The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Customer Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out

  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Times News Services
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Алекс Овечкин
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
    • Donne Travels
    • Lives Common
    • National Pastime
    • Politics 101
    • Stories of Faith
    • Civil War
    • Middle - America
    • Chicago Blue State
    • Zadzooks
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Inside the Beltway
    • Inside the Story
Home > News > Editor Favorites

Shi'ite resistance to Sunnis threatens progress of surge

Inaction could affect U.S. troop pullout

By Shaun Waterman, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL | Wednesday, August 27, 2008

  • Bookmark and Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Print
  • [-][+] Font Size
  • E-Mail Alerts
  • Tell a Friend
  • Got a Question?
  • You Report
  • Click-2-Listen

The Iraqi government is resisting U.S. efforts to incorporate former Sunni insurgents into Iraqi security forces, threatening a strategy that helped make the surge a success thus far and could allow U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities next year.

Fewer than 600 of the 103,000 Iraqis currently active in U.S.-supported Sunni militia groups have been absorbed so far, said Colin H. Kahl of the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank, citing figures provided to him by the U.S. military during a recent trip to Iraq.

The Pentagon provided slightly higher estimates Tuesday.

Capt. Charles G. Calio, a spokesman for U.S.-led forces in Iraq, said in an e-mail that nearly 24,000 "Sons of Iraq" have found permanent employment in the past two years, but only 946 have entered the Iraqi security forces.

About 2,300 others have been vetted for possible positions in the security forces, he said.

"We are committed to the [Sons of Iraq] and an orderly transition for all of them," Capt. Calio said. He called the program "a work in progress."

Sunni groups known by names such as "Awakening Councils" and "Sons of Iraq" have sided with U.S. troops to help push al Qaeda-linked terrorists underground or out of the country altogether.

The Pentagon says it wants 16,000 integrated into Iraqi security forces by June.

Mr. Kahl - who also advises presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama about Iraq - and other experts warned that if the Sunni fighters are not brought into the Iraqi security forces, it risks slowing a potential withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities.

Dan Curfiss, program manager for Iraq at the National Defense University´s Near East and South Asia Center, said that if the integration fails, "You would have in effect two armies" in the country, and the militias "could very easily return to a rogue status."

Continue reading 12Next

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

Bookmark and Share

Comments

Read Comments

Post your comment:

Please login or register to post a comment

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
An Iraqi boy plays soccer near a concrete wall that separates Shiite and Sunni areas in the Dora neighborhood in Baghdad June 22. Dora has so many walls and observation towers that some parts resemble a maze.

Click the photo to enlarge.

Advertisement

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. GOP hits Pelosi for mouse funds
  2. EXCLUSIVE: Career diplomats protest Obama appointments
  3. CIA chief urged to 'correct' record
  4. Obama agenda stalls on Capitol Hill
  5. EDITORIAL: Stonewalling on Walpin-gate

Most Shared

  1. EXCLUSIVE: Career diplomats protest Obama appointments
  2. GOP hits Pelosi for mouse funds
  3. PRUDEN: Ministry of Apology would cure all ills
  4. EDITORIAL: Killing Cap & Trade
  5. Obama agenda stalls on Capitol Hill
  6. EDITORIAL: Stonewalling on Walpin-gate
  7. EDITORIAL: Sotomayor's secret files
  8. YON: Girl with no future
  9. EDITORIAL: Passing unread laws
  10. CIA chief urged to 'correct' record

Most Commented

  1. Jeb Bush, GOP: Time to leave Reagan behind
  2. WH communications director leaving
  3. Freddie Mac acting CFO found dead
  4. Kerry aims to rescue newspapers
  5. Fidel Castro: Obama 'misinterpreted' words
  6. President Obama said those who approved harsh interrogation techniques for suspected terrorists may be subjected to criminal charges. Do you agree?
  7. President Obama said those who approved harsh interrogation techniques for suspected terrorists may be subjected to criminal charges. Do you agree?
  8. Gibbs: Pay no attention to what Rahm said
  9. Politics' Talking Heads Highlight Speaker Series
  10. Fleecing Mike Ditka

Poll

Will you be traveling this 4th of July weekend?

Market Data

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.