Military Officials Add to U.S. Criticism of Iraq’s Government

[Rose Siding]

Senior American military officials are warning that time is growing short for Iraq to root out militias inside and outside the government and purge ministries of corrupt officials who are diverting large sums of money to their own political parties.

“We are now at a time when we have a little bit of influence there,” a senior military official said. Referring to the problem of militias, he added, “There is going to come a time when I would argue we are going to have to force this issue.”

The official said political parties who were plundering ministries were squandering chances to make progress that could reduce sectarian violence.

“I can tell you in every single ministry how they are using that ministry to fill the coffers of the political parties,” the official said. “They are doing that because that is exactly what Saddam Hussein did.”

Another sign of how acute Iraq’s security woes have become emerged Wednesday: the past week saw the highest number of suicide bomb attacks of any week since the American-led invasion in 2003, according to the chief United States military spokesman in Iraq, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/28/world/middleeast/28iraq.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[grytpype]

1. WP: American Commanders Question Political Will Of Iraqi Prime Minister

(Bad News #3)

Remember how there were reports that the US was giving up on Maliki, which Tony Snow totally denied? Well, looks like Tony is a big fat liar. Again.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092702063.html

American Commanders Question Political Will Of Iraqi Prime Minister

By Sudarsan Raghavan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, September 28, 2006; A19

BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 -- Senior U.S. military commanders are questioning whether Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has the political will to weed out official corruption and tackle the brutal militias that are threatening to plunge Iraq into civil war.

...

But in recent days, senior U.S. military commanders have suggested that if the Maliki government fails to take action soon, they may have to step in and pressure the government to go after militias holed up in neighborhoods around Baghdad. Their primary target is most likely the Mahdi Army, a militia linked to radical anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr that Sunni Muslims accuse of running death squads under the mantle of Shiite Islam.

...

The officials' comments underscore a growing frustration over the speed of government reform efforts, at a time when pressure is mounting back home for a withdrawal of U.S. troops. The private questions about Maliki's abilities also come after a particularly violent month in Baghdad and across Iraq, as suicide bombings and execution-style slayings have continued unabated.

"This has been a tough week. Over the past two weeks, we have seen a rise in the number of attacks, especially in Baghdad," said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell. "Murders and executions are currently the number one cause of civilian deaths in Baghdad."

...

"I don't see an open end to this deal, I mean, where this just goes on and on. I think the government, the people will get tired if they don't see any action on this," the U.S. official said.

...

A third senior U.S. military official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity in a briefing to reporters, similarly questioned the government's resolve to tackle Iraq's myriad problems. "There are still folks who think they can win a sectarian conflict, inside the political parties as well as some guys inside the government," he said. "I think the senior leadership recognizes that that's a failing policy. But getting from sort of the platitude to the reality is the challenge and growth."

He added, "And I'll tell you, the other aspect is, don't assume competency."

[Erika]

2. Tony Snow is an "incompetent" freeper

but look at the material he's given.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. "you go out and fight those guys, we'll stay in the fort & cover you"

[rodeodance]

4. the cracks are getting bigger and bigger.

[RedEarth]

5. Come on let;'s have some good news.....just think of all the schools

and clinics that have been opened....this bad news might upset george

[SOS]

6. US seems to be laying groundwork

for overthrowing the elected government.
Supporting Lebanon and meeting with Ahmadinejad...not acceptable to the Imperium.

[SOS]

7. Update 9/29

Planned US staged coup against al Maliki reported on NBC News tonight.
Planned in Jordan to be carried out by "the Iraqi military".

Bush style "democracy".