US faced with Iraqi Army turncoats
Foot soldiers and US commanders say Iraq's security forces include officers working with insurgents.
from the July 10, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
"They used this to kill Shiites," says the policeman.
Hamham assures Dionne that his men had simply gone into the homes for a routine search. The next day, all six homes were looted and set on fire. Iraqi security forces did little to stop it.
Dionne suspects it was the work of the Mahdi Army militia of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in retaliation for attacks on the homes of Shiites east of Khalis a few days before.
There is no proof that Albu-Abali is a member of Al Qaeda, says Dionne, but the episode is just one of many examples of the sectarian disputes involving Iraqi security forces that the US Army often finds itself having to navigate.
"The military goes through a vetting process to ensure that the soldiers are not known criminals or insurgents, but there is no process after that to screen them periodically to make sure they have not turned or started supporting criminals and terrorists," says Dionne.He says that is the responsibility of the sovereign Iraqi government and not the US Army. "With our current manning, it's not feasible," he adds.
Furthermore, the US military cannot put too much pressure on Sunni tribes in Diyala because, according to the Arrowhead Ripper commander, Gen. Mick Bednarek, it needs them to renounce Al Qaeda, provide intelligence, and encourage their sons to join the police and Army.
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