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Iraq VP Disputes Bush on Training of
Forces
E&P
By Sally Buzbee, The Associated Press
December 5, 2005
DUBAI (AP) The training of Iraqi security forces has suffered a big
"setback" in the last six months, with the army and other forces being
increasingly used to settle scores and make other political gains, Iraqi Vice
President Ghazi al-Yawer said Monday.
Al-Yawer disputed contentions by U.S. officials, including President Bush,
that the training of security forces was gathering speed, resulting in more
professional troops.
Bush has said the United States will not pull out of Iraq until Iraq's own
forces can maintain security. In a speech last week, he said Iraqi forces are
becoming increasingly capable of securing the country.
Al-Yawer, a Sunni moderate, said he agreed the United States cannot pull out
now because "there will be a huge vacuum," leaving Iraq in danger of falling
into civil war. In particular, armed Shiite militias in the south might try to
incite war if U.S.-led coalition forces leave, he said in an interview with The
Associated Press and a U.S. newspaper at a conference here.
"I wish it were that simple," he said of calls to set a timetable for
withdrawal or a drawdown.
But al-Yawer said recent allegations that Interior Ministry security forces
-- dominated by Shiites -- have tortured Sunni detainees were evidence that
many forces are increasingly politicized and sectarian. Some of the recently
trained Iraqi forces focus on settling scores and other political goals rather
than maintaining security, he said.
In addition, some Iraqi military commanders have been dismissed for
political reasons, rather than judged on merit, he said.
He said the army -- also dominated by Shiites -- is conducting raids against
villages and towns in Sunni and mixed areas of Iraq, rather than targeting
specific insurgents -- a tactic he said reminded many Sunnis of Saddam
Hussein-era raids.
"Saddam used to raid villages," using security forces, he said. "This is not
the way to do it."
Al-Yawer also expressed grave concern that Iraqi army units might use
intimidation to try to keep Sunni voters from the polls during the country's
crucial Dec. 15 general election.
American officials -- and Sunni moderates like al-Yawer -- are trying to
persuade Sunnis to go to the polls, hoping that if they gain a sizable chunk of
parliament, Sunnis will abandon support for the insurgency.
Al-Yawer said many Sunnis want to vote. But he noted that both intimidation
and voter fraud occurred during the Oct. 15 constitutional referendum, and
complaints to the Iraqi Electoral Commission and U.N. voting advisers went
nowhere, he said.
His supporters have made a series of requests to ensure a fair vote this
time, including changes to the electoral commission and adequate numbers of
polling stations and ballots in Sunni areas, he said. Most importantly, they
have asked that U.S.-led coalition forces, and not Iraqi army troops, guard
polling stations, he said.
Many outside experts have expressed concern that Iraqi security forces will
actually increase tensions if they guard Sunni areas, rather than keep order.
Al-Yawer did not specifically say that Shiites make up too much of the army,
but said he would like to see more political and sectarian balance —
especially among the officer corps.
Al-Yawer, running on a slate of secular candidates along with former Iraqi
Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, also said he believes the Saddam trial also should
be postponed until after the Dec. 15 election so Iraqis can focus on the
election.
He expressed frustration with the trial so far, saying it is giving Saddam
an opportunity to grandstand and appear sympathetic.
Sally Buzbee, The Associated Press (letters@editorandpublisher.com) Copyright
2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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