| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Most Iraqi militias to lay down arms |
| 2004-06-08 |
| Nine Iraqi militias, with more than 100,000 members, agreed Monday to disband in exchange for veterans’ pensions, jobs in Iraq’s new security forces, and other rewards. But the deal to rid the country of independent armed groups did not include Moqtada al-Sadr’s militia, which has caused by far the biggest security problems across Iraq. Announcing the accord, officials of the U.S.-led occupation authority said that any militias that don’t take part will be considered "illegal armed groups" and their members and political leaders will be banned from running for office for three years. Prime Minister Iyad Allawi hailed the agreement as "a watershed in establishing the rule of law," and promised that any militias that choose not to take part in the transition to legal security jobs or civilian life "will be dealt with harshly." Two senior occupation officials said the authority had made no effort to invite Al-Sadr, a radical cleric whose followers are mainly young, urban Shiite Muslims, to join the agreement or even to inform him of the talks they held over the past several months with the other nine militias. More at link. |
| Posted by:GK |
| #4 I hope that things are falling into place. I just trust Sistani as far as I can spit. He still has that little dog al-Sadr mucking about. Everyone is manouvering for position, but Sistani is a weasel and a spoiler. **fingers crossed for good luck** |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-06-08 2:51:13 AM |
| #3 It looks like things are starting to fall into place. Rush Limbaugh the other day had an article from "Life Magazine 1946" on post WWII Europe on his web site the other day. It was sKerry to read about how the Euro's were starting to call the Americans "Ugly" back then. 6 months after we liberated them!! Fucking ingrates!! Everybody wanted everything done over night!! What GWB has done in a little over 15 months is just remarkable. Americans free other nations and their peoples and we never get a damn bit of credit for it. |
| Posted by: Long Hair Republican 2004-06-08 1:03:51 AM |
| #2 Send these guys hunting Sadr. A lot of them probably have grudges to settle and would love to have a shot at the Mhadi Militia. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-06-08 12:41:21 AM |
| #1 I'm liking this Allawi guy so far. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-06-08 12:26:07 AM |