Posted on 04/14/2008 8:39:31 AM PDT by awake-n-angry
BAGHDAD - Iraq's government moved Sunday to restore discipline within the ranks of the security forces, sacking more than 1,300 soldiers and policemen who deserted during recent fighting against Shiite militias in Basra.
At the same time, Iraq's Cabinet ratcheted up the pressure on anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr by approving draft legislation barring political parties with militias from participating in upcoming provincial elections.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The Iraqi government is not standing up, has little incentive to unite the nation and we are stuck in the middle. The point of previous potings is that I do not feel that what we have seen so far is worthy of our troops sacrifice. We seem to have no sincere partner in democratization of Iraq as the government is composed of selfish little warlords who reign over feifdoms that see us as patsys to shed blood while they concetrate and weild power over a divided nation.
The Iraq Gov't can prove me wrong by outlawing these private ,ilitias but that will never happen.
Excellent, courageous and proper; hat’s off to the Iraqi gov.
Breaking News???
If they follow through with legislation to ban private militias I can agree with you.
And if 1,300 LOYAL Iraqis stand up to replace these traitors and spies I will agree with you and applaud the Iraqis but until that time this is an indicator of political insecurity that none of our military might can fix. We have thated that our military is there to give the IRaqis a chance to build a stable government. That assertion is based on the premise that there are Iraqis who wante a stable, united Iraq. This seems to be a tiny minority if they exist at all.
What facts would matter to you anyway? You’re already ignoring the fact that Basra was cleaned out almost singlehandedly by Iraqi forces. The U.S. provided some air support, but beyond that the boots kicking in the doors were Iraqi.
Your characterization of the Iraqi government is simply wildly inaccurate. Far from being divided, Iraq is coming together as never before. You just have no idea what you’re talking about.
If they follow through with legislation to ban private militias I can agree with you.
And if 1,300 LOYAL Iraqis stand up to replace these traitors and spies I will agree with you and applaud the Iraqis but until that time, this is an indicator of political insecurity that none of our military might can fix. We have stated that our military is there to give the IRaqis a chance to build a stable government. That assertion is based on the premise that there are Iraqis who wante a stable, united Iraq. This seems to be a tiny minority if they exist at all.
1300 is what percentage of the Iraqi police and military?
There’s something on the order of 300,000 Iraqis that have put on the uniform of their country. Dismissing 1,500 deserters is hardly worthy of notice.
“Coming together as never before...”
_________
We’ve heard that for years and years. Now removal of US troops and replacement by Iraqis is being stalled by the Sec. of Defense. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Basra uprising was ended when a peace proposal with al Sadr, negotiated by the Iranians (where al SAdr is living) was accepted. Al Sadr kept his troops alive to fight another day and missles still fall into the Green ZOne. They have kept there power as have all the other little tin pot militias attached to war lords. Its a mess that some refuse to see.
Quite.
So things are making you nervous, huh? As we approach victory it just becomes harder and harder to deal with, doesn't it. It's OK. We fought the war without your support and we can finish it without you, too.
You have absolutely no idea how long it takes for these things to work out. Why don’t you read up a little on our history first before you pass judgement, eh? In fact the progress we and the Iraqi’s have made in such a short time is HISTORIC, its just that many are to historically ignorant to know better.
Sorry- I ran a search under “1,300” and “Dismissed” but got nothing relevant.
Not quite so many as he had before.
You are making my point for me. I know that WE are capable of progress. WE knocked out Saddam’s military in a matter of weeks and flooded the country with troops in record time. WE are fighting and dying with great bravery and scarifice. WE, however are alone as the Iraqis are not standing up. Too many of them are in for themselves in the short term and not ready to sacrifice for a long lasting, stable democracy.
Ok, you’re not answering my post #7 why?
“1300 is what percentage of the Iraqi police and military?”
I’ve heard reference that the desertion rate is lower than ours in WWI, but I don’t know how that was arrived at.
What is surprising that Maliki would dare attempt this operation now with the green and half trained local14th Division knowing the desertion risk.
Wretchard of The Belmont Club http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2008/04/disaggregation.html notes that that the Iraqi Army was able to quickly reinforce it to take the critical Basra ports that fund the Madi Army, also that “while it is probably true that the Iraqi Army has a long to way to go to reach the desired standard it would have been far more worrisome if no one had been “disaggregated”; Basra had been left largely unsecured and reinforcements were still cooling their heels hundreds of miles away”
The dismissals are a good thing. They are a sign of confidence that the Iraqi Army is politically strong enough to project its power on the South and to uphold loyalty standards there.
The danger of many deserters flipping is substantial, but the Maliki government believes it can survive it and does not need to compromise in order to hold onto them. This is very good news, with many sucked in by the Old Media reports that it’s bad new.
1300 potential DNC volunteers.
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