is without taking into consideration all of the weapons which were looted after Saddam’s fall.

US military commanders have acknowledged that it would be virtually unfeasible to confiscate all of extensive arms caches throughout Iraq.