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Maliki's Private Army
Another interesting post in the National Interest, from Robert Tollast. This one describes how the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, left in pretty reasonable shape by the Green Berets when we pulled out, is now increasingly politicized and thus losing its legitimacy.

"Blame here can only go to Maliki, who has created ... "a culture of direct control" over state institutions. Maliki controls ISOF through the Counterterrorism Bureau, which has proved a useful tool for crushing dissent ... Such "coup proofing" strategies often result in military disaster. "

That is what happens when a national leader is a thug and not a steward.

Posted by: Steve White 2013-01-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=359431