US turns to former Saddam officers

[MetaTrope]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1192227,00.html

The United States is about to appoint a large number of senior officers from the former army of Saddam Hussein to top jobs in the new Iraqi security forces in an attempt to prevent a repetition of last week's mutiny by several hundred Iraqi soldiers.
The newly trained Iraqi battalion refused to join the US Marines' attack on Falluja, saying its job was to defend the country, not to kill other Iraqis. The action cast doubt on the US aim of building up Iraqi forces to let US troops withdraw from the front line.

The appointment of officers from the old regime was advised by British officials last summer after the entire Iraqi army was disbanded by Paul Bremer, the top US administrator in Iraq, a move which sparked anger and discontent.

The US secretly changed tack early this year and sent a group of six major-generals, and about 20 other senior officers, for training in the US.

I wonder if this "training in the US" means new students for the School of the Americas?

[ugarte]

1. You got it

Nobody trains a reliable fascist proxy like the S.O.A.

[NNN0LHI]

2. They hate us for our freedoms n/t

[mike_c]

3. remember the SOA history?

Started in Panama when Panama was essentially a military protectorate of the U.S. and the staging ground for the "war on poor people" in Latin America. Look for a de facto "School of the Middle East" on one of those shiny new U.S. military bases in Iraq. Maybe they can recycle some of Saddam Hussein's "rape rooms" and torture chambers for use by emissaries of the "civilized world."

[ugarte]

4. The SO.A.. is like grad school for Saddam's guys

I'm sure we can teach them a thing or two about rape and interrogation techniques. Are there any nuns in Iraq?

[mike_c]

5. we might have to send a few....

Can't run a proper anti-insurgency campaign without killing some nuns every now and then....

[July]

6. What happened to "insurgents are remnants of Saddam's regime"?

Wasn't Bush just telling us that they're one of the three groups causing all of our problems in Iraq? Did I dream that?

[Solly Mack]

7. This is bad-very bad

Rank under Saddam was purchased-IF you earned your rank, you earned it by doing the horrible-willingly, thoroughly and efficiently.

[Dhalgren]

8. Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Iraqi!

Are you nostalgic for the good old days of Saddam, yet? Well, just wait. In the next few months you'll be praying 5 times every day for Saddam to return and take out the real sadistic dictators - the good ol' US of A!

Who the hell are we? Yeah, I know, we are THE RULERS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD! BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[ps1074]

9. US turns to former Saddam officers

... Soon to turn to Saddam himself.

[Aristus]

10. Let me get this straight:

The 'Saddam sympathizers' are now in league with us??????? :shrug:

Nice call, Chimpy McCokespoon. :eyes::argh:

[rustydog]

11. Bush said in his speech Tuesday that we invaded Iraq

because for one reason, Saddam murdered his own people.
Now Bush wants to use the same army to murder Saddams own people!

explain the sanity in this to me please. How will this move win minds and hearts?

[ugarte]

12. Just shows it was never about hearts and minds

It's about power.

[0007]

13. I think I'm catching on.....

Put Saddam Hussein back in charge, give him some WMD and a few good men and let him have at it again under the direction of Donald Rumsfeld?

Good game plan, mate.