Iraqi Security Forces Focus Clean Out Their Own Ranks

Reports of abductions and murders taking place within Iraq being committed by individuals wearing Iraqi police and Military uniforms are common in Iraq. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense is committed to cleaning out its own ranks of subversives as evidenced by a recent operation undertaken by Iraqi Special Forces units at the Iraqi Military Academy – Rustamiyah in Baghdad:

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Special Operations Forces conducted an operation directed by the Ministry of Defense Sept. 25 at the Iraqi Military Academy – Rustamiyah in Baghdad.

The operation was designed to apprehend individuals suspected in the kidnapping and murder of the former commandant, Maj. Gen. Imad, and with the kidnapping of the current commandant, Brig. Gen. Hassan who was subsequently released.

The individuals detained allegedly use security personnel to carry out murder, kidnapping, improvised explosive device and explosively formed penetrator attacks, to including providing military equipment and weapons to criminal elements.

“Ministry of Defense action against these criminals demonstrates that the Government of Iraqi is dedicated to establishing security and defeating criminal elements wherever they are in the country,” said Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, Ministry of Defense spokesman. “Iraqi Security Forces are focused on eliminating criminals from their ranks.”

A welcome event and one that amy have been orchastrated in response to a lack of public support of Iraqi Police and militray units. And while that mistrust was undoubtably re-enforced by insurgent activities, we can be sure that as the MOD cleans out its own ranks and becomes a more secure force the citizenry will trust them more and just as they work with Coalition forces they will begin working with their own indigenous units.