Posted on 10/14/2006 12:14:27 AM PDT by jmc1969
Operating between the insurgent Sunni Arab suburbs of Baghdad and the Shiite militia-dominated south, Col. Salam al-Mamuri and his Scorpion commando team were a rarity among Iraqi security forces, American and Iraqi colleagues said: a police unit fighting on both sides of the country's sectarian divide.
Mamuri's comparative evenhandedness enforcing the law may have earned him an enemy within his own sect, the Shiites. Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani in Baghdad called it a "possibility and a probability" that the assassination was at least in part an inside job, because the killer was able to gain access to Mamuri's office to plant the bomb.
"They are literally the only Iraqi unit under arms in the south that is completely independent of the political parties and the militias," a Special Forces intelligence specialist and medic said this year. "Everyone else -- the police, the army -- is playing ball for somebody. They won't."
Hilla residents said Friday that local forces of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr especially disliked Mamuri, more than ever after the Scorpions raided a Sadr office in mid-September. Sadr's militia, known as the Mahdi Army, is one of the most powerful forces in Iraq.
Because of its makeup and the fact that it fought al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni-led insurgent groups, Hilla SWAT swiftly earned a reputation as a feared anti-Sunni force.
But the unit cracked down as fiercely on Shiite militias, which Mamuri blamed this spring for what by then amounted to at least a half-dozen attempts to assassinate him. He barred militia members from serving in his brigade, despite intense political pressure from the provincial governor.
"The militias consider us the only thing preventing them from completely taking over the south," Mamuri said in the spring interview. "They are bad for the country."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Your strong frederalism idea sounds good on the surface Steel Wolf the problem is religious extremist killers like these Madhi scum will take over the south just as I suspect areas of the West will be in terrorist hands.
The answer to Iraq's main problems is instilling the Rule of Law by force, that means wiping out these militias. If the current governmnet won't do it the people of Baghdad would be happy if we could find one that would.
They say in that article that the Mahdi Army is now one of the most powerful forces in Iraq.
Get that filthy Sadr eliminated. He is poison.
It is the largest Shia militia, but its loyality is deffuse and they will take money from anyone who will give it like Iran in exchange for killing.
The Madhi Army is basically an out of control gang that has been splintering into different groups, but all with a wacko religious idology.
He has been the cause of a lot of the trouble here. Not just recently, but on and off for over two years.
WHY the government treats him and his thugs as some sort of afterthought is beyond me. Enough with the political pussyfooting; there will not be peace until he and his Mahdi Army thugs are eliminated.
I know it, Allegra. It's way past time to stick a fork in that fat pig.
Well that was rude .. I didn't even asked how you are? How y'all feeling about all the political crappola here?
We were too excited about the first real rain of the season last night to pay any attention. LOL
No, seriously, everyone is frustrated with the whole Mahdi Army problem. The Iraqis complain about them setting up their own checkpoints in the Shiite areas of town, so they're now having to drive roundabout ways to get places just to avoid those thugs. The locals are just as disgusted with them as we are.
And yet, al Maliki does nothing...well, aside from pitching hissy-fits whenever the U.S. forces go into Sadr City to try to rout those rats out.
Someone needs to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with that man. It's insanity. God bless and protect you, Allegra .. enjoy that rain.
Would eliminating Sadr make that much difference? I can't see the whole Mahdi Army just quietly disbanding after his funeral. Someone else would take over as leader.
Leader wise the Madhi Army is fragmenting into dozens of different units many loyal to Iran not Sadr.
The US needs to destory the Madhi Army and all the breakaway gangs. Sadr would like to avoid being killed and would be willing to tell his fighters down river to stay alive. We need to make it clear to Sadr that we will either kill you and your fighters or we can leave you be if you get rid of your militia with US military help.
I meant to say sell them down river
Hi Allegra!
Hope you are doing well.
I agree with you that Mookie is a continuing source of trouble in Iraq. But let's look at things in perspective:
- Who is killing Americans in Iraq every day?
- Who is carrying out suicide bombings?
- who is planting car bombs in busy areas?
- who is targetting the infra-structure of the country?
The answer is Sunni insurgents for all of the above. The difference is that they are 'invisible rats' where as Mookie and his thugs are well known.
I think the reason the government is not taking strong action against him may be due to lack of resources. Also, every time he feels they are getting close to him he starts moderating his views, like the recent statement he made about 'disowning' anyone in his group involved in killings, etc.!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.