Submit your comments on this article |
Iraq |
Iraq: Support for new platoons of Kurdish fighters |
2007-10-09 |
(AKI) - Iraq's minister for defence Abd al-Qadir al-Ubaydi has discussed the creation of two new platoons of Kurdish fighters or Peshmergas with the Kurdish regional government in a bid to boost Iraqi security. The Iraqi defence minister met the Kurdish minister for Peshmergas to discuss the plan, according to the website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. The ministers were joined by a delegation that included the head of the Iraqi army Babakr Zebari and the head of the multinational forces, Michael Barbero, and local officials responsible for local electricity distribution networks. The website said the parties were considering the details for the creation of two new military platoons and the transformation of old Peshmerga forces in regional patrols, as sanctioned under the constitution. The site stressed that the parties had decided in their agreement to nominate representatives among them, who would carry out their decisions in a bid to build military cooperation. In the Iraqi army, there are three Kurdish battalions in the autonomous region. In the last few years they have been stationed in various parts of Iraq including Baghdad, Mossul and Kirkuk, to promote security and protect petrol plants and electricity networks. |
Posted by:Fred |
#5 WINDS-OF-CHANGE > MICHAEL TOTTEN.com article > claims that large percentage of local Iraqi police force are unreliable for various reasons. MOST RELIABLE [Police units] ARE THE ETHNIC KURDS. |
Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-10-09 21:29 |
#4 Outside of the U.S. military, the Peshmerga might be the most effective fighters in Iraq. Expanding their role would be great provided the Kurds also make more of an effort to rein in the PKK. |
Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 2007-10-09 20:37 |
#3 two new military platoons and the transformation of old Peshmerga forces in regional patrols Working to bring the peshmergas into the regular forces. Which would, among other things, allow them to patrol in Basra or Baghdad. IIUC the ex-peshmerga have been quite effective in places like that. |
Posted by: lotp 2007-10-09 12:28 |
#2 Two new Kurdish PLATOONS? Not very impressive unless they define platoon a lot differently than I do. |
Posted by: Glenmore 2007-10-09 08:52 |
#1 The Kurds should spend every spare dime on building up their military forces. They should just be bristling with weapons and training like there could be no tomorrow. |
Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-10-09 08:23 |