Standing up in Iraq as we stand down? If you can afford the bullets . . .

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Iraqis cautious over Baghdad security crackdown

Fri Aug 25, 2006

Operation Together Forward is designed to show Iraqis that their local forces are taking charge. But police commandos stationed between two rebel strongholds seemed in little mood to fight insurgents who have killed thousands of their comrades.

"We have good training from the Americans. But we are often attacked. The terrorists fire mortars or shoot at us," said Ali Abdul Ghani, pointing to rows of houses opposite his sandbagged checkpoint and which provide cover for the guerrillas.

"This morning they fired on us during a patrol and I shot back. Now I have to pay for some bullets because I fired too many. It's an Interior Ministry rule. I just want to go back to my hometown," he complained.


more: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-08-25T125303Z_01_L25198918_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-BAGHDAD.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1