Iraq Invites Soldiers Who Served Under Saddam To Come Home

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

BAGHDAD (AFP)--Iraq has invited soldiers who served under Saddam Hussein's regime to come home or apply for their state pensions as part of a reconciliation process, a Defense Ministry spokesman said Sunday.

The ministry is to send envoys to Iraqi embassies in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen to make contact with the ex-soldiers, General Mohammed al-Askari told Agence France Presse.

"The ministry's decision aims to achieve national reconciliation (and) settle the issue of members of the former regime," he said.

Askari said the former soldiers would "without exception" be given one month either to sort out their entitlement to a pension or to return to the ranks of the army.

The offer didn't apply to "Saddam's Fedayeen," a former militia controlled by Uday, the feared eldest son of the president.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/dkdfpm

[lsewpershad]

1. Maybe

a good start. Hope this would enable us to bring our brothers and sisters home ....yesterday.

[pasto76]

2. Its about time.

Soldiers serve their country. I served under that dumbshit Bush because I still had a duty, obligation (not to mention contract) and experience to make my Army better. My participation was not endorsement of his politics or policies. I suspect the same the world over. I wish them luck.