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| Iraq |
| Former Iraqi police volunteer to bring some order to Baghdad |
| 2003-04-12 |
| Former Iraqi police officers have offered their services to US troops in Baghdad, keen to co-operate in restoring a semblance of order, Al Jazeera correspondents confirm. One of the officers said, âIâve been a captain since 1985. I was one among those who were forced by the criminal Ali Hassan Al Majid to serve at the police Directorate-General. I guess that we, the Iraqi police officers, can restore security in the city within 72 hours, if the coalition forces provide us with badges, cars and loudspeakers.â And new uniforms. Iraqi police wore military uniform — and we don't want to even allow the appearance of the military and Baath coming back... The officer added, âThe police are against the criminal Saddam Hussein. The police institute was despised by the Government. The criminal Saddam was supporting intelligence, special forces, military intelligence and his partyâs militias only. The police were treated with indifference. Each police directorate only ever had one car. We are ready to shoulder our responsibility if the coalition forces help us by supplying us with cars and badges. The security will prevail within 72 hours....â "I never liked him. I never joined the party..." Another retired officer said, âThe former government is over. Now we are living in a state of chaos and looting. We, the retired police officers, for the sake of our nation and the protection of our people, volunteer to preserve our country and the people and their properties. We pledge a quick return of security if we get arms, cars, equipment and other sorts of assistance from the coalition forces. We can restore security in Baghdad if we get assistance.â Yeah. I think I'd have to take some time to think about that real hard, if I was running things... Brigadier General Mohammed Bandar pleaded for more volunteers to step forward, and for an end to the looting. âI call on brother citizens through Al Jazeera, to end the chaos and looting. These are not the characteristics of the honorable Iraqis. Armed criminals are now free in the streets. I urge them to arrest those criminals who steal the stateâs property and hospitals. I also call on the police and Coalition Forces to get involved to end this ordeal.â |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #12 They could get some of the left over cars and uniforms from the "Blues Brother 2000" (a movie that stunk but was done relatively cheaply compared to the earlier Blues Brothers movies). |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-04-12 20:20:43 |
| #11 Uniforms? Ship them some spare Air Force 'B' uniforms: dark blue trousers, short sleeved light blue shirts, dark blue "bus driver" hat, black low quarters. But no rank or collar brass, nor insignia. Only a badge. That ought to be distinctive enough, but (no insult to the USAF intended) not all that "military". Plus its probably readily at hand for the AF - grab a pile of it from Lack-anookie AFB in TX, and fly it over to Baghdad International. While they are at it, set up a Police training school at the airport, and let the SP's teach them the we we do it. Rotate police officers through there. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-12 19:47:18 |
| #10 While all you were thinking about police, I actually was thinking about the uniforms. What better way to get some women working again sewing madly? Pay in cash, food and water. Since the summer's upon them, something nice in light blue shirts and maybe beige pants. And a sporty kevlar pith helmet. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-12 16:52:37 |
| #9 I agree, let the cops go back to work, certainly the rank and file. They can't all be bad, and the baddies will be known. I think they'll clean their own house if we let them. But I'd definitly keep an eye on 'em, too. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-04-12 16:42:20 |
| #8 We better really watch who we install as the police there. They have had thirty years of some real nasty people in the police force in cozy relationships with the Ba'athists, and we could be in a problem if we make mistakes here. We are going to have to have a good system set up to work through the candidates, especially on the fast track. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-12 16:27:24 |
| #7 I recall a comment or two by Salam Pax that the police didn't really care for the regime. They were actually trying to be professional. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-04-12 13:38:18 |
| #6 Actually, using the existing police department is a good idea, as long as it's supervised at the top by someone outside the police department structure - preferably a Coalition military officer until we can get the Transition government in place, then turn it over to them. We NEED to get the Iraqi people engaged in governming themselves, and using their own police officers will help. To keep the "baddies" out, we need to allow Iraqi citizens who have had a bad time from the police to be able to say "Ahmed Ibrahim is a crook, and we don't want him on the police department". We need to coordinate such reporting, and eliminate the baddies. There are going to be literally thousands of such decisions that will have to be made. The sooner the US Forces start making those decisions, the better life will be for everyone. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-04-12 12:38:42 |
| #5 Hmmm... Wonder if we could borrow some Kuwaiti cops? Not the ones who're nuts, though... |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-04-12 11:56:53 |
| #4 We need the police, but uniforms will be a problem. Some sort of visual recognition, not easily duplicated from cut-up bedsheets and dyes, must be arranged. Has anyone heard from the outfit in Kuwait that is supposed to be handling the transition state? |
| Posted by: John Anderson 2003-04-12 11:50:01 |
| #3 Sounds like we need to get TV and radio up and running to broadcast warnings about curfews and crackdowns on looting, then stop this before it gets too far out of hand - some of it is letting the pressure vent, I'm sure |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-12 11:14:17 |
| #2 I don't much like this. I know we will have to use some of them, but ranking officers (read: Ba'athist Party Officials) I don't like it. I'll take the Engrs who ran the power plants and the water plants, etc. - but the cops... it feels wrong. I think I heard that in Kosovo we allowed anyone up to the rank of Major to come back to their old jobs - and it worked fairly well. Sounds reasonable for Baghdad and Basra. If it works, then Mosul, Kirkuk, etc. Generals??? Feels wrong. I think they should be given shovels and brooms to clean the streets of rubble for a few years, before trusting them any further. |
| Posted by: PD 2003-04-12 11:11:42 |
| #1 I think this is a positive development and one we should welcome. Their assistance could do wonders to help defuse the rioting and reassure the Iraqi commoners that we're serious about leaving Iraq to be governed by Iraqis. They know the language, the customs, and they have the training. The Iraqi police definitely needs different uniforms! Something is needed to offset them from the military and the old regime. In any case, this is a much better option than using combat troops with machine guns and tanks to perform police actions, which is like performing brain surgery with a chainsaw. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-04-12 11:09:41 |