Is the Ba'ath party still banned from joining the Iraqi military?

[jcrew2001]

Because that would explain why the sunni's are pissed off and want their jobs back. If we deny Saddam's army jobs, that makes them an Army that is automatically against the Shia army.

[iconocrastic]

1. Bump

[iconocrastic]

2. Bump

[Donna Zen]

3. There are Sunnis in the Army

But the Ba'ath party is still banned from everything.

IIRC, the Ba'ath party was arranged in 12 circles. The outer circles were everyday people including teachers, clerks, whatever. They all lost their jobs too.

[jcrew2001]

5. So there is a Civil War by default - typical Bush wisdom

Lets make all the trained military our enemies by denying them participation in the new govt.

No wonder they will never stop, there is no alternative for the Ba'ath losing, its either take back the country, or die of poverty.

[question everything]

4. One of the "miles stone" is the de-baathization

of the government.

I think this is stupid. It is not as if the Iraqis had any choice if they needed jobs. They had to join the party. But there is a large group of people experienced in providing civil service who can help set the country back with basic services.

This is the same as, shortly after the fall of Baghdad, when we were not going to let any French or German companies bid for jobs of reconstructions because they did not join the military forces.