[Marxism] Sunni allies rejoin resistance; US pressured to deepen, extend occupation

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The introductory note that follows is from Prof. Mark Jensen of the
SNOW-News peace list based in Washington state.

[Many of the 100,000 embers of Sunni militias who have been in the pay of
the U.S. are beginning to "rejoin the insurgency" because only about 5,000
of them have been integrated into the Shiite-dominated Iraqi security
services,  the Times of London reported Sunday.[1]  --  This "could affect
President Barack Obama's pledge to withdraw all combat troops from Iraqi
cities by the end of June," Ali Rifat, Hala Jaber, and Sarah Baxter said. 
--  The president of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations said that he
believes that "Iraq and the United States are going to have to adjust the
timelines and leave a residual force of tens of thousands beyond 2011." 
--Mark]
http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/8577/


IRAQ BLOODSHED RISES AS U.S. ALLIES DEFECT By Ali Rifat, Hala Jaber, and
Sarah Baxter in Washington

Times Online (London)
May 3, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article6211364.ece

Iraq is threatened by a new wave of sectarian violence as members of the
"Sons of Iraq" -- the Sunni Awakening militias that were paid by the U.S.
to fight Al-Qaeda -- begin to rejoin the insurgency.

If the spike in violence continues, it could affect President Barack Obama's
pledge to withdraw all combat troops from Iraqi cities by the end of June.
All U.S. troops are due to leave the country by 2012.

A leading member of the Political Council of Iraqi Resistance, which
represents six Sunni militant groups, said:  "The resistance has now
returned to the field and is intensifying its attacks against the enemy. 
The number of coalition forces killed is on the rise."

The increase in attacks by such groups, combined with a spate of bombings
blamed on Al-Qaeda, has had a chilling effect on the streets of Iraq. 
More than 370 Iraqi civilians and military -- and 80 Iranian pilgrims --
lost their lives in April, making it the bloodiest month since last
September.  On Wednesday, five car bombs exploded in a crowded market in
Sadr City, Baghdad, killing 51 people and injuring 76.  Three U.S.
soldiers were killed on Thursday and two more yesterday when a gunman in
Iraqi army uniform opened fire near Mosul.

Richard Haass, president of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, who
returned from a visit to Iraq last week, said:  "It is obvious there are
still multiple faultlines in society.  In my view, Iraq and the United
States are going to have to adjust the timelines and leave a residual force
of tens of thousands beyond 2011."

The resistance council recently issued a call to disaffected Sons of Iraq to
take up arms against U.S. and Iraqi troops after the government of Nouri
al-Maliki failed to integrate them into the national security forces.

Many fighters have abandoned their security posts, allowing militant groups
to fill the gap.  Abu Omar, the leader of an Awakening militia in northern
Baghdad, said more than 50 out of 175 fighters had quit.

The Iraqi resistance representative claimed some militias had lost even
more.  "Up to half their members have resigned from the Awakening and
rejoined the resistance," he said.

The U.S. had been paying nearly 100,000 Sons of Iraq to participate in its
security "surge," but handed over responsibility for their welfare to the
Iraqi government last month.  Their pay has since dried up.  Only 5,000
members of the Awakening have been employed by the Iraqi security forces.

Ginger Cruz, America's deputy inspector-general for Iraq reconstruction,
warned that disillusioned Sunnis could join forces with Al-Qaeda as well as
resistance groups.

"The Sons of Iraq provided a critical turning point for Iraq, so the
question now becomes:  what will the Iraqi government do with them?" Cruz
said.  "In fragile states, you need to take unemployed young men with access
to weapons and give them something to do to ensure they don't turn to
Al-Qaeda or other groups."

The gradual emergence of the Shi'ite Maliki as an Iraqi strongman has
alienated some Sunnis and corruption is worse than ever, according to Cruz.

There is also growing Sunni anger about arrests of Awakening leaders,
including Adil al-Mashhadani, from Baghdad, who warned recently:  "There's a
50-50 chance that Awakening guys who are not very loyal to Iraq or who need
to support their families will join Al-Qaeda again."

Local Sunni leaders have been quitting their posts, disillusioned with the
government.  Khalaf Ibrahim recently resigned as leader of Huwaija council
near Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

"Our members have become targets for Al-Qaeda and the government security
forces at the same time," he said.

Haass, a critic of the Iraq war who served in the administrations of George
Bush Sr. and George Bush Jr., said:  "Some people are hedging their bets and
moving in the direction of 'alternative loyalties.'"

Obama may now become a hostage to events, Haass fears.  "This administration
has so much on its plate in terms of foreign policy that the last thing it
needs is an Iraq that unravels.  If it has to do a bit more than it wanted,
that could be a pretty good investment."

The heavy toll of the bomb attack in Sadr City last week shocked inhabitants
who had witnessed improvements in security in recent months. 
Aqeel Ali, a 19-year-old labourer, said:  "My brother was killed in that
bomb.

"I left school and started work to pay for his education.  He was 10 years
old and I wanted him to be an engineer.  I will never forget the sight of my
brother's corpse, covered in blood and mud."

Um Batool, a young mother whose husband died, called for the return of the
Mahdi Army, a Shi'ite militia, to protect the community.  "Who will feed my
five daughters?" she cried.

Many Iraqis believe deteriorating security may provide a pretext for the
U.S. to prolong its stay in Iraq.

Colonel Andrew Bacevich, a military historian who lost his son in Iraq, said
the rise in casualties threatened Obama's withdrawal plans.  The U.S.
military, including General Jim Jones, Obama's national security adviser,
wanted troops to leave the country "in a condition in which they can
plausibly claim to have achieved success," he said.

Iraq has already begun negotiating with the United States about exceptions
to the June 30 deadline, according to press reports.

In Karrada, an affluent district of Baghdad where a suicide bomber killed
dozens 10 days ago, Esam Omar, 44, a father of two, said:  "I fear the
violence is back.  Sectarian war may be the next step."

The Iraqi security forces were not yet ready to assume control, he said,
even if the U.S. was worried about the cost of the war.  "I think American
forces will have to stay here much longer.  It will be shameful if the
Americans leave us sinking in blood, simply to escape their economic
crisis."
[snip]




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