Security

Baghdad Cracks Down on 'Awakening' Militias

Sunni tribal militias in western Iraq — representing the so-called ‘Al Anbar Awakening’ (pictured) — are widely credited with helping reduce violence in the country to its lowest level since 2003. But like with the "Sons of Iraq" militias in north-central Iraq, the U.S. and Baghdad were never quite sure what to do with thousands […]

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Sunni tribal militias in western Iraq -- representing the so-called 'Al Anbar Awakening' (pictured) -- are widely credited with helping reduce violence in the country to its lowest level since 2003. But like with the "Sons of Iraq" militias in north-central Iraq, the U.S. and Baghdad were never quite sure what to do with thousands of well-armed, empowered militiamen.

Now Baghdad has an answer, for at least some Awakening leaders: round 'em up, toss 'em in jail. The Iraqi military is hunting down 650 Awakening members, "many of whom have fled the once-violent area they had kept safe," The New York Times reports.

The government’s rising hostility toward the Awakening Councils amounts to a bet that its military, feeling increasingly strong, can provide security in former guerrilla strongholds without the support of these former Sunni fighters who once waged devastating attacks on United
States and Iraqi targets.

"If it is not handled properly, we could have a security issue," U.S. Brigadier General David Perkins told the paper.

(Photo: AFP)

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