POLICE WEAR MASKS: Iraq security forces are hunters, hunted

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=49528

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The masked men in the streets of Iraq's capital see themselves as the good guys. Manning checkpoints and darting through traffic on foot, Iraqi policemen, soldiers and National Guardsmen assume a distinctly defensive posture: rifles up, ski masks down.

"It's part of the uniform," said Ahmed, a first lieutenant with a black woolen balaclava tugged down to the collar of his camouflage jacket. Both jacket and mask are now standard issue for the security forces of Iraq's interim government, newly trained troops who do double duty as hunter and hunted.

Ahmed and four fellow police commandos said they would not go on duty without their ski masks, give out their full names for publication or tell their neighbors what they really do for a living.

"I say I work installing ceramic tiles," said Wisam, 20, who commutes from south Baghdad.

"I say I'm a car mechanic," said Abu Jaffar, after emerging from a hiding place behind a pickup truck mounted with a machine gun. Even in his mask, he had sought cover after spotting a neighbor getting off a bus 30 feet away.

more

[Oversea Visitor]

1. Secret Police

:toast:

[NNN0LHI]

2. Last year the Iraqis who were resisting were the ones wearing the masks

And the Iraq police who were collaborating with the USA didn't need to wear them. I heard reports today that has now reversed because there currently are more Iraqis who are actively resisting than who are collaborating.

Don

[Oversea Visitor]

3. And when

those resisting start getting better weapons. The US troops in Iraq are all sitting Ducks. He need to stydy the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and why it fail.