Stability of Iraqi police eroding "starting from zero"

[Barrett808]

Stability of Iraqi police eroding
By Thanassis Cambanis, Globe Staff | April 18, 2004

BAGHDAD -- The virtual collapse of Iraqi police authority in many parts of the country during the dual uprisings last week threatens one of the linchpins of the US strategy: to hand over policing responsibility and put an Iraqi face on domestic security.

US officials have not publicly disclosed the extent to which Iraqi police officers quit, stayed home, or mutinied during the nearly two weeks of turmoil that engulfed Iraq at the beginning of April. But discussions with senior Iraqi interior ministry officials, police officers, members of the Civil Defense Corps, and some military officials who work with them highlight the deep flaws in the security services that were hastily assembled beginning last summer. They also paint a disturbing picture of a security force nowhere near ready to take a central role.

Originally, American officials expected Iraqi forces to be taking the lead on domestic crime and terrorism by now. Instead, it appears that even after the planned June 30 handover of power, the already busy US-led occupation troops will have to continue spending much of their time on police work.

''We are starting from zero. The police force is full of people who are good for nothing, appointed because of who they know," said Brigadier General Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji, a former resistance fighter who is now responsible for nearly 60,000 police officers in Iraq's provinces as a deputy to the interior minister.

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http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/20...

[0007]

1. So just a few pockets of resistance destabilized a 60,000

Iraq police force?

junior sez it is just a few extremist that are causing all the problems. We're told the majority of the Iraqis want democracy. I have a hard time believing that statement. Because you'd think since these few extremist are out numbered by their countrymen and with the help of the coalitions it would be a piece of cake to take care of the problems.