Iraqi Govt. Delays Disarming Militias

[Barrett808]

Iraqi Govt. Delays Disarming Militias
by Pamela Hess
Apr 9, 2006

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Despite a long-standing commitment to disarm and disband sectarian militias, the Iraqi government has quietly dropped plans to take action -- at least until a new Cabinet can be appointed and get working.

"Currently, during this period of government transition, Iraq's political and military leaders have taken an informal decision to maintain the status quo with regard to armed groups. They are not seeking to confront them unless they are found to be acting criminally," a senior U.S. official in Iraq told United Press International this week.

The official asked for anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media on this subject but tracks it closely. His comments highlight growing concerns that sectarian violence -- much of it perpetrated by militias, some of which are believed linked to Iraq's interior ministry -- may spark civil war. At the very least, their continued existance challenges the legitimacy of the central government and Iraqi security forces.

"There is an Iraqi program approved by the Transitional National Assembly more than a year ago to disarm, disband, and integrate the nine recognized militias," the official said.

"However, the three interim governments have not had the political will to implement it. In fairness to them, it was and is unlikely that the militias would disband until they saw the outcome of the political process."

(more)

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/security/article_21213722.shtml

[sutz12]

1. Funny how no one saw this coming...

when we let several hundred thousand Iraqi army vets disappear into the woodwork...with their weapons.

[chaumont58]

2. They're not going to be able to disarm the militias, period,

without major conflicts. Chimpie's crew, AKA the Keystone Kops, ride again.

[joemurphy]

5. You're right. All this talk about an Iraqi national army is a joke.

The Kurds are armed to the the teeth. The Sunnis and Shias have their own militias. Moreover, members of the Shia militias have infiltrated the new Iraqi army.

This is a joke. Iraq's going to look like Somalia for a long time and there isn't anything we're going to be able to do about it.

We should just admit we've screwed Iraq up and go home. We can't fix the problem.

[tocqueville]

3. to disarm militias you need an army, but there is none

the Iraqi army is a virtual construction. The few functioning units can only do it with American logistics and command. Besides the soldiers are primarily loyal to their ethnic group, not to the government...

[bemildred]

4. "political will" my ass.

The problem is that the only means the "government" has to disarm the militias is the militias.

[acmavm]

6. They are not going to be able to take back the guns from anyone,

Sunni, Shi'ite, or Kurd. And they sure as hell aren't going to get back all the high explosives that the incompetents who were running the show allowed them to loot from the Iraqi government sites. Wouldn't that be what they're using right now when they're killing each other and out troops off?

Maybe bush** can send Jenna and (as someone once called her) Not Jenna to go get the stuff back. Tell them their Daddy said he wants it. And Cheney's daughter, she could help. And Rummy, he's got kids or grandkids old enough in his family to go to Iraq, doesn't he? Oh, and Pierce bush**. Get that kid suited up. Hell, round all the kids and grandkids of these chickenshit warmongers up, see how they like it.

[jody]

7. Efforts to disarm the militia would only disarm law abiding Iraqis who

need arms for defense of self and property.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. That's like me "delaying" collecting my $1 million dollars from Trump

I'm "delaying" because I can't fucking do it - it is impossible.