More than 2,000 Iraqi army officers killed in the past few months

[sabra]

Source: Azzaman (Iraq Daily)

Attacks, mainly by silencer guns and explosive devices targeting Iraqi army officers, have surged recently and more than 2,000 officers are reported to have been killed in the past few months.

Intelligence sources, refusing to be named, said in the face of the “new form of terror,” Iraqi security forces have intensified their searches of individuals and vehicles particularly in Baghdad.

The intelligence sources said there were organized “assassination groups” whose main target was killing Iraqi army officers.

...

Jihad al-Jaberi of the anti-explosive squad said “up to five army officers are killed by silencer guns” in Baghdad every week.

...

However, Jaberi said assassination networks had infiltrated Baghdad and were very active. “They have their own intelligence gathering methods. They monitor their targets carefully and only attack when they are absolutely sure they are not be caught.”





Read more: http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news/2011-01-05/kurd.htm

[Crowman1979]

1. I hate to say this, but this would have happened even with US troops on the ground.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Sounds very ominous to me.

If this is aimed at taking out the officer class, specifically, then it sounds like someone has a new plan for Iraq. The question is, who? Religious fanatics inside Iraq or proxy agents for Iran and Saudi Arabia? Or is the intent here to draw the US military back into this quagmire?

[valerief]

3. +1

[formercia]

5. It would be interesting to see the breakdown

as to Shia or Sunni. That would explain a lot.

[sabra]

6. this report is saying it's coming from both Shiite and Sunni groups

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/Police+army+increasingly+targeted+Iraq+official/4060443/story.html

Police, army increasingly targeted in Iraq: official

The violence in Iraq has moved into a new phase, with both Shiite and Sunni groups increasingly targeting police and army officers in Baghdad, a senior official said Tuesday.

...

Maj.-Gen. Baidhani said al-Qaeda's Iraqi affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), and the Shiite rebel group Asaib al-Haq, were responsible for recent attacks. Asaib al-Haq is an offshoot of anti-U. S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's movement, which Mr. Sadr has repudiated since agreeing to join the government.

The groups were targeting people who habitually drove cars they believed belonged to the ministries responsible for the army and police.

The assassins use one or two cars to follow their victims and watch their movements for days before shooting them with handguns equipped with silencers, which draw less attention.

[rug]

4. This scab is about to rip open again.

[Crowman1979]

8. The scab was ripped open ever since 2003 and has been bleeding ever since.

[bemildred]

7. Preparing the battlefield for the coming civil war. nt

[zipplewrath]

9. The American Revolution

In the American Revolutionary War, it was a common tactic for the militias and "rebels" (as oppose to the uniformed military under Washington) to target officers in battle. It was very effective because of the effect on the whole unit. One can imagine that these targeted assassinations are focused on the most capable and effective officers, to reduce the effectiveness of the entire system.

[Uncle Joe]

10. This sounds like the MO that organized crime might use.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[BlueJac]

11. Could the US be involved......

we have led assassination squads before, Chile is one place, Nicaragua is another. We just don't have the cleanest record. Just saying.