The state must monopolize violence, says Iraqi general
it doesn't get more blatant than this:
Mr. Maliki has issued a series of seemingly inconsistent decrees in recent days about his willingness to take on militias. General Abud said that the Iraqi operations in Sadr City were not aimed at any specific political movement, a statement that seemed intended to reassure Mr. Sadr’s followers, but he insisted that Iraqi security forces would take action against any militia brandishing arms.
“The main thing is that arms should be in the hands of the state. And we will never allow any armed group to carry arms as an alternative to the state to provide security to the citizens,” he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/world/middleeast/06cnd-iraq.html?hp
Mr. Maliki has issued a series of seemingly inconsistent decrees in recent days about his willingness to take on militias. General Abud said that the Iraqi operations in Sadr City were not aimed at any specific political movement, a statement that seemed intended to reassure Mr. Sadr’s followers, but he insisted that Iraqi security forces would take action against any militia brandishing arms.
“The main thing is that arms should be in the hands of the state. And we will never allow any armed group to carry arms as an alternative to the state to provide security to the citizens,” he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/world/middleeast/06cnd-iraq.html?hp