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| Iraq |
| U.S. Begins Transferring Control of Sunni Militias to Iraqi Government |
| 2008-10-01 |
| The Iraqi government on Wednesday began assuming control of the U.S.-backed armed groups that have helped curtail violence here, in a high-stakes test for the American strategy to stabilize Iraq. Iraqi authorities officially took command of about 54,000 so-called Sons of Iraq in the Baghdad area on Wednesday, and U.S. officials say they will transfer authority over additional members of the groups as conditions permit. The Pentagon said in a report Tuesday that a smooth transition of the roughly 100,000 armed guards to Iraqi employment was "critical to providing stable security" in the country. Iraq's Shiite-led government has been wary of the largely Sunni forces, which include many former insurgents. Some have threatened to resume attacks if the government conducts widespread arrests or otherwise treats them harshly. The handover of the armed groups was a low-key affair in Baghdad, where government offices are closed for a six-day holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The transition was largely symbolic, since the U.S. military plans to stay involved with the groups for several months as the Iraqi government begins paying their salaries and decides how to employ them. ... |
| Posted by:ed |