Article

2005-11-25 Iraq

Saddam officers by the thousands respond to recruitment offer

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Posted by Steve White 2005-11-25 14:33|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 And only three years late. Better late than never, I guess.

Posted by Curt Simon 2005-11-25 15:24|| 2005-11-25 15:24|| Front Page Top

#2 Some of these former Saddam-era officers are going to be moles for the Baathist branch of the "insurgency" [spit]; nonetheless, this is going to go a long way toward splitting the Baathists from the al Qaeda types and making the "insurgency" [spit] all foreign and thus all unacceptable to the Iraqi people. I smell a major political victory here.

Posted by Jonathan">Jonathan 2005-11-25 15:28|| 2005-11-25 15:28|| Front Page Top

#3 Actually, I think the timing is right. The officers will need serious re-education in many ways, and would not have made a good core for the new army.

We have spent the time well, the new officers are disciplined, far more honest and intolerant of dishonesty, they are not political hacks and tribal appointments, they are versed in American/NATO rather than Russian tactics and training, they are "effective" combat experienced, and they overwhelmingly outnumber these old officers.

Most of these guys will have to go back to school, be closely supervised in leadership and managerial skills, be scrutinized for honesty, be disciplined to not abuse or mistreat their subordinates, be trained to be "national" soldiers rather than "ethnic or tribal" soldiers, and get lots of training in tactics, strategy, training and operations. It will be teaching old dogs new tricks.

The biggest plus is that it restores them to a position of honor in society, providing them jobs appropriate to their station, and it also gives their family a vested interest in good behavior. It takes them out of the hands of the insurgency, and right at a time when much of it seems to be crumbling anyway.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-11-25 15:38|| 2005-11-25 15:38|| Front Page Top

#4 And only three years late. Better late than never, I guess.

Sorry, Curt - don't agree. Keeping the then-Iraqi army and its existing system intact would have short-sightedly stupid.

Posted by Pappy 2005-11-25 16:16|| 2005-11-25 16:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Good plan and good timimg. The Major and below ranks are still young enough to have been isolated from the corruption. They are also idealistic, ready for change and not ground into any one system. Sounds to me like the Iraq govt is taking lessons learned from other countries. Good move!

Posted by 49 pan">49 pan 2005-11-25 19:03|| 2005-11-25 19:03|| Front Page Top

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