Reuters: Iraqi PM says will deal with illegal militias (again)

[Eugene]

Iraqi PM says will deal with illegal militias
25 Oct 2006 08:51:27 GMT
Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pledged
on Wednesday to tackle illegal militias blamed for widespread sectarian
violence that has hampered U.S. efforts to hand over control to Iraqi
security forces and pull out.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said on Tuesday Iraqi leaders had
agreed to a timetable of political and security measures and he
expected "significant progress" on the steps in the next 12 months,
including tackling militias.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Maliki said he would
deal with the militias. "The state is the only one that has the right
to carry weapons," he said. "We will deal with anybody who is outside
the law."

Maliki, a Shi'ite, has struggled to balance the conflicting demands of his
Shi'ite coalition government.

Six months after he took office, with vital support from Shi'ite cleric
Moqtada al-Sadr, he has made little headway on curbing activity by
militias. Khalilzad singled out Sadr's Mehdi Army militia as needing to be
"brought under control".

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR531634.htm

Now will he say that while al-Sadr is in the same room?

[magellan]

1. Like whistling through a hurricane

It might make you feel better, but nobody hears you and the damage is still being done.

[ClintonTyree]

2. Does the NRA know about this?

"The state is the only one that has the right
to carry weapons," he said. "We will deal with anybody who is outside
the law."

I thought we were exporting USA style Democracy to Iraq? The god given right for every Iraqi to keep and bear arms is being infringed upon by their government. How many militias would become extremely active if our government tried that here in "the homeland". :shrug: Wayne La Pierre must be apoplectic about this. First Iraq, then the United States. Once it starts it'll never stop, they'll be coming for our guns any time now. ;) They use that line of "reasoning" any time some other country tries to modify their gun laws. Australia and Great Britain come to mind, the NRA interfered with their referendums. I'm sure they'll be defending the Iraqis right to bear arms as well. They're just crazy enough to do it.

[lcordero2]

5. If they do

then there is enough room over there for me. If they come out with a public statement then I'll join as a lifetime member.

[acmavm]

3. Sheesh, good luck.

[lcordero2]

4. ????????

No consent from the "governed"?