Iraqi army commander arrested after bombings

[jmc247]

Source: TV3 News

An Iraqi army brigade commander has been arrested after a string of bombings that killed more than 180 people around Baghdad.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says the officer was arrested because of the weakness of security measures to protect civilians in Sadriya a Baghdad marketplace where more than 120 people died in one bomb blast.

Read more: http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/209/articleID/25364/Default.aspx

[Kagemusha]

1. By the way, I've seen this item a few times and I'm wondering...

In what other country do you ARREST a brigade commander because of "the weakness of security measures"?

That may be cause for removal, but ARREST?

[jmc247]

2. When Saddam had generals who he thought failed him during the Iran/Iraq war

They were publically executed.

I guess this is a step above that.

[rodeodance]

3. Maliki has to blame somebody

[jmc247]

4. of course

But, then again this will probably be a motivating experience for Iraqi Army and police officers not to let massive suicide attacks occur in your part of Baghdad or you will end up rotting until you die in an Iraqi jail. Stalin during WW2 killed thousands of his own soldiers he believed were retreating and that made the Russian Army more afraid of Stalin then the Nazis.

[Igel]

6. It depends on what's not being said.

As it is, it seems unreasonable--and it may well be unreasonable, face-saving ass-covering. On the other hand, there may be evidence that the guy's intentionally not taking measures to stop bombings--perhaps a Sadrist that wants the government to look bad, perhaps a Sunni that might well have ties to the MSA or the ISI.

[pinniped]

5. Damm, this will set those benchmarks back a few notches.

.