Local Militias = Trouble
I'm not going to get into the elections or how Al-Dulaymi has essentially declared the insurgency back into "full on" mode (with noticeable effects) or whatever. I'm not even going to get into how Iran now has enormous influence over the new leaders of Iraq. But this article comments on something I observed on the ground when last in Baghdad for a while that many people have not mentioned, the often "Dual Membership" in an Iraqi Army or Iraqi Police unit and a Religious Militia (to whom they are more loyal):
VERY ACCURATE INFO
Out of 70, 57 were Mahdi Army, the same group who, with one order in Najaf, engaged in hostilities with Americans. This is a big deal. Other units I observed had many Dual Members and I simply do not trust fanatical religious orders with real power, especially real power given them by the state.
You may want to Google "Mahdi Army" and "Badr Corps" and/or "SCIRI" if you don't have a background on this. If I were Sunni, Sufi, Yezidi, or an Iraqi Christian, I would be wary to trust certain people with my fate.
Not saying that it wouldn't be better than under Saddam, but "better than Saddam" is a rather low bar.
VERY ACCURATE INFO
Out of 70, 57 were Mahdi Army, the same group who, with one order in Najaf, engaged in hostilities with Americans. This is a big deal. Other units I observed had many Dual Members and I simply do not trust fanatical religious orders with real power, especially real power given them by the state.
You may want to Google "Mahdi Army" and "Badr Corps" and/or "SCIRI" if you don't have a background on this. If I were Sunni, Sufi, Yezidi, or an Iraqi Christian, I would be wary to trust certain people with my fate.
Not saying that it wouldn't be better than under Saddam, but "better than Saddam" is a rather low bar.