by D. Cupples | So-called "Awakening Groups" are growing in Iraq: i.e., groups of Iraqis paid (and armed) by the U.S. government to patrol neighborhoods for insurgency-related activities. Apparently, some U.S. and Iraqi officials recognize the frightening prospect that insurgents are infiltrating the "Awakening Groups."
In other words, our government may be helping to arm our enemies, which may lead to (more) civil war in Iraq. With news like this, it's hard to be confident in the Bush Administration's war-planning skills -- especially after 190,000+ U.S. weapons were lost in Iraq, as well $1 billion in other military hardware. Today's New York Times reports:
"The Awakening movement, a predominantly Sunni Arab force recruited to fight Sunni Islamic extremists like Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, has become a great success story after its spread from Sunni tribes in Anbar Province to become an ad-hoc armed force of 65,000 to 80,000 across the country in less than a year. A linchpin of the American strategy to pacify Iraq, the movement has been widely credited with turning around the violence-scarred areas where the Sunni insurgency has been based....
"Rivalries and sectarianism are still undermining the Americans’ plans. And in particular, the Awakening’s rapid expansion — the Americans say the force could reach 100,000 — is creating new concerns.
"How, when thousands are joining each month, can spies and extremists be reliably weeded out? How can the men’s loyalty be maintained, given their tribal and sectarian ties, and in many cases their insurgent pasts?...
"In interviews with Awakening groups in 10 locations... it was evident that the groups were improving security in their areas. But it is also clear that there is little loyalty, in either direction, between the Sunni groups and the Shiites who run the government....
"Col. Martin Stanton, chief of reconciliation and engagement for the Multinational Corps-Iraq, said the military had no illusions about the Awakening members’ former lives or the reasons for what appeared to be their change of heart....
“Many people believe this will end with tens of thousands of armed people, primarily Sunnis, and this will excite the Shiite militias to grow and in the end it will grow into a civil war,” said Safa Hussein, the deputy national security adviser and a point man on the Awakening program for Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki....
“It’s the case with any franchise organization,” said Maj. Gen. John R. Allen, the deputy commander in Anbar Province. “Sooner or later you lose control over the standards.” (NY Times, links in original)
Yes, high level American and Iraqi officials doubt that "Awakening Groups" can be controlled or forced to keep striving to achieve U.S. goals. Long as it is, the rest of the article is worth reading.
Memeorandum has other bloggers' reactions: Matthew Yglesias, Washington Monthly and BAGnewsNote
Related BN-Politics Posts:
* More Confusing Statements about Iraq
* Under the Rug: Whatever happened to the 190,000 Missing Weapons?
* $1 Billion More in Missing Military Hardware
* Iraq: Conflicting Stories from the Front & at Home
* Car Bombs Kill 25, Gates in Iraq for News Conference
* Defense Secretary Says Military Can't Protect U.S. Interests Worldwide
* Is Administration Telling Truth re: Iran or Trying to Save Face?
* Govt. Contractors: Driving up War Costs?
Britain granted independence to Iraq in 1932, on the urging of King Faisal, though the British retained military bases and transit rights for their forces. King Ghazi ruled as a figurehead after King Faisal's death in 1933, while undermined by attempted military coups, until his death in 1939.
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