Iraqi Army Recruiting in Basra

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Sgt. 1st Class C. J. Sheely, USA

[SandRat]

Iraqis gathered in the Hayyaniyah district of Basra, Iraq to answer a recruiting call by the Iraqi army May 29. More than 3,000 Iraqi men from the area turned out for the event though the Iraqi army only had 1,000 positions available.

BASRA — Soldiers with the 1st Iraqi Army looked to increase their numbers and support in Basra, Iraq May 29. Operation Charge of the Knights has been successful in rooting out criminal elements and restoring the rule of law to the city as well as increasing local support for the government of Iraq.

The increased support for the government is something the Iraqi army is trying to take advantage of by recruiting new soldiers from the local communities. At a recent recruiting drive in the Hayyaniyah district, over 3,000 men came out to sign up for service with the army. Unfortunately for many of them, there were only 1,000 positions available during the drive.

[SandRat]

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[hsalaw]

This is good news indeed. But I wonder how the Iraqi Army and government are making sure an applicant doesn’t have some hidden, anti-government, anti-American agenda.

[elhombrelibre]

News on the Volunteers for the self-governing people of Iraq ping.

[stand watie]

fwiw, there is NO way to assure that. not even "truth serum" works 100%.

free dixie,sw

[hsalaw]

You’re right, of course. And I agree. It’s just got to be a little worrisome for our troops who are doing the training, as well as the IA and government.

[stand watie]

of course it is "worrying", but fwiw,remember that Lee Harvey Oswald was a US Marine.

there's no way to screen out all the "bad apples". you just feed them to the hogs as you find them.

free dixie,sw

[hsalaw]

LOL! “Feed them to the hogs”!

[rawhide]

Curiour, what happen to all those Iraqi soldiers, including a general, who refused to fight, at the beginning of the recent Iraqi offensive in Basra? Were they dismissed from the army?

[rawhide]

Curiour=Curious

[SandRat]

Iraqi justice is being meted out at the highest levels I suspect; and not Saddam's type of justice. Last I heard there was going to be trials for them.

[Marine_Uncle]

Sure looks like things continue to turn around for the better. Most probably they have few chances of earning a living in this land at present. Why not join on the dotted line. Let them learn how to act with some honor and discipline. Do something for their country, instead of sitting around and do nothing with their lives, or worse get involved with the radical groups.
But on the other side of the coin, I do hope equal opportunities are arising to get the youth in trades programs and back into schools. They need a balance of youth to defend as well get their commerce and agricultural systems into high gear.

[stand watie]

you know of course that we did precisely THAT in the fight against the HUKS, do you not???

free dixie,sw

[hsalaw]

“HUKS”?

[stand watie]

the Huks were one of the savage groups of Muslim fighters of the Philippines.

free dixie,sw

[hsalaw]

Thanks.

[stand watie]

the ONLY thing GOOD i can say about the Huks was that they fought the Japanese invaders 1941-45 as FIERCELY as they did our troops earlier.

the Huks were WELL-known for "skinning alive" all the "sons of Nippon", that they caught committing war crimes. (a late friend of mine who fought with the USFIP told me once that he SAW a Japanese officer stay ALIVE for over a WEEK under the "tender mercy" of the Huks women.)

free dixie,sw