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.
That lounge fight was BS, wasn't it CC?
I FReepmailed and called Mark at the LLF to voice my support and to ask that he return.
The unnamed FReepers who shot their mouths off were out of line to hijack a thread that everyone loves.
Yes, that's what I like about it. There are so many well-informed people here, and experts on lots of different subjects.
Let's call it a bad night like A.Hun said.
This caller is great. God bless him!
What door is that on Barney Franks;??
Wondertwins powers activate.
You know I thought the same thing.
"Oh, now they pulled out Jesus".
Oh, but they're getting over the top:
When they can link Fox to Wellstone, you know it's getting stinky.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20061025/cm_thenation/1131964
I missed the excitement. Had to help my kids with their homework. I haven't read the whole thread, either. But, that one comment by OldFriend set me off! Really low class, in my opinion!
I was thinkin that myself.
You are correct. A great call from a man who knows all about this terrible ordeal.
He's making my point ... folks with disease have it badly enough without having their situation politicized. Fox should host telethons, etc as fund-raisers to foster research IMHO.
aawwwww. that's a cutie.
God Bless him.
Oh now you're at it again! lol
Regardless whether MJF was off his meds or was overmedicated when he shot that ad, he CHOSE to shoot it when he was in that condition. It was intentional.
I was ill myself and wasn't able to tune in last night.
Needless to say I was shocked and disappointed(sorry to talk like a Lib)by what happened.
I just hope the level of discourse and respect improves so that we don't chase the GREAT ONE off like we did Hannity.
Hey all! Work and Lurk mode.
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.