1,300 Iraqis Fired For Refusing To Fight

Iraqi Police, Army Members Dismissed After Deserting In Face Of Basra Militias Last Month

(AP)  The Iraqi government has dismissed about 1,300 soldiers and policemen who deserted or refused to fight during last month's offensive against Shiite militias and criminal gangs in Basra, officials said Sunday.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said 921 police and soldiers were fired in Basra. They included 37 senior police officers ranging in rank from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general.

The others were dismissed in Kut, one of the Shiite cities where the fight had spread.

Last month, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the security forces to confront armed groups in Basra, Iraq's second largest city.

But they met fierce resistance and the attack quickly ground to a halt as fighting flared across the Shiite south and Baghdad.

Since then, government officials have revealed that about 1,000 members of the security forces - including an entire infantry battalion - had mutinied, on some cases handing over vehicles and weapons to the militias.

The majority of Iraqi soldiers and police are Shiites.

Speaking in Basra, Khalaf said those dismissed included 421 police officers and 500 soldiers who had not returned to duty in the southern port city and would be tried by military courts.

"Some of them were sympathetic with these lawbreakers, some refused to (go into) battle for political or national or sectarian or religious reasons," Khalaf said.

But he said that those who returned in coming days and could prove they had been prevented from doing so by the militias would be reinstated.

In Kut, a senior police officer said 400 local policemen have been sacked for refusing orders to combat the militias, including the Mahdi Army of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the Interior Ministry in Baghdad had ordered the policemen removed from duty on Saturday.

Although fighting in Basra eased in late March, security operations are continuing.

Fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City, a stronghold of al-Sadr's militia, has been ongoing for the past two weeks. Fresh clashes were reported Sunday and at least two rockets or mortar rounds were fired at the capital's Green Zone, which houses diplomatic missions and much of Iraq's government.

A senior military commander said Sunday that Iraqi forces in Basra were expanding their sweep of six neighborhoods, with army and police cordoning off the areas while searching for illegal weapons, ammunition and criminal elements.

Lt. Gen. Mohan al-Fireji said the operation, which started on Saturday, had netted significant amounts of weapons, roadside bombs and drugs. He said a large number of suspects had been detained, but he provided no figures.

Al-Sadr, who is believed to be in Iran, repeated on Saturday his demand for American soldiers to leave the country and urged his fighters not to target fellow Iraqis "unless they are helping the (U.S.) occupation."

Despite the strident rhetoric, however, there were signs that al-Sadr was trying to calm his militia to avoid all-out war with the Americans. Al-Sadr is also under pressure from al-Maliki, also a Shiite, to disband the Mahdi Army or face a ban from politics.

Meanwhile, an Apache helicopter accidentally destroyed a U.S. Humvee in eastern Baghdad when a Hellfire missile missed its target and struck the armored vehicle instead, the military said Sunday.

Two U.S. soldiers and three Iraqi civilians were injured in the incident on Saturday, the statement said.

[inventagod]

Wow.
Maybe we should just leave.
Now.

[ponco seno]

They realized at the end of the day, they are all brothers, why kill each other.

[hungry1968]

1,300 Iraqis Fired For Refusing To Fight
Iraqi Police, Army Members Dismissed After Deserting In Face Of Basra Militias Last Month




And we can''t leave until the Iraqi military stands up for itself?

I guess were mired there forever at this rate. Or if McSame gets elected.

[ioweign]

Didn''t then LT. GENERAL Petraeus have the assigment to train all these freedom loving people how to defend themselves ?

Didn''t Petraeus even write an OP-ED piece to the Washington Post on how well things were going training these freedom loving people?

From the looks of this recent development with the Iraqi army, we maybe lucky Petraeus wasn''t involved in training our soldiers and Marines...

[tbweb]

Its time for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to plot a solution against anti-American Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who has vowed the U.S. is his permanent enemy! Muqtada al-Sadr is not political opposition in the traditional sense the West is accustomed to, Muqtada al-Sadr''s political opposition has an armed and active militant element to it designed to overthrow the government if he does not like whats going on! Iraq will never realize success as long as Muqtada al-Sadr aided by Irans Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is allowed to be actively disruptive and anti-government is a context bordering on treason which is punishable by death!

[nodemotwit]

The firings are very justified, but they still need jobs, and w/o jobs they will likely become employed in the al-Sadr thug patrol.

However, what is really criminal is the fact that billions of Iraqi dollars currently sit in US banks, untouched, dollars which could be employing Iraqis in building their infrastructure (hospital, schools, power grids, water, sewage, etc). This would get the Iraqi people behind their government (assuming the latter is instrumental in allocating and spending those monies in a manner similar to that described above) and remove their support from the fanatical theocratic thugs vying for power. Then the US can exit with a reasonably good conscious, rather than dropping Iraq on a particular date (per the liberal platform, even if that data happens to fall in mid-stream of the required effort) regardless of the consequences.

[king77shaw]

how many billions of US taxpayer dollars did this desertion cost ?

[inventagod]

...and if our troops refused, the Pentagoons would throw them in prison, maybe torture them...

Hmmm, who are the real baddies?

[ioweign]

The Iraqi government has dismissed about 1,300 soldiers and policemen who deserted or refused to fight during last month''s offensive against Shiite militias and criminal gangs in Basra, officials said Sunday.

@@@@

soldiers and policemen who deserted or refused to fight


Do you think that they may have read about Bush and his Texas Air National guard days and Cheney and his 5 deferments and this is a case of monkey see, monkey do...

[cfin5]

They got off easy here. They don''t need those kind around anyhow. All they wanted was a paycheck, not what they promised to do to earn it. That''s a really bad mark on your record in a time when public trust is of utmost importance......Since I''m on the subject, shouldn''t our Senators and House members be "dismissed" (FIRED) for not showing up to do something so easy to do as VOTING??? OBAMA and some others never seem to mind why they''re there in the first place and I''d say if you docked them for NO-SHOW, they''d throw a carpet ripping tantrum on the floor in broad daylight. And isn''t it these same people who say we need taxed more to help out the lazy leechin'' SOCIALISTS? About had enough of those sloths.

[grim56z]

Al Mazri plans a holocaust of American Soldiers at the hands of his Al Qada Fighters. It makes better sense to attack rather than suffer decimation. AQI should be hunted and killed. Showing them mercy is weak and addle.

[middleman8]

Why should these people fight against their own fellow countrymen? In the states they would be labled "Benidict Arnolds " if they fought against the american people. Good for them they are not helping the invader.

[nothappyatall]

The Iraqi government has dismissed about 1,300 soldiers and policemen who deserted or refused to fight "


LOL what an amazing coincidence JUST as bush'' regime plans to stop the troop drawdown!
Like I said before, time to DUMP these idiots and let em fall flat on their azzes and whatever happens there happens, time to cut the apron strings.


"Didn''''t then LT. GENERAL Petraeus have the assigment to train all these freedom loving people how to defend themselves ?

Didn''''t Petraeus even write an OP-ED piece to the Washington Post on how well things were going training these freedom loving people?"

He DID, things are going SO well over there as you know!!

[truth832-2009]

Would the american soldier be allowed to be fired if he chose not to fight! The toll taken on the american soldier is inestimable; yet, the hate in the heart of those who continue to back this war blinds the people! It is time to accept the new consciousness for the salvation of the earth. Otherwise, it is too late!

[pfd572]

dumbshun: mmmmm. It''s McCain by the way. ha

[popstom1]

We don''t need too be here F- those people they stab
our guy in the back as soon they turn around there
NOT WORTH ONE AMERICAN

[downsteamjim]

Since Sadr spends most of his time in Iran, he is an ''outsider''. The Iraqi army should be better since it was able to do a voluntary purge of the riffraff.

[downsteamjim]

It could be a lot worse. We could be drilling in ANWAR and offshore, building nuclear power plants,etc. but no let us be dependent on Mideast oil.

[popstom1]

Dumb F- Iraq We leave let them do what they have been
for over 2000 years killing each outher and come back
open a gas staion or would like The USA bankrupted
they would

[pfd572]

I wonder why we had to start a civil war in Iraq in the first place. There were no connections between the 9/11 terrorists and Iraq. Not one hijacker was from Iraq, but several were from ally countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. We went after the wrong people now you have Shiites and Suni Muslims fighting each other in a Holy War. I admit I don''t understand the hatred between the two Muslim sects. It so much like the wars between the two Christian sects Protestant and Catholic. Unfortunately, bush/cheney have left our military to fight not a war against terrorism, but to fight in a religious civil war. I can''t see either side compromising, there is too much hatred and accusations of heresy on all sides. Now Iran is fueling the fight. Just the fallout bush/cheney and friends hoped for, now they feel they have cause to invade Iran. (OIL?) Terrorism is real, but we have stoked the anger beyond comprehension since 9/11. Why we didn''t use intelligence (sic) to prevent more attacks on the US, instead of sacrificing more than 4,000 in Iraq. Shiite will not attack Shiite, Suni will not attack Suni.

[j-whitman]

1,300 Iraqis Fired For Refusing To Fight --- We should do the same for our own Young College Republicans & Bush Lovers

[pfd572]

downstream: that is no answer. No more nuclear power plants with a ''shelf life'', and the hazardous nightmare a decommissioned plant leaves. No more drilling in areas that will negatively impact the environment we are leaving our children. We need to produce renewable resources, etc. Your answer is just another problem.

[tibu987]

H_ll, if they don''t want to fight for their country why in the h-ll should we.

Enough, out now. Let them settle their own religious/cultural/ethnic/civil/oil "war".

[pfd572]

j-whitman: the privileged will always find a way out of serving in the military if they want. Seems the only time they serve is if they plan on running for public office and want to use the veteran card. Now bush kind of blew it, considering his service was to to be flyboy and party right here at home.

[j-whitman]

Israel refuses to fight in both Iraq & Afhaganistan -- Let''s fire them

[j-whitman]

pfd572,,,, Bushed, Bush the flyboy also refused to fight in Viet Nam

[pfd572]

Muslims are most closely identified with their faith. If you ask someone from the US what they are and they will almost always answer ''American'', not their religion. Ask a Muslim what they are and they will answer ''Muslim'', not their country. It is so personal they will never fight against someone of their own sect. This religious civil war will never end, only possible solution is to have separate states, without the mistakes on the India/Pakistan division. Understanding that the division of India into Hindu and Islam countries hasn''t worked very well, hopefully people have learned something from their errors.

[pfd572]

j-whitman: my point, exactly. But he can SAY he is a veteran. We just laugh at him when he does.

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,, Just another major reason to support Obama

[pfd572]

dumbshun: A lot of ifs in your statement. With the repeated refusal of other nations and the UN to take a position and help in stabilizing the region, how do you propose to make that happen?

[downsteamjim]

To pfd572: I am glad to finally hear from someone who visits ANWAR to admire it. The hazardous nuclear waste could be stored except for politics. BY the way nuclear waste can be radioactive for hundreds or thousands of years, unlike the new energy saving light bulbs whose mercury will be toxic forever.

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,,, Funny you commenting about Compounding a Mistake ----- McCain is another Bush on foreign policy, we don''t neeed "More of the Same" McCain

Now That Would Be "Compounding the Problem" -- With a 24 year part of the problem

[pfd572]

No doubt about it, bush/cheney love the idea of one-party nation. Their contempt for the average American is palpable. They haven''t just rumpled the Constitution, they have butchered it. And until the Americans'' that understand this get angry enough, get really scared of them succeeding and DO something, they will continue for the next 280 plus days to get it closer to a fact. They already will leave office retaining more power and control then any other past administration. What they have done to the American people: The destruction of the Bill of Rights, lying and inciting a civil war in Iraq, the bankrupting of America, private military funded by the government, oil oil oil riches getting richer, using fear and distortion to control citizens, etc. etc. etc. etc., is all criminal. They must pay for their actions.

[guadalcanal3]

To j-whitman...Israel does not fight in Iraq and Afghanistan for a lot of reasons :#1...They are already fighting a war in their own country...#2...They do not have a large enough population to send troops abroad (they barely have enough to defend their own country)...They are already fighting Hamas and Hezbollah...and..last but not least...Israel has absolutely no desire to conquer or to dominate other lands and other peoples...they just want to live in their little tiny sliver of land called Israel..in peace...and be left alone...the same cannot be said of the Arabs and Persians.

[xraytwonine]

isnt it obvious by now that these people don''t care for levi''s jeans, cadallics, ipods, a house two cars and two kids...a perfect christian community..... look, they just want to believe in whatever they hell they like to without dying or get tortured... just give them some hardcore weapons, like what we did for the Talibans... Iraqis don''t need democracy, they need guns, rockets, high tech defensive weaponary to save guard their home and beliefs, thats all.

[pfd572]

I don''t believe you can justify one HUGE hazard by pointing out another. We can prevent further contamination from nuclear power and nuclear waste by not building anymore. The hazardous nuclear waste disposal underground is incredibly unstable. There are legitimate proposals for alternative fuels, but the oil industry, with help from the Republicans in Congress and the White House (their friends and financial benefactors), have successfully lobbied against any progress/implementation. No more environmentally hazardous drilling or nuclear power plants. No more wars for oil.

[pfd572]

dumbshun: the bush/cheney duo have angered so many countries and destroyed all the good will and support we had prior to their administration. The only ally we have left is Great Britain, a second world nation. Its going to take years and delicate diplomacy to get our former allies and the UN to even listen to us again.

[j-whitman]

Your republicans created another Iraq in the Horn of Africa -- America does not need "More of the Same"

Bush & McBush only creates more global instability

[singingrick]

And this is "conservatives" idea of success in Iraq. I guess as long as Halliburton and Exxon are profiting off of this, they''ll be staying the course.

[j-whitman]

Horn of Africa, Another Iraq

http://www.newsweek.com/id/131836

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,,, McBush is Bush''s ''Rubber Stamp''

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,,, McCain is the dude who tells you there is no end to Iraq & has no exit plan,,, How can you tell us he would have won the war in 4 years ???

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,, How old are you ?? Old enough to enlist ??

[prinzowhales]

Considering how few of the 35,000 troops reported being sent to deal with Basra were probably ordered to engage in operations, this probably represents a considerable percentage...as jobs are scarce...these men made a considerable sacrifice NOT to fight their fellow Iraqis.

It makes no sense whatsoever for Shias to kill each other for the pleasure of the Occupation. Maliki''s days are numbered.

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,, I''m 59 & retired Navy. --- Afraid to answer ??? Don''t tell me you''re not American enough to enlist.

[hermitdave]

This AL-SADR guy is not going along with the Neo-Con plan. For some reason he wants his country back. Heck he might not even want the western oil companies to have control of Iraq oil. I bet he don''t even like the new big BUSH PALACE in the green zone. That is the trouble with illegal take overs of countries. There are always people who cause trouble by their willingness to fight for their country.

[j-whitman]

dumbshun,,,,, You call other American''s un-American & you won''t even serve your country in War Time --- We have young people from foreign countries serving in our military who have trouble speaking English or writting it --- They are fighting for the privilage of citizenship

You won''t even enlist to defend your own citizenship & the freedom''s it provides.

[glock4me]

Afraid to fight... didn''t anyone tell them about the 72-virgin deal in the benefits package?!?

[j-whitman]

Glock4me,,, There''s probably a good reason why they are virgins in the 1st place, nobody would have them.

[blackwater66-2009]

These are more likely insurgents who infiltrated the ranks, as it were. Who is friendly and who is not, that is the most difficult mission we have over here to deal with everyday.

Vote John McCain to help us succeed in our mission.

Stay the course !!!