U.S. Army Spc. Jacob Collins, bottom, Cpl. Tim Garrett, left, and Staff Sgt. Travis Smith provide sniper overwatch during clearing operations in Shuzayf, Iraq, March 26, 2009. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Walter J. PelsFrom The Danger Room:
U.S. forces are forcibly disarming one of their key allies in the fight for Iraq. And that has major implications for America's future -- both in the Middle East, and in Central Asia.
Street fighting erupted in Baghdad this weekend after the arrest of Adel Mashadani, a Sunni militia leader and key figure in the "Awakening" movement. Now, for the first time, Mashadani's Awakening council is being disarmed and disbanded; U.S. and Iraqi officials "are not going to allow it to re-form," according to the New York Times. This has sparked a lot of concern about a great unraveling in Iraq, even as the Obama administration shifts its attention to Afghanistan.
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My Comment: Arming and training local militias has always been a double edge sword. There is always a strong possibility that they will turn against you .... which has already happened in some isolated cases within Iraq.
As I had remarked in a post a few days ago, the next two years are going to be crucial for Iraq. if it succeeds, there is a chance that Afghanistan will also succeed. But if Iraq falls apart, and sectarian fighting breaks out again .... the hope for Afghanistan to succeed will unfortunately be appreciable lowered.