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| Iraq |
| Police ’restoring order in Iraq’ |
| 2003-08-06 |
| The former New York police chief who has been put in charge of rebuilding Iraq’s police force says he is making good progress in controlling crime. Bernard Kerik - who was appointed to run the interior ministry four months ago - said police had recently broken up four gangs involved in kidnapping Iraqi civilians for ransom. The failure to curb crime since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime has been one of the strongest criticisms made against the US-led coalition in Iraq. Brushing aside criticism that crime is still out of control in Iraq, Mr Kerik listed areas in which the newly-reformed police force was making headway. In particular, he highlighted kidnapping for ransom, a practice used by the Saddam regime which has continued after its downfall. Mr Kerik, the former New York police commissioner credited with cutting crime in that city, described one case in which the Iraqi police, without the support of US forces, smashed an armed kidnapping gang. He said four hostages, including an eight-year-old boy, were released, and eight suspects detained. He showed graphic photographs of torture inflicted on some of the hostages by the gang leader, whom he described as a close associate of Saddam Hussein’s inner circle. Sammy’s inner circle was a street gang, raised to the 10th power. In other areas, Mr Kerik insisted the fight against crime was succeeding. "The markets and shops are now bustling, there are people out after hours where four weeks ago, no-one was there," he said. "We’re up over 5,000 police officers back on duty, actively working in the streets, and I’d say for the most part, it’s getting much, much better." "Bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when they come for you?" |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 well of course we're talking about peacekeepers, the invasion is over, its too late to help with the invasion. Surely the German govt is supportive of the restoration of peace and order in iraq, the end to crime, looting, violence by Baathist fighters, etc. IIUC the Germans in ISAF are under NATO command, not UN command. So it would only be a question of UN mandate, not UN command. And you speak as if a UN mandate is some kind of deus ex machina, that Germany has no influence over. If Germany were to come out in favor of an additional (IE beyond UNSC 1483) more explicity mandate authorizing UN members to participate in peacekeeping in Iraq, in cooperation with Coalition forces, as requested by the Iraqi Governing Council, that would go along way towards moving the UNSC to approve of such a resolution. Now its quite possible that in such circumstances France might still exercise its veto, and Germany would be unable to send troops. However I think the goodwill for Germany would accrue anyway. Now it MIGHT strain Germany's relationship with France. But then i think it would behoove Germany under those circumstances to consider the value of a relationship with a country intent on preventing the keeping of peace in Iraq, as desired by the Iraqi people. The US does NOT oppose a UN mandate - as long as such mandate does NOT interfere with the political process Paul Bremer is guiding in Iraq. Now you and i are not diplomats and may speak freely. We know that this is a matter of discussion at the UNSC. We know what the US position is - i have stated it (based on a statement by wolfowitz - dont have the quote handy) similarly we France has said they will not send THEIR troops unless the UN has FULL control of Iraq - though they have not said if that is their requirement for a UN mandate to send other troops. You and I know that Germany weighing in on this debate would significantly impact the negotiations. You and I know that wieghing in on this debate would be more valuable to the US than sending another couple of thousand troops to afghanistan. And you and i know this isnt about the invasion of iraq - thats OVER. It IS about whether Germany wants to help the US build a new and better middle east. If it does not, then we have a major problem with Germany. Its nice that you're helping in afghanistan (where, BTW, the coalition is trying to prevent the return to power of al qaeeda, a group that has murdered German citizens and conducted criminal activities on German soil, so its merely German self interest to do so) . So is Uzbekistan. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-6 5:02:15 PM |
| #8 LH- The German government hasn't changed its idea about the war. There is no point in "restoring a relationship" by doing what you didn't want to do in the first place (and straining relations by that). Peacekeeping troops may be a different issue but German law prohibits German military participation in such mission unless under U.N. command and mandate. It's that mandate that the U.S. doesn't want (and I don't think UN soldiers could replace the U.S. troops anyway). So it's a Catch 22. I see a bigger German role in Afghanistan (maybe) but not in Iraq. I see more German non miltary help in Iraq though. How about letting Siemens engineers fix the electricity problems (from what I read the Iraqis want them dearly but the U.S. has refused German technical help up to now although that might have changed as I speak). |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-8-6 4:38:01 PM |
| #7 TGA - no need. Theres already a Baghdad governing council composed of IRAQI's, and there will soon be an Iraqi mayor, if there isnt one already. Now some German troops, that would be something of value. How about supporting the UK and US on a reasonable UNSC resolution, huh? Now that would go a LONG way toward restoring the US-German relationship. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-6 1:51:39 PM |
| #6 Giuliani for Baghdad mayor, anyone? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-8-6 1:42:45 PM |
| #5 Yup, we did, Michael. And Kerik's still there doing it this week, too. And yet another reporter, this time a tool of the BBC, gets to see the real thing, a real man going about his job unimpressed with the Roland Hedley routine, and goes away thinking Kerik's got stones - and tries to write a fair piece. And I hope they send him another one each week (no more - he does have a job, after all) for re-education by example. Maybe Kerik can get through to some of these boneheads, where others have failed, that the quagmire is the biases of the Lost-in-the-60s dynosaurs running their outfit's editorial staff meetings. |
| Posted by: ·com 2003-8-6 12:14:24 PM |
| #4 We talked about Kerik last week. Seems like the guy to do the job. Let's just hope he stays safe. |
| Posted by: Michael 2003-8-6 10:59:55 AM |
| #3 Amen, LH. This guy is a terrific throwback to another era (sadly rare, today) and would've been a star in MacArthur's Japan Admin right up there with Demming, et al. Kerik has weathered the BBC reporters and other fools who are dedicated to editorial agendas instead of reality, and just quietly done his job - one of the most thankless tasks imaginable for the least thankful people imaginable. Pure "can do" and no hyperbole or posturing. We will never have enough like him. Kerik 2008. In a class by himself. |
| Posted by: ·com 2003-8-6 10:10:23 AM |
| #2 Over at Samizdata (if I remember correctly),they had an e-mail from a British soldier in Basra.He said the problem was that the British troops try to play nice with the criminals.When Saddam retook Basra in 1991,he ordered all looters shot on sight.In contrast,when the Brits arrest criminals,in most cases they just hold them for a few days and then let them go.This has not proven much of a deterrent.I hope things have changed since then. |
| Posted by: El Id 2003-8-6 10:05:24 AM |
| #1 Kerik is looking like a major hero of this war - a tough NYC police commish, taking his skills to rebuild Iraq. We need more Kerik's. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-6 9:23:34 AM |