Maliki fires 3,000 gov't employees for militia ties

Multi-National Force Iraq ^ | Tuesday, 21 November 2006 | mnf-iraq

[Bob Hyneman]

Iraqi Government taking on militias Tuesday, 21 November 2006

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, spokesman, Multi-National Force - Iraq. BAGHDAD — Politics is the best means available to the Iraqi Government and Coalition to deal with armed militias in the country, the spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq said during a press conference here Monday.

Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman, MNF-I, said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is dealing with political leaders in the country to disarm the militias, and Coalition officials are supporting that effort.

The goal, he said, is that the militias would disband and rely on the local Iraqi Security Force for protection and maintaining order. Militias that won’t engage in a political solution will be met with force, the general said.

“There's going to be those elements that are irreconcilable, that aren't going to be able to work through the political process, and those will be dealt with in a kinetic manner with direct action,” Caldwell said.

The prime minister is moving forward with a reconciliation process, but this does not mean the militias have a free hand in the meantime, Caldwell said.

“If there is somebody operating outside of the law, if there is somebody who is conducting illegal activity and we're aware of it, then we will take the action immediately to stop that and to apprehend or detain whoever is associated with that,” the general said. “Nobody will operate outside the law.”

The Iraqi Government is working to eradicate militia influence inside the security force structure. In the Ministry of the Interior, 3,000 people were fired for their ties to militias. Some of them are being criminally charged.

“They're moving forward and addressing some of the people within that ministry that are not swearing allegiance to first and instead maybe in fact have allegiance to some other element,” Caldwell said.

Interior Ministry forces are going through refresher training. The ministry pulled the 8th Brigade of the 2nd National Police Division offline and put it through training. Interior replaced the entire leadership of the unit. The move, Caldwell said, is a step forward to show that the government will not allow sectarian bias to exist within the Police Force.

(Taken from American Forces Press Service Jim Garamone)

[Bob Hyneman]

In related events

Hearts and minds

hearts and minds

hearts and minds

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7116&Itemid=18

In July, a poll by the nonprofit International Republican Institute found 94 percent of Iraqis said they support a “unity” government. Seventy-eight percent opposed Iraq being segregated by religion or ethnicity. Even in Baghdad, where sectarian violence is heightened, 76 percent opposed ethnic separation. According to a September WorldPublicOpinion.org poll, 97 percent of Iraqis said they “strongly disapprove” of attacks against Iraqi civilians, and 96 percent of Iraqis disapproved of attacks on Iraqi Security Forces. And in a State Department poll released Oct. 5, large majorities of Iraqi youth in six regions surveyed agreed “It is essential that Iraq remains one nation.” These findings confirm that Iraqis want to live in a unified, multi-ethnic country.

[McGavin999]

This is excellent news. It's likely to end in a fight, but those who managed to keep their jobs will not be likely to change sides.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

These people are only good for brutal dictatorial rule.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Politics is the best means available to the Iraqi Government and Coalition to deal with armed militias in the country, the spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq said during a press conference here Monday.

We've lost.

[STARWISE]

The Iraqi Government is working to eradicate militia influence inside the security force structure. In the Ministry of the Interior, 3,000 people were fired for their ties to militias. Some of them are being criminally charged.

“They're moving forward and addressing some of the people within that ministry that are not swearing allegiance to first and instead maybe in fact have allegiance to some other element,” Caldwell said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please God, let this be so ... protect and guide them to peaceful calm and an end to the savagery.

[Vince Ferrer]

Instead of firing them, how about imprisoning them? What the police/military/civil sector needs is a good old Soviet era spying hierarchy that can root out those disloyal to the government.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Ping-O

[TexKat]

You beat me to it. I was just about to ping you. :)

[McGavin999]

Uhhhhh, they already had that with Saddam. Some of them (according to the article) are being arrested.

In a country with high unemployment, a government job is a gem to be treasured. Losing that job is not just bad for your family economics, it's devestating for your social standing as well.

[livius]

It's a step in the right direction, and I'm sure we tightened the thumbscrews to get him to do even this much. But tomorrow is another day. He made his gesture to us today; who knows what tomorrow will bring?

[Killborn]

This and a million other stories proving that the President was right, the Iraq war is being won, and that America did the right thing, no details at 11.

This braodcast is sponsored by the Democrat National Committee, you are too ignorant and selfish for freedom.

[TexKat]

Check out the date of the original article: Tuesday, 21 November 2006

[McGavin999]

He'd better stick with it, he had a very unpleasent experience today in Sadar City when they threw rocks at his convoy.

[nuconvert]

bump

[Petronski]

God help this man survive the backlash to this purge.

[Marine_Uncle]

I am doing the ping list from memory. I lost my sheet of paper with everyones names on it, that take interest in Iraqi affairs and have stayed in touch.
Tis late. Do not feel obligated to respond. Just wanted some of you that can ping others on this post. Perhaps Maliki is working at resolving the sectarian issue with not having to kill off perhaps ten thousand or more in a blood bath.
It he pulls it off. Bravo for him. Somehow these people have to get on a united front and kick out those that hamper the ability of this government to direct it's military and the US forces at major targets.
I for one have been pretty hard on him based on what we have observed for longer then a half year. They obviously are living in the mist of the problem. We are not, other then Allegra and a few other Freepers on the ground.
I react when I see them doing nothing significantly to put down the sectarian violance so that they can concentrate on the Saddamist/al Qaeda and other militant radical groups.
But if they have been quietly working in the background and now are reaching a point where Sadr, Hakim and others must step back and take heed, then so be it.
Perhaps the next few weeks shall yield some significant moves on the IG's part to show they are getting their acts together. Perhaps the December list of benchmarks where not being ignored by slowly being addressed. Perhaps.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Yeah, I caught that when I linked. Obviously the MNF has been hiding this from Reuters and AP for five days. Must have been a NYT leak that tipped off the media....

[jveritas]

What December list of benchmarks? This is the first time I hear about it. Can you please explain more. Thank you.

[zarf]

Instead of firing them, how about imprisoning them?

WTF? Execute them for Christ sake.

[Petronski]

How about you get out of my face, n00b troll.

[jazusamo]

He sounds pretty confident, must be a retread.

[SandRat]

Now when Maliki fires Mukti-al-Sadar out of a 175mm Howitzer that might be the start of Peace in Iraq.

[MaineVoter2002]

It's likely to end in a fight

They should have been executed on the spot.

It may be too little too late.

Can only hope for the best. The cut and run dems take over in a few weeks

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Hmm. 3,000 is a popular number.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1719621/posts

[Libertina]

Best of luck sir, and watch your back.

[jmc1969]

The general is talking about the same 3000 most likely.

[VxH]

[root out those disloyal to the government.]


Interesting.

What is the function of government?

[TexKat]

Iraqi Government taking on militias - The Student Operated Press

The Iraqi Government is working to eradicate militia influence inside the security force structure. In the Ministry of the Interior, 3,000 people were fired for their ties to militias. Some of them are being criminally charged.

Iraqi Government Taking on Militias, Coalition Spokesman Says - American Forces Press Service

[TexKat]

Yes, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell brought it up in the speech that he gave on November 20th.

[oceanview]

Maliki shouldn't worry about "killing 10,000 in a bloodbath". what's the body count there, about 2000-2500 a month - if he does nothing, he'll have 10K dead in no time anyway. Plus more US KIA of 80-100 a month.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Bob,
I am not busting your chops, but it looks like the Interior Ministry shakeout happened back in October.


Winston-Salem Journal & AP ^ | October 15, 2006


Posted on 10/14/2006 11:59:09 PM CDT by jmc1969


Iraq's Shiite-dominated Interior Ministry, whose police forces have been accused of complicity in sectarian attacks, has fired 3,000 employees accused of corruption or rights abuses and will change top commanders, a spokesman said yesterday.

Thousands have died this year in the cycle of killings between Shiite and Sunni death squads. At least 22 were killed yesterday, mainly in sectarian attacks.

Spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said that the Interior Ministry shake-up would ensure action to stop the violence.

"We are working on reshuffling the ministry's vital posts like (the leaders of the) police commandos and public order forces, as well as some undersecretaries," he told The Associated Press, without elaborating.

The Shiite-led national police force, controlled by the Interior Ministry, is widely accused of being infiltrated by Shiite militias blamed in killings of Sunni Arabs.


(Excerpt) Read more at journalnow.com ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1719621/posts

[KoRn]

"I lost my sheet of paper with everyones names on it"

Why in God's name are you using a sheet of paper?!? Use notepad, or the text editor/word processor of your choice and save the info on your computer!

[MaineVoter2002]

"Hmm. 3,000 is a popular number."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1719621/posts

Thanks! I guess instead of wasting my brain cells I'll just go here and look for replies I agree with and repost them here in this thread.

[ClaireSolt]

Keep in mind that Ward churchill is still on the payroll of UC after years of process. Identifying and dismissing 3000 is no mean task.

[Bob Hyneman]

Watch my back?

How so?

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

I hate to be so harsh, but why not fire by squad?

[Palladin]

>>>Maliki fires 3,000 gov't employees for militia ties<<<

It's a good start.

[Palladin]

I write my Ping List names down on paper, too.

It's hard for an old dog to learn new tricks.

[Marine_Uncle]

Hi J. Last month or at the earliest, late October, we read an article or two here that said within one paragraph, that the US had handed a "list of objectives" to the Iraqi Government, without indicating what was on the list, but used the words benchmark. This was about the time when some people on the hill started to use that term.
The article(s) indicated, that the IG was supposed to sign off on the list, then agree to certain dates as how to show us they where going to tackle various issues.
Shortly after, we started to hear about how Maliki was supposedly going to solve the sectarian issue.
I wish I could point out what FReeper postings contained what I write but simply cannot remember about what week I saw the articles posted.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Fine you old farts, I will make a ping lister for you. Give me 15 minutes.

[Marine_Uncle]

I surely can go along with that suggestion!

[Marine_Uncle]

I know. This has been rather ridiculus and sad at the same time.
Surely at this point he must realize force must be applied to prove they are dead serious about ending both the sectarian problem as well as the insurgency in general.
They keep pussy footing around. Why he cannot state he agrees with the US policy, and is not a puppet of the US is beyond me. That is, is he really serious about ending all the blood shed. Perhaps this is a major move getting rid of a lot of people that are not going along with a more elaborate program they want to put in place.
Perhaps is the best I would venture. To many arguments we can use to show he could be just full of hot air.

[Palladin]

Thank you, young whippersnapper!

[Marine_Uncle]

I know. I had meant to do that a few years back. Lazy taint I.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Any Time I(Kung Tech Fu) Can Help ;-)


So. user group... simple design.

copy screen name and have paste into program. Have multiple ping lists. Tag ping lists to add to.

On the other end... tag the list to ping and click the copy button. Paste the list to the ping names?


Work for you old codgers?

[Valin]

Check out the date of the original article: Tuesday, 21 November 2006

Yes?

[Edit35]

those elements that ...(wont) work through the political process, ... will be dealt with in a kinetic manner with direct action,” Caldwell said.

What the freak kind of language is THAT??

Those who wont cooperate will be TERMNATED

[Libertina]

LOL Not YOU, the subject of the article. :)

[The Old Hoosier]

'bout time. A step in the right direction. But I wonder how many more there are...