Iraqi forces lack ethnic balance

[maddezmom]

By RICHARD A. OPPEL JR.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
BAGHDAD, Iraq - An analysis of preliminary results released yesterday from the Dec. 15 parliamentary election suggests that in contrast to the remarkable surge in Sunni Arab participation in the political process, the Sunnis still have comparatively little representation in the Iraqi security forces.

The indication is troubling because Sunni Arabs, who are about 20 percent of Iraq's population, came out in greater numbers largely as a response to the recent domination of the government by Shiites and Kurds. In particular, Sunni Arabs say they fear that the security forces will be used against them.

U.S. military commanders say it is crucial in Iraq to build an army representative of Iraq's ethnicity and that the alternative is to risk the consequences of Shiite and Kurdish forces' trying on their own to pacify insurgent hotbeds dominated by Sunni Arab militants.

It has been suspected that Sunni Arabs are severely underrepresented in the new military and police forces. Election officials believe that a special tally from the Dec. 15 vote helps to detail the disparity, mostly because voting in Iraq has almost completely been along ethnic and sectarian divisions.

more:http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/iraqiforces27.htm

[Alpharetta]

1. Stats without reasons

Recruiting of Sunnis has lagged because of the ambushes of trainees which were set up by infiltrators.

Background checks of recruits is difficult.

It's a tough problem and statistics don't tell the story.

[Teaser]

2. Recruiting of Sunni's has lagged because

The Shiite security forces also have an expressed interest in exterminating Sunni's indiscriminately.

Generally, it's not in one's self interest in an religio-ethnic-cultural civil war to sign up for the other team.