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Allawi Reorganizes Forces to Fight Terror
Iraq's interim prime minister announced a restructuring of the country's security forces on Sunday, saying all Iraqi resources would be directed toward fighting terrorism and that he was considering imposing "emergency law" in some areas. Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi also asked countries to bolster their support to Iraq's beleaguered forces — particularly in terms of equipment.
| I'm still having trouble with this concept that Iraq needs military equipment. Under Sammy, it was bulging at the border with military hardware. He had an explosives fetish. Iraq bought hardware instead of groceries for years. Surely we haven't destroyed it all yet? And then there's the matter of the hardware that's being used against us and the Iraqi civilians right now... |
"Until our forces are fully capable, we will continue to need support from our friends," Allawi told reporters. "We hope that additional international support will be forthcoming. Assistance for the protection of United Nations efforts in Iraq would be especially appreciated." Allawi was asked about his response to Saturday's U.S. airstrike against what the Americans said was a hideout of the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terror network in Fallujah. The Health Ministry said at least 16 people were killed, and an Iraqi security officer in the Sunni Muslim city said there was no evidence of foreign fighters among the dead. Allawi said "we welcome" such strikes against terrorists "anywhere in Iraq" but added that he was told of the attack only a short time beforehand. "This pattern will change" after the handover of sovereignty June 30, he said.
Posted by: Fred 2004-06-20 |
