US pays sheikh to protect pipelines, then arrests him

[True_Blue]

US pays sheikh to protect pipelines, then arrests him
Web posted at: 9/13/2003 7:4:29
Source ::: AFP
KIRKUK, Iraq: One week the US army was paying the sheikh to help protect oil pipelines, the next they arrested him on suspicion of aiding anti-coalition attackers. It’s all part of building the new Iraq, explained the somewhat bewildered American colonel.

“He negotiated a deal that let him take a part of the pipeline that he didn’t have before,” said Colonel Bill Mayville, who is in charge of the 173rd Airborne Division in the northern oil center of Kirkuk.

That three-month contract, which began on July 17, promised Sheikh Hatem al-Assy al-Obeidi more than 6,000 dollars for the protection of a stretch of pipelines and power cables running through his tribal lands in the desert near Kirkuk.

The sheikh, one of the leaders of a powerful and wealthy Sunni Muslim tribe, had provided protection for infrastructure during Saddam Hussein’s reign.

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[neomonkey]

1. OH lord

So this is the shenaniganary which goes on behind the scenes?

Someone please help us.

[Emillereid]

2. What the hell does this mean:

"It’s all part of building the new Iraq, explained the somewhat bewildered American colonel."

When are these idiots, who don't know the language or the culture or much of anything else about Iraq, going to realize that they're going to be played for the fools they are.

[teryang]

3. They got what they paid for

Six thousand dollars for three months. Sounds like 24 dollars worth of beads. I guess they think Arabs are stupid. Here protect these pipelines while we steal your oil.

[The Magistrate]

4. It Goes Beyond That, Sir

He was getting money from the people he allowed to attack them, too.

The idea that puppet forces are going to solve the problem of security in Iraq for the U.S. occupation is beyond idiocy and on to the heights of hilarity.

The people we hire will be the ones that attack; if they are not, they will be supplying intelligence and munitions to the attackers.

[teryang]

5. Absolutely

That's how it goes.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. All I can say is

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

:argh: