U.S. envoy warns of growing power of Iraqi militias

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. envoy warns of growing power of Iraqi militias
Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:29pm EDT

By Ross Colvin

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The U.S. military has succeeded in
delivering a crippling blow to al Qaeda in Iraq, but this has
only served to highlight "the other big problem" -- the power
of Shi'ite militias, Washington's envoy to Iraq said on
Thursday.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the new U.S. "surge" strategy,
which saw 30,000 extra troops sent to Iraq, had significantly
reduced sectarian violence in Baghdad, the former al Qaeda
stronghold of Anbar province and elsewhere.

"Al Qaeda in Iraq has shown extraordinary persistence but
clearly their abilities have been badly damaged. In a sense
that puts into highlight the other big problem, which is the
militias, particularly JAM," he told journalists in Baghdad.

-snip-

"We have seen JAM Militant transform into JAM Incorporated.
They may not be shooting at us or Iraqi soldiers, but (they
are) controlling gas stations, real estate, trade and
services," Crocker said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSCOL55146220071025

[sabra]

1. JAM Incorporated = Mission Accomplished

:sarcasm:

[acmavm]

2. These dumb asses don't have the faintest clue. If no one's

noticed, 'al Quaeda' in Iraq is made up of Iraqis. And the militias, both Sunni and Shi'ite are made up of Iraqis. THEY'RE ALL THE SAME GUYS!

Fuckwits.

[rodeodance]

5. and the US has millions of dollars of lost guns floating around.

[Kagemusha]

3. I hear violence in Bagdhad is down because ethnic cleansing works.

The surge didn't stop ethnic cleansing, and now, Bagdhad is a much more Shiite city than before.

[sabra]

4. let's not forget the walls dividing up Baghdad...

A U.S. soldier walks past residents near a concrete wall in the predominantly Shi'ite neighbourhood of al-Washash in Baghdad October 14, 2007. Towering concrete barriers have mushroomed across Iraq's capital, put up by U.S. forces striving to cripple Sunni and Shi'ite militants. Critics argue the walls divide communities, stifle economic activity, imprison residents and only widen the sectarian rifts that remain at the root of Iraq's political gridlock. Picture taken October 14, 2007. To match feature IRAQ/WALLS REUTERS/Erik de Castro