22.10.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Muslim Scholars Association: Sharia law for military and police ("original document") [ID 10613]

"MUSLIM SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION URGES MILITARY, POLICE, NOT TO ASSIST U.S. The Muslim Scholars Association issued a statement in its weekly "Al-Basa'ir" on 14 October urging Iraqi police and military forces not to partake in operations in support of U.S.-led multinational forces. The statement issued by the Sunni organization called on these forces to disobey any orders by their superiors which go against Shari'a law and the "unity of the homeland and citizens." "The duty of the army is to protect the borders and defend values, holy places, and properties. Under shari'a law, the army is prohibited from participating in actions leading to the imposition of foreign control on the country," it added. "The Muslim Scholars Association in Iraq calls on the Iraqi police and national guard personnel to adhere to their original duties and carry out their work in compliance with the shari'a and original laws that are designed to organize their work." (Kathleen Ridolfo)"

Document(s): original document

27.09.2004 - Source:

Iraqi National Guard: Iraqi general accused of associating with insurgents ("original source: International Herald Tribune") [ID 10614]

Origin title: Iraqi general is accused of associating with insurgents

"The American military said Sunday that it had arrested a senior commander of the nascent Iraqi National Guard, raising concerns about the loyalty and reliability of the new security forces just months before general elections are scheduled to be held across the country.

The Iraqi commander, Brigadier General Talib Abid Ghayib al-Lahibi, based in restive Diyala Province, was arrested Thursday for "having associations with known insurgents," the military said in a written statement. Under the rule of Saddam Hussein, Lahibi had served as lieutenant general of an infantry unit in the Iraqi Army, taught at the military college in Baghdad and led troops in the northern city of Mosul during the American-led invasion in March 2003, the American military said.

The American military did not give details on Lahibi's alleged ties to the insurgency, and senior military commanders in Baghdad declined to give more information at a news conference in the late afternoon. "I don't have any specifics on why he was picked up," one commander said.

The arrest is the most significant one known of an Iraqi commander who was supposed to help the American military fill the gaping security vacuum left by the removal of Saddam and the dismantling of the Iraqi Army. It raises questions about whether, in the haste to establish a legitimate Iraqi force by recruiting former senior Baath Part officials, the Americans have signed on officials with questionable loyalties and abilities, and whether the military will have to conduct a more thorough review of such people as American soldiers prepare to try to take cities like Falluja, Samarra and Baquba, the capital of Diyala Province, that are controlled by insurgents.

American military commanders have said in recent weeks that they intend to wage a campaign later this autumn to seize control of the hot spots, but that Iraqi security forces loyal to the Americans and the interim government must join in the fight and take responsibility for controlling the areas afterward.

That offensive and the participation of Iraqi forces are significant in laying the foundation for a legitimate general election by the end of January, which many experts doubt can take place, given the current maelstrom of violence throughout much of the country.

Even before the arrest of Lahibi, other signs of the fractured loyalties of the Iraqi security forces had emerged. In August, the Marines said they had arrested the police chief of volatile Anbar Province, which includes Falluja, and were investigating him for suspected ties to the insurgency.

In a career similar to that of Lahibi, the police chief, Ja'adan Muhammad Alwan, became a senior police officer and high-ranking Baathist during the Saddam years. Over the summer, members of the Falluja Brigade, a militia composed partly of former Baathists that was appointed by the Marines last May to secure Falluja, deserted its posts. Many joined the insurgency and turned their arms on the Marines. Falluja remains the center of gravity of the Sunni insurgency, and American warplanes struck there again Saturday night against what it called an insurgent meeting place. (...)"

Document(s): original source: International Herald Tribune

26.09.2004 - Source: BBC News

Diyala: senior member of Iraqi National Guard detained on suspicion of collaborating with insurgents ("US arrests senior Iraqi commander") [#25839],  [ID 10615]

Document(s): Open document

25.06.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Iraqi Civil Defense Corps now be known as the Iraqi National Guard ("original document") [ID 10616]

"The prime minister Iyad Allawi said that the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps will now be known as the Iraqi National Guard, and will be expanded to include a minimum of six new local divisions, as well as 18 brigades and 50 regiments. "The army would focus on defending the borders and security of the homeland," Allawi said. "The reserve forces of the army will also assist in dealing with the domestic threats to our national security.""

Document(s): original document

22.04.2004 - Source: BBC News

Iraqi forces 'turn on coalition' ("original document") [ID 10617]

"Iraqi forces 'turn on coalition'

The new coalition-trained Iraqi police force is being infiltrated by insurgents, a US army general has said. Maj Gen Martin Dempsey said about 10% of new officers were rebels and a further 40% had left their jobs - but the rest "stood tall and stood firm".

His comments came hours after a series of bomb blasts in southern Iraq killed at least 68 people. In the city of Falluja, coalition forces say 36 insurgents have died in fighting which began on Wednesday.

US troops said this began when up to 60 rebels attacked them with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades - despite a ceasefire agreed earlier in the week. The city, west of Baghdad, is held by Sunni militants.

'Intimidation'

Gen Dempsey, commander of the US army's 1st Armored Division, told media executives in an interview that he believed popular support for the coalition among Iraqis remained high, though it could not be taken for granted.

But he acknowledged that one in every 10 of the Iraqi security forces trained by the coalition ended up working against the US-led forces.

"About 50% of the security forces that we built over the past year stood tall and stood firm," he told the annual meeting of the Associated Press news agency.
"About 40% of them walked off the job because they were intimidated and about 10% actually worked against us." (...)"

Document(s): original document

20.11.2003 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Strength of Iraqi securty forces ("original document") [ID 10620]

"(...) According to U.S. government figures, the Iraqi security forces stand this month at 55,000 police, 700 military, and 29,800 in other services, including the new Civil Defense Force. But Ignatius says that many of those in the Civil Defense Force are young, inexperienced recruits who are bearing arms for the first time. (...)

U.S. officials have said they hope to have more than 200,000 Iraqis in security forces by September to take over much of the work being done now by U.S. and foreign troops. But Washington also has suggested U.S. troops will have to remain in the country well beyond that date. (...)"

Document(s): original document

12.11.2003 - Source: Global Security

Civil Defense Corps: Background ("original source") [ID 10621]

"The Iraq Civil Defense Corps [ICDC] is the cornerstone to building the new Iraq. Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers are Iraqi citizens who remain in their communities and are integrated into the coalition military units. New recruits receive three weeks of intensive combat training. They first learn basic commands in English, the rules of engagement, and how to set up a control point. From there, they practice troop-leading procedures, crowd and riot control, and squad movements. During the final training week, trainees qualify on their AK-47 rifles. Although on the surface it may seem inconsequential, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps needs new uniforms. Trainees wear uniforms of the old Iraqi army -- something they hate and are anxious to disassociate themselves from.

As of mid-October 2003 more than 6,000 members of a new Iraq Civil Defense Corps were employed. Nationwide, Iraq's Civil Defense Corps stood at about 4,700 trained soldiers by 29 October 2003. Wolfowitz told the House Armed Services Committee in late September 2003 that plans call for expanding the force to 15,000 by January 2004.

Coalition soldiers relinquished security and guarding responsibilities of Objective Jaguar, an ammunition supply point, to the soldiers from Delta Company, part of the Iraq Civil Defense Corps in a ceremony 01 October 2003. The 12-square-kilometer supply point had been guarded by 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) for the last five months. The soldiers of the ICDC underwent two phases of training by American soldiers. First, they spent two weeks in a basic training camp at Camp Claiborne in Mosul. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) trained the Iraqis in marksmanship, drill and ceremony and other military disciplines. After a period of leave for the Iraqis, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, took the soldiers to Objective Jaguar, outside of the village of Al Hatra, for another week of training."

Document(s): original source