http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1066601707186&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724Use Saddam's army, U.S. told Iraqi politician urges move to stabilize country
Two more American soldiers killed in attack
BRIAN WILLIAMS REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
BAGHDAD—The president of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council urged Washington yesterday to call up Iraq's pre-war army and police force to help stabilize the country as two more U.S. soldiers were killed. "The coalition's early decision to abolish the army and police was well intended, but it unfortunately resulted in a security vacuum that let criminals, die-hards of the former regime and international terrorists flourish," Iyad Allawi said.
Writing in the New York Times, he said members of a 300,000-strong army that served Saddam Hussein could be vetted "to remove those who committed crimes under the old regime." "Ultimately only Iraqis themselves can restore security, rebuild national institutions, enact a constitution and elect a democratic government," said Allawi, who holds the presidency under a rotation deal. "America must not rebuff Iraqis who are eager to have a stake in this intimate national process. Like any free people, we want to ensure that we are in control of our own destiny." <snip>
"Any American-led military presence, even if complemented by the United Nations, will never have the credibility and legitimacy that the Iraqi Army has among the people," Allawi said.
Former Iraqi governing institutions, he said, should be reactivated, including the interior, justice, finance, oil and education ministries, and urged Washington not to stop Iraqi sovereignty until a constitution was produced. <snip>