Posted on 10/25/2006 8:25:52 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1725292/posts?page=1
Iraqi Government Plans to Demobilize Illegal Militias
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2006 – The Iraqi government has plans to demobilize all illegal militias, including radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s so-called “Mahdi Army,” the senior U.S. diplomat in Iraq said today.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki “has agreed to getting rid of the militias,” U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters at a Baghdad news conference.
Illegal militias that commit violence and murder need to be dealt with, Khalilzad said, noting the Iraqi government recognizes that fact.
Maliki wants to demobilize all the militias, including al-Sadr’s, Khalilzad said. Yet, he noted, U.S. officials don’t have direct contact with Sadr, although there is some interaction with some of Sadr’s representatives in the Iraqi Assembly.
Khalilzad said he believes that an integrated, political approach is the best way to try to convince militia leaders to disband their men and stack arms.
However, Maliki doesn’t rule out the use of force to coerce the militias to disband, Khalilzad said. “We will see what happens,” he added.
Khalilzad said he believes the Iraqi government is taking the right path in addressing the militia issue. Iraq’s prime minister is anxious for Iraqis to assume more security roles and responsibilities, to include dealing the problem of militias, the ambassador said.
Meanwhile, U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces “are actively tracking, targeting, detaining people who are operating in death squads, and their leadership, who are breaking the law,” Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said.
When Iraq’s government zeroes in on the militia issue, then the Iraqi security forces will become the dominant security forces in the country, Casey predicted.
“I think it will happen,” he said.
re # 181, what was the thread about??
NEW MD SENATE POLL---With 14 days left in this campaign, a new poll today shows Michael Steele continuing to close the gap on Congressman Ben Cardin - well within the margin of error, Steele is at 39% to Cardin's 41%. The National Republican Senatorial Committee's poll surveyed 602 Maryland likely voters and was conducted by Voter Consumer Research from October 22nd to October 23rd. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.9%.
I doubt any of those are the ones that people find offensive. Those are nice!
Rush is so great. I know he doesn't convince any dishonest Democrats, but I'm sure there are a lot of honest people (like the young and the politically uninclined) listening who will learn the truth about this issue.
Point taken... I'll definitely use "usually" if I ever disagree with her.
happy birthday, mine was the 14th
great points!
Mark Levin Show live thread.
Mark Levin posts on the thread during his show.
Absolutely right.
And in my opinion, the fact that one believes something does not entitle him to anyone else's money. If it did, then my belief that liberals are evil should entitle me to legislation denying them the vote!
Me too, that's what I want to see!
Pimping for the DNC. I heard part of that transcript and he is just another DNC W#***.
I've never seen him do that before.
I did see Sean on F&F this morning and wondered why he had a suit & tie. Needless to say I don't watch GMA.
He sure did last night.
Had i no idea Levin posts on the thread.
Go Steele go!
Me neither. In the morning I'm always stumbling around on autopilot, getting ready to leave for work, so I don't see any TV (not that I'd watch GMA anyway!).
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.