Iraq PM slams law pardoning mainly Sunni prisoners

[Old Coot]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Shi'ite leader vowed on Saturday to amend a law meant to foster sectarian reconciliation by pardoning mostly Sunni prisoners, saying it had led to the release of "terrorists" and corruption suspects.

Iraq has blamed a spike in violence since April on the release of detainees from Iraqi and U.S. prisons, and is also on a drive to stamp out the rampant corruption that has crippled efforts to attract foreign investment and rebuild the country.

"Regrettably, the amnesty law has been changed from the conditions written by the government, and has led to the pardoning of many (accused of) corruption," Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a conference of tribal leaders from both Sunni and Shi'ite faiths in Baghdad.

The law, which allowed the release of thousands of Sunni Arab prisoners, has helped return estranged Sunni politicians to Maliki's government and is thought to have taken some of the heat out of the insurgency.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSLN70652620090523

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The article says both that the release of detainees has been blamed for a spike in violence and that the law has taken the heat out of the insurgency. Which is it?

[bertman]

1. It's whichever one they want to use to keep our troops in Iraq longer, Old Coot. You know,

we can't just walk away from them after we brought on this civil war. Or, we must keep our troops in Iraq until they have a strong democratic government.

More background music for the Endless War.