Iraq 'to crack down on militias'

[ECH1969]

The Iraqi ministry of defence has promised a crackdown on the country's armed militias.

Director of operations Maj Gen Abdul Aziz Jasim said anyone carrying weapons who was not in the legitimate security forces would be treated as a terrorist.

It follows days of sectarian violence sparked by an attack on a key Shia shrine that has left at least 165 people dead since last Wednesday.

Traffic was back to near normal and residents moved freely in the capital on Monday, as shops and petrol stations reopened.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4754134.stm

[Mythsaje]

1. One question:

Do the militias currently outnumber the trained Iraqi security forces?

[SpiralHawk]

2. "There is a light at the end of the tunnel" - BushCo Cabal

eom

[leftchick]

3. Does that include al-Sadr's militia?

and sl-Sistani"s? This I have to see.

[ECH1969]

5. al-Sistani doesn't have a militia

He threatened to make one if the security forces didn't protect the shrines.

[leftchick]

8. he asked for them to be protected over the weekend by the local tribes

I imagine that would require using guns. It sounds like a militia to me. And apparently Juan Cole finds the developement disturbing.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=74351&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17

[denverbill]

4. Don't tell the NRA. After all, an armed society is a safe society. n/t

[ECH1969]

6. The freepers are pissed right now that they are banning

firearms in public.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Oh, a "Crack down"! NOW we are getting someplace!

Now they can "finish the job"

[mom cat]

9. Will this stop the Salvadorian style Death Squads? Probably not.

They are Pro government.