Iraqi troops scheduled to take over security in Dhi Qar / Violence persists in Baghdad
"Dhi Qar will be the second province to come under the full control of Iraqi troops. British troops handed over control of southern Muthana province in July. 'This year will witness the handing over of other provinces and we hope that by the end of the year, our security forces will take over most of the Iraqi provinces,' al-Maliki said [on Thursday, August 31].
'This makes us optimistic and proud because we managed to fulfilled our promise. We were able ... to develop the abilities of our forces,' he said. 'This gives us the feeling that we are close to taking over the whole security file of the country, God's willing.'
. . . Earlier this month, al-Maliki's spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraqi government forces would take over security responsibilities in September from Italian troops stationed in Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar province." [1]
"A series of explosions ripped through predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in eastern Baghdad on Thursday evening, killing at least 43 people and pushing the death toll for the day to 53, Iraqi police officials reported. Nearly 200 people were wounded, adding to a week of bloody attacks throughout the country. . . . The recent attacks have . . . brought into question whether Iraqi forces can take control of security in the country’s most troubled areas anytime soon.
Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top American commander in Iraq, said Wednesday [August 30] that Iraqi forces might be ready to take responsibility for security in 12 to 18 months." [2]
"Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, has a problem. His power depends on two armies. One is Iraq’s national army, trained and supported by the United States. The other is the Mahdi Army, a radical Shiite militia loyal to Mr. Maliki’s most powerful political backer, Moktada al-Sadr.
This week, open warfare broke out between these two armies. Mr. Maliki can no longer put off making an essential choice. He can choose to be the leader of a unified Iraqi government, or he can choose to be the captive of a radical Shiite warlord. He can no longer pretend to be both." [3]
sources
[1] WTOP. Iraqi Security Taking Over 2nd Province. August 31, 2006.
[2] The New York Times. Car Bomb and Rockets Kill 43 in Baghdad’s Shiite Strongholds. September 1, 2006.
[3] The New York Times. Which Iraqi Army? September 1, 2006.
resource
[1] Map of Iraqi provinces. Wikipedia.
posted: september 1, 2006, 12:00 PM ET
update: september 2, 2006, 3:17 AM ET
'This makes us optimistic and proud because we managed to fulfilled our promise. We were able ... to develop the abilities of our forces,' he said. 'This gives us the feeling that we are close to taking over the whole security file of the country, God's willing.'
. . . Earlier this month, al-Maliki's spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraqi government forces would take over security responsibilities in September from Italian troops stationed in Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar province." [1]
"A series of explosions ripped through predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in eastern Baghdad on Thursday evening, killing at least 43 people and pushing the death toll for the day to 53, Iraqi police officials reported. Nearly 200 people were wounded, adding to a week of bloody attacks throughout the country. . . . The recent attacks have . . . brought into question whether Iraqi forces can take control of security in the country’s most troubled areas anytime soon.
Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top American commander in Iraq, said Wednesday [August 30] that Iraqi forces might be ready to take responsibility for security in 12 to 18 months." [2]
"Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, has a problem. His power depends on two armies. One is Iraq’s national army, trained and supported by the United States. The other is the Mahdi Army, a radical Shiite militia loyal to Mr. Maliki’s most powerful political backer, Moktada al-Sadr.
This week, open warfare broke out between these two armies. Mr. Maliki can no longer put off making an essential choice. He can choose to be the leader of a unified Iraqi government, or he can choose to be the captive of a radical Shiite warlord. He can no longer pretend to be both." [3]
sources
[1] WTOP. Iraqi Security Taking Over 2nd Province. August 31, 2006.
[2] The New York Times. Car Bomb and Rockets Kill 43 in Baghdad’s Shiite Strongholds. September 1, 2006.
[3] The New York Times. Which Iraqi Army? September 1, 2006.
resource
[1] Map of Iraqi provinces. Wikipedia.
posted: september 1, 2006, 12:00 PM ET
update: september 2, 2006, 3:17 AM ET
posted by eric at 10:03 AM
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