U.S. officials are shifting favor from Iraq's pro-Iranian Shi'ite leaders

[rodeodance]

......U.S. officials would ultimately like to see all militias disbanded. Kurdish President Jalal Talabani has said the militias could help fight insurgents. Shi'ite leaders avoid the subject.

The Anbar Revolutionaries are being built up as diplomats say U.S. officials are shifting favor from Iraq's pro-Iranian Shi'ite leaders to Sunnis because of Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

That could give Sunnis more clout as the Badr Brigades, believed to command up to 10,000 fighters, continue to operate as a semi-official force speeding through Baghdad on police vehicles in military uniforms.........



http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060206/wl_nm/iraq_sunnis_militias_dc

Sunnis build up their own militia in Iraq

Mon Feb 6, 2006 9:41 AM ET165



By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Sunni Arabs have formed their own militia to counter Shi'ite and Kurdish forces as part of an attempt to regain influence they lost after Saddam Hussein was toppled.............

[bemildred]

1. It's a bit late to bring Saddam back, boys. nt

[rodeodance]

2. but we seem to be bringing his followers back into the Irag. gov.