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April 24, 2006
Peachy. Like They Don't Have Enough to Do
U.S. troops aren't just training Iraqi forces, they're also keeping an eye on them, watching for signs they could be moonlighting in the Shiite death squads that target Sunnis.Bound and tortured bodies - both Sunni and Shiite - turn up every day in the capital, dumped in the streets. Sunni Arabs say their people are the victims of Shiite militiamen who have infiltrated government forces, especially paramilitary commando units of the Shiite-led Interior Ministry.
Where are we supposed to get all these babysitters from?
...But mention of the commandos still invokes fear and hatred among many Sunni Arabs.To allay those fears, American soldiers have handed out thousands of cards that encourage residents to call authorities if they see commandos, or fighters posing as commandos, on suspicious missions without U.S. troops.
The calls go directly to U.S. headquarters instead of the Interior Ministry.
So far, U.S. troops haven't caught any renegades, Butts said. They get a tip and "we'll be out there in 10 to 15 minutes, and no one will be there," he said. "There are a lot of rumors ... A lot of people are scared." U.S. troops in Dora have orders to halt unfamiliar patrols and confirm their identities.
Posted by tree hugging sister at April 24, 2006 03:48 PM