Iraqi forces are standing up . . . and doing whatever they damn-well want

[bigtree]

September 24, 2006 10:36 AM


Iraqi soldiers hinder U.S. efforts to combat militias and tame Baghdad streets

ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The plan was simple: Iraqi troops would block escape routes while U.S. soldiers searched for weapons house-by-house. But the Iraqi troops didn't show up on time.

When they finally did appear, the Iraqis ignored U.S. orders and let dozens of cars pass through checkpoints in eastern Baghdad - including an ambulance full of armed militiamen, American soldiers said in recent interviews.

It wasn't an isolated incident, they added.

Senior U.S. commanders have hailed the performance of Iraqi troops in the crackdown on militias and insurgents in Baghdad. But some U.S. soldiers say the Iraqis serving alongside them are among the worst they've ever seen - seeming more loyal to militias than the government.

That raises doubts whether the Iraqis can maintain order once the security operation is over and the Americans have left. It also raises broader questions about the training, reliability and loyalty of Iraqi troops - who must be competent, U.S. officials say, before America can begin pulling out of Iraq.

U.S. military leaders have repeatedly called on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, to aggressively disband the predominantly Shiite militias, but so far little progress is seen on Baghdad's streets.

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=564810623717082677

[rodeodance]

1. of course they are --they are a tribal society. Time for the WH to

connect the dots and do their homework. Past time.


...seeming more loyal to militias than the government.

[yurbud]

2. whole "when Iraqis stand up, we'll stand down" is bullshit

Iraqis are not monkeys who just descended from the trees. They had a military before, and the insurgents aren't having trouble being militarily effective.

The issue with the military is not training, but who they and Iraqis perceive the military is fighting for. If they perceive they are fighting to protect American interests not their own, no amount of training is going to make a difference.

[dkofos]

3. I guess the Iraqi people need a new Saddam

Fuck the democracy shit. They are not ready.

[bigtree]

4. They have a new Saddam- US puppet with an oppressive security force

U.N. expert says torture in Iraq is "out of hand"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060921/ts_nm/rights_torture_iraq_dc_1