Political Poll: Arming the Sunnis: Great Idea or "WTF???"

[3113]

Italics mine.

US military arming Sunni groups in Iraq

WASHINGTON -- US military commanders in Iraq are turning to a new counterinsurgency strategy, which involves arming Sunni Arab groups that have promised to fight militants linked with Al-Qaeda, The New York Times reported on its website late Sunday.

Citing unnamed US commanders, the newspaper said the strategy has been successfully tested in Anbar Province, and US commanders have held talks with Sunni groups in at least four areas of central and north-central Iraq where the insurgency has been strong.

In some cases, the US commanders say, the Sunni groups are suspected of involvement in past attacks on American troops or of having links to such groups, the report said. Some of these groups, they say, have been provided, usually through Iraqi military units allied with the Americans, with arms, ammunition, cash, fuel and supplies.

Officers, who have engaged in what they call outreach to the Sunni groups, say many of them have had past links to Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia but grew disillusioned with the Islamic militants' extremist tactics, particularly suicide bombings that have killed thousands of Iraqi civilians, the paper said.

In exchange for US backing, these Sunni groups have agreed to fight Al-Qaeda and halt attacks on US forces, according to The Times.

Commanders who have undertaken these negotiations say that in some cases, Sunni groups have agreed to alert American troops to the location of roadside bombs and other lethal booby traps, the report said.

But critics of the strategy say it could amount to the United States arming both sides in a future civil war, The Times said. The critics say there is a risk that any weapons given to Sunni groups will eventually be used against Shiites, according to the report. There is also the possibility the weapons could be used against Americans themselves, the paper noted.

Whadda think?

 

[oggbashan]

If the invading forces had allowed the troops of the Iraqi Army and the members of Civil Service to remain in post until a functioning democratic regime could be established, this sort of measure wouldn't be needed now.

Unemployment in Iraq is running close to 50% with each employed person supporting about a dozen others. Until Iraqis have some sign that there is a future, enrolling in a paid force to fight anyone is better than letting your family starve.

Og

 

[flavortang]

double post, sorry

 

[flavortang]

This is kind of the situation we had with Saddam in the 80s. Iran was the enemy of the US. Iraq was already fighting them so the US trained Iraqis, gave them intelligence and supplied them with weapons and other resources. Yeah, look where that got us.

 

[rgraham666]

My reaction to this piece of news.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

Sure, let's give more weapons to the most unstable faction in Iraq. Brilliant thinking there.

 

[cantdog]

We were arming Shi'ah two years ago.

 

[3113]

We were arming Shi'ah two years ago.

At least we're consistent...and democratic come to that.