Posted: Apr 14, 2008, 9:48 AM CST
Just some Iraq war news today from me........
A week ago the Iraqi Defense Forces (IDF) took on the Mehdii Army in
Basra. While eventually with US assistance, Mehdii army sought and accepted a ceasefire, the intial IDF operations did not go well. Many IDF members did not want to get into the fight.....some 1300 in fact.
What was learned today is this. The Malki gov't simply relied them of
thier military and police duties.....e.g. fired them. I wonder what would have happened to the 1300 under Sadam? I have heard and read stories of where he executed.....yes that is shoot......Generals and others that failed in a command order or mission.
Hmmmmm?
Point being, that while the Malki gov't may have all sorts internal problems and issues.....corruption that we have talked about here.
It is still acting in a humane manner. These 1300 are still walkin and talkin today, because the Gov't took the high road on this and did the decent thing. Many democratic militaries would at least arrested and send them to a prison, for what they did. Malki gov't showed alot of
restraint and smarts not to do the same. Doing so would have caused some major problem in the IDF, and Iraq itself.
Also the IDF is doing operations in the north in Mosul. And doing OK from what I hear. Mosul is hard fight by the way. Keep your eye open to the outcome. It will tell you how far the IDF has come in the last few years. A long ways.
Also this little bit of news. One of the hardest military or police situation to conduct is the hostage rescue operation. IDF did successful hostage rescue operation with a kidnapped British journalist.
American have known since our Revolutionary war, that it take blood and sacrifice to gain a new country or to make a new government.
We wonder and Congress investigates if the Iraqis really want this and will pay the price for it. As I see it, they answring the call most of the time, and fialing sometimes. Washinton and other revolutionary war leaders did not have many wins, till the last year of that war.WWI and WWII went horrible at the beginning for us.
Malki gov't is getting some wins and some break evens in this fight.
Two years ago, they would not have even got into the fight. That is
how far they have come. Lastly, I bet the British jouranlist was happy to see them, if they were not winning all the time.