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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Security report -- from an Iraqi (Healing Iraq) |
| 2004-07-02 |
| ELF --- snip In Basrah, people were much more welcoming and optimistic regarding the sovereignty handover. In Baghdad, however, people seem dubious especially since American patrols continue to roam the streets. Yesterday morning there were clashes in Adhamiyah between Americans and insurgents, though some say it was an armed gang. In another incident later on the same day, some people armed with RPG’s and AK-47’s (apparently looters) surrounded the Adhamiya bank which was guarded by an IP and FPS force. The looters shouted to the police that they were here to attack the Americans so it was better for them to leave the area because they did not intend to harm them, nice trick. The IP responded by shooting at the looters, killing two of them and arresting six others. The disturbing bit was that the police dragged the dead looters and violently beat the others. Other than this incident I haven’t heard of any other attempts to loot government property. In fact the performance of the IP until now is encouraging, a number of gangs were surrounded and arrested at Al-Battawiyeen by an Iraqi SWAT force, and people claim that the police used satellite images to locate the gangs, such rumours do have a benefit though. Another widespread and preposterous rumour is that Ayad Allawi has been showing up at IP stations and executing criminals himself, and I have heard this one from a very large number of people. Baghdad looked ’normal’ today even though the 30th was announced a holiday. Traffic was the same as everyday and no curfew took place contrary to what many predicted, except in Najaf where a truck full of explosives was intercepted by IP and three purported Qaeda members were arrested, one of them a Libyan who had just entered Iraq from Syria and the other two were Iraqis. This certainly was "missed" my MSM Overall, I can say that Baghdadis are cautiously optimistic about the new developments, they have postponed their judgement on the government until they sense some real changes on the ground. Security remains the primary concern, and if the present measures continue I can say that it would improve drastically. I really hope we would see less and less American troops on the streets in the next few days. Longlive Iraq |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #5 Good post, OS. I always appreciate your point of view. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-07-02 8:08:58 PM |
| #4 This is a chance for the press to redeem themselves. Lets see if they will report this, straight up, or if they keep harping the "Bush lost the peace" Democratic Pary line and only reporting the incidents of violence (and ignoring any and all news to the contrary). OS, you're an incureable optimist. heh heh...just kiddin'. The MSM is in bed with the DNC for this election for better or worse. Until then all bets are off - noone should look to them for anything equating with news where Bush is concerned. After the Rather interview with Allawi, I've sworn off MSM news (save for Fox and certain print) for good. I've got better things to do - like chase navel lint. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-07-02 5:52:12 PM |
| #3 "The disturbing bit was that the police dragged the dead looters and violently beat the others." Give them a few months of this and the "Muja" (who are mostly professional criminals freed from prisons during the fall of Iraq) will be reminiscing about the "good old days" when Americans patrolled and they didnt get shot or get the hell beaten out of them. I have seen non-US open reports (and emails from friends over there: contractors, government and military) from OUTSIDE Baghdad that the police are really stepping up and taking charge - they are finally realizing that the sooner THEY take charge and clean things up, the sooner WE LEAVE. Furthermore, "the people" are apparently coming to that conclusion as well. Our strategy? Same as it was before Bremer screwed it up last year: They get to be the "cop on the block", we get to be "the cavalry coming over the hill", until they get enough "horses" to field their own "cavalry". Get the Iraqis to police the streets, Get our guys in bases out in the countryside. We only enter to "raid" or when the locals need a bailout. Accomplishes 3 things: 1) makes Iraqis responsible for their own thugs - forces them to lead, which will eventually result in some good leaders on their side. 2) makes attacks on US forces very expensive since we are not in urban areas unless we are on the offensive (and armed for bear): defensively we get better fields of fire, and its where we operate best and they operate worst. 3) requires less manpower and results in less US fatalaities (while driving up the Iraq and foreigner fatalities). The "non-military" side effect is that there is less "bad" interaction with locals, and less chances for "friction" from local mullahs. This is a chance for the press to redeem themselves. Lets see if they will report this, straight up, or if they keep harping the "Bush lost the peace" Democratic Pary line and only reporting the incidents of violence (and ignoring any and all news to the contrary). |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-07-02 5:36:01 PM |
| #2 ive seen repeated reports that since the handover the IP have gotten much tougher on ordinary street crime. Our media focus on the insurgency - we forget how much of the security discontent of Iraqis is actually with the street crime situation. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-07-02 4:44:20 PM |
| #1 The IP responded by shooting at the looters, killing two of them and arresting six others. The disturbing bit was that the police dragged the dead looters and violently beat the others. Disturbing, but understandable. The IP has been a consistent target of the jihadis, and they have taken heavy casualties. Heck, I'm surprised they didn't beat the dead also...wouldn't have blamed 'em a bit. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2004-07-02 4:40:51 PM |