The U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq have gone populist, empowering a "movement" of local sheikhs, former insurgents and ordinary Iraqis--encouraging them to take up arms and patrol their communities for themselves. "Concerned Citizens Groups," which military representatives describe as similar to "neighborhood watch [RETURN TO ARTICLE]
FOLLOW US
Also by Jessica Pupovac
-
Same-Sex Marriage in the Heartland
Iowa becomes the first state in the Midwest to extend the right to marry to gays and lesbians.
MORE » -
The Right’s New Attack on Voters
Last April, as a national debate raged over whether Indiana's voter ID law protects election integrity or disenfranchises...
MORE » -
The Push to Privatize PEMEX
Halliburton is licking its chops at the prospect of Mexico's state-owned Petróleos Mexicanos going private. Petr...
MORE »
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Invest in the news you need. In These Times is a nonprofit, reader-supported magazine and website.
subscribe today for $19.95!
SAVE 53% OFFTHE NEWSSTAND PRICE!
MOST READ
- Why Conservatives Can’t Fix Poverty
- The Girl’s Guide to Staying Safe Online
- Siri and the High-Tech Gender Gap
- It’s the Stupid Republicans, Stupid
- True Crime Finance Stories
- Is the Federal Government Helping to Bust Unions?
- Anger Sowing Seeds of a New Consumer Movement
- What Can Labor Learn?
- Marching Off the Cliff
- New Eden, Old Devils
Reader Comments
‘...the strategy is “fundamentally unpredictable.”’
Well, sounds like real life
Today I attended a detailed presentation of the 13th Wisconsin, a Civil War regiment serving as support and mostly stationed behind the battle lines. Except for the names of individuals and geographical locations the story could have been taking place right now in Iraq.
Emotions were high both for and against the North and the South throughout the central states where they were deployed. Civilians were intimidated by guerrillas each wanting to impose their power and influence.
No one could be sure who was for them or against them. Harsh penalties were instituted against combatants without uniforms and private property was given no consideration.
The outcome was uncertain to everyone involved.
“According to Ret. U.S. Lt. Gen. William Odom, the situation is becoming one in which the U.S. army is ‘arming the enemies of the government whose election and legitimacy we sponsored.
‘The muddled, contradictory and ludicrous nature of this policy would deserve a horse laugh if it were not so tragic,’ says Odom, who served as the Army
register a new account »Posting Security