If you weren't already hopeless on Iraq....
The LATimes has an article looking at the problems among the Iraqi (non-army) security forces. Remember that "U.S. officials declared 2006 "the year of the police." (I'm linking to the Baltimore Sun version because it's no registration required. LATimes original here.)
This is bigger than just fixing the problems of abuse and torture within the security forces. One of the reasons that Iraqis have turned to the militias, and in the Sunni case neighborhood protection groups, is because they have no faith in the Iraqi security forces. Even if you did, somehow, remove all of the bad elements, it would take years to reestablish any sort of trust among the citizenry.
According to the "Strategy for Victory," these are the forces that are to take over security in order for US troops to be brought home.
Also: The Sunni boycott of parliament in the wake of the kidnapping of Tayseer Najah al-Mashhadani is still continuing, and they are now talking about withdrawing their ministers from the "unity government."
(I'm turning into an Iraq blog right now. I don't mean to be, but I have this feeling that we're right on another turning point.)
Brutality and corruption are rampant in Iraq's police force, with abuses including the rape of female prisoners, the release of terrorism suspects in exchange for bribes, assassinations of police officers and participation in insurgent bombings, according to confidential Iraqi government documents detailing more than 400 police corruption investigations.
This is bigger than just fixing the problems of abuse and torture within the security forces. One of the reasons that Iraqis have turned to the militias, and in the Sunni case neighborhood protection groups, is because they have no faith in the Iraqi security forces. Even if you did, somehow, remove all of the bad elements, it would take years to reestablish any sort of trust among the citizenry.
According to the "Strategy for Victory," these are the forces that are to take over security in order for US troops to be brought home.
Also: The Sunni boycott of parliament in the wake of the kidnapping of Tayseer Najah al-Mashhadani is still continuing, and they are now talking about withdrawing their ministers from the "unity government."
(I'm turning into an Iraq blog right now. I don't mean to be, but I have this feeling that we're right on another turning point.)
posted by mikevotes at
1:10 PM
10 Comments:
At this point, the only way we can exit gracefully is if we let the UN take over. And that might be the only chance the Iraqis have of remaning a unified nation whose sects aren't bent on killing each other.
By
Anonymous, at 4:50 PM
Unfortunately, it looks like another turning point for the worst.
By
Anonymous, at 5:28 PM
Both true.
Abi, the question is, who, outside the region is going to send troops?
I do think that the Iraqi gov't would have far more legitimacy if the UN were structuring/advising it. As well as reconstruction.
And, Libby, I think we're seeing the window for a successful Maliki government closing.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 6:22 PM
I'm almost seeing a role for the UN in overseeing the breakup of the country into something closer to its real, and perhaps original, constituent parts.
The Kurds have a claim on much of the north, Sunnis dominate the centre and Shias the south.
Not that simple, I know, but it was a god awful patchwork quilt the Brits created, and it still doesn't work.
By
Cartledge, at 6:36 PM
Just a side thought. I've been thinking about adding a 'war room' to the GP news site.
As I'm doing the trawl for corruption around the world media there are many conflict stories which are not picked up outside various regions.
My thinking is that a broad spectrum of war related news, gathered in one place, might be useful.
Any thoughts?
By
Cartledge, at 6:46 PM
Yeah, it might be useful, but at best you're going to be a niche. There are sites out there that focus on just one conflict.
I think it'd probably end up being more of a resource than a destination. It's really just a question of how much work it'd be, and I'd think it'd be a fair amount because you'd have to troll regional news sources. I don't know.
The problem with the split idea, to me, is that Iraq has so many mixed neighborhoods, and I would think that if you ended up a minority on the wrong side of the boundary, you would receive very little protection.
(Also, the US doesn't want to ced the southern oilfields to Iran.)
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 6:58 PM
My target is as a resourse. Its working with other segments, building slowly.
What I am finding is that stories are ripped of the system within days.
Even having the bare bones is bringing traffic. You've given me some more to think about, thanks.
The split? Yeah, its a pipedream, too little to late. And the US would rather one big to many small.
By
Cartledge, at 7:45 PM
Disturbing on this one is the chatter about the Mehdi Army getting involved. True or not, it could be the beginning of the road to their involvement (either it has started, or they are being goaded).
By
Praguetwin, at 5:35 PM
Sorry, comment off topic. Was referring to the al-Jihad slaughter.
By
Praguetwin, at 5:36 PM
Got it Praguetwin. That's my fear. The Shia violence against the US and Iraqi government has thus far been "frictional" as each side pursues its own goals. But, if they start fighting the US directly, Anbar will look like a picnic.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 2:46 PM
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