Meanwhile in Iraq: Babil (Babylon) Province handed over to Iraqi Govt - 2/3 of country now governed by Iraqis

[Caelius]

Only six provinces to go.

Edit: My bad, the title should actually read that 2/3 of the country are now directly administered by Iraqi Security Forces. The entire country is already governed by Iraqis.



Source

Iraqi forces have been handed control of security in the province of Babil by the US military.

It is the 12th of Iraq's 18 provinces to be handed back to Iraqis.

The move comes two days after clashes between militants and Sunni tribesmen in mainly Shia Babil, south of Baghdad, killed at least 15 people.

Babil has seen much sectarian violence, including a suicide attack in Hilla in March last year that left more than 100 Shia pilgrims dead.

The province includes a Sunni Muslim area which became known as the "Triangle of Death" because of the high number of attacks against US forces there.
See map showing Iraqi-controlled provinces

Violence abated in part due to former Sunni rebels in Babil who joined so-called Awakening Councils and turned against al-Qaeda militants.

The previous province transferred to Iraqi security control was Anbar - once the centre of Iraq's Sunni insurgency - which was handed back in September.

'Further transfers'

At the handover ceremony in the provincial capital, Hilla, Iraqi national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie said more provinces will follow.

"I want to declare from Babil that Iraq will take over Wasit in the next few days and we hope to complete the transfer of the remaining provinces in the near future.

"Today the security forces of Babil are self-reliant and we are proud to take over Babil from US forces," he said.

The handover comes amid growing tension between the US and Baghdad over a draft agreement covering the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq.

On Wednesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh described as "unwelcome" a warning by US military chief Mike Mullen of "major security losses" if Iraq does not pass the deal.

Military spokesman Brig Gen Qassim Atta said Iraqi forces were ready to handle security across all of the country's 18 provinces.

Iraq's cabinet has called for changes to the draft pact, which allows US forces to stay in Iraq after their UN mandate ends in December.

[Major.Stupidity]

Edit: My bad, the title should actually read that 2/3 of the country are now directly administered by Iraqi Security Forces. The entire country is already governed by Iraqis.

That's debatable, the governing that is.. More like a puppet than anything else.

[Captain Jin]

You'd know since you got the insider scoop on Iraqi politics I guess.

Some other good news; a large portion of Al Anbar province has been turned over to the Iraqis as well. Camp Fallujah which is famous for where the Marines launcher Operation Phantom Fury from has been demilled and has been turned over to the IA, or is very close to finishing. Even though the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, and others like Karmah are quiet people still ignore what's going on. I'm never one to say it's over we won until it is in fact over, and that we won but this year long upward swing is very positive.

[fieldmarshal]

Afcourse, any Middle Eastern counties who are friendly to the US are Puppets.

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

Vietnamization, remeber that?

[Farnan]

Vietnamization, remeber that?

Which would have worked except Congress abandoned the South Vietnamese...

Just see the Easter Offensive.

[bigfootedfred]

congrats.

you invaded a nation. killed thousands apon thousands of its people.
Tortured and mutilated them.
And now your Puppet government is (somewhat) functioning.


Do actaully expect us to be pleased?

you are sick.
really sick.

Iraq still has major problems. American troops.
with any luck, iraq will toss out that puppet government as soon as possible.

The iraqi millitary is filled with Shia and sunni forces, not loyal to the government or you. but to their factions.
The police is the same, and the puppet government is the same.
You have a small band of 'elites' who wouldnt last 10 seconds without your occupation armies.

[Captain Jin]

Who is us?

Solid arguments you have there, super solid.

[motiv-8]

c
Iraq still has major problems. American troops.
with any luck, iraq will toss out that puppet government as soon as possible.

Well, we'll say nevermind to your wishes for a revolution and the consequent deaths of more thousands as a result.

Instead, we'll say that incidentally, they'll toss out that 'puppet' (how democratic election = puppet is anybody's guess) government the same way we in America toss out our governments... through elections. Imagine that.

The iraqi millitary is filled with Shia and sunni forces, not loyal to the government or you. but to their factions.
The police is the same, and the puppet government is the same.
You have a small band of 'elites' who wouldnt last 10 seconds without your occupation armies.

Methinks you haven't actually paid attention to the topic at hand, instead preferring to use the thread opportunistically as your silly little soapbox. See, the story here is that 2/3 of the country is being governed by the Iraqis, and hasn't yet exploded.

[Heinz Guderian]

poor Iraqis. They truly got ed over by us. shameful. absolutely shameful.

a waste of lives. a waste of money.

Good news? Its like reporting a rape victim has managed to get some of her clothes back.

[Boyar Son]

congrats.

you invaded a nation. killed thousands apon thousands of its people.
Tortured and mutilated them.
And now your Puppet government is (somewhat) functioning.


Do actaully expect us to be pleased?

you are sick.
really sick.

Iraq still has major problems. American troops.
with any luck, iraq will toss out that puppet government as soon as possible.

The iraqi millitary is filled with Shia and sunni forces, not loyal to the government or you. but to their factions.
The police is the same, and the puppet government is the same.
You have a small band of 'elites' who wouldnt last 10 seconds without your occupation armies.

I know, the USA is trying to kill as many middle easterners as they can, even though it wont bring anything fruitful in return!!

Damn those freedom fighters, for NOT targeting rival factions and people of different religions!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please dont tell anyone that USA plant road bombs and launches suicide attacks in markets!!!

Seriously I dont understand how there can be such dumbasses in the world with totaly ed up views even though facts prove them wrong.

Edited. Noble Savage

[bigfootedfred]

. Seriously I dont understand how there can be such dumbasses in the world with totaly ed up views even though facts prove them wrong.

what the bloody hell are you going on about?


would you care to answer any point such as all that has been 'succeded; if you wish to call it that. is a broken torn iraq, with walls dividing the blocs of power?

Would you care to comment on a puppet goverment, who basis its authority on US troops? and without said troops would disapear within a week?

You created a sunni bloc of power, (if you care to read) and shia bloc of power. and well, you didnt need to create the kurdish one, it was already there.

or the 'national iraqi army' and 'police' which is little more than largely shia controlled. or the sunni bloc of power, now made very legit?
Or anything i or other posters have said?

Or do you just want to spread your bile and hatred of anyone who does not think "oh great, the puppets got some clothes on now"

the idea that Iraq is becoming a functioning democracy is just laughable.
The facts say that.

[Zadig]

Are you really as stupid as you made yourself out to be in that post bigfootedfred?

[Mythre]

Every government that likes us is a puppet? We have no desire to stay there in a combat role at all! Seriously nothing would please us more then a strong government in Iraq that stands on its own two feet.
The Iraqi armed forces are getting a lot better. The loyalty problem is troubling, however, once you fight and bleed beside your comrades,it becomes harder and harder to turn against them, or see them as evil.

[bigfootedfred]

Read for yourselves....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/7685713.stm

Iraqi forces have been handed control of security in the province of Babil by the US military.

The move comes two days after clashes between militants and Sunni tribesmen

The previous province transferred to Iraqi security control was Anbar - once the centre of Iraq's Sunni insurgency - which was handed back in September.

Now this may not occur to you, but whats being created is a powerful sunni bloc with legitimatecy. But thats ok.
since the US has totally given up on any notion of functioning democracy in iraq now. and is instead trying to settle for stabilty.

indeed most do not want the US their at all,
Notably the shia bloc

The handover comes amid growing tension between the US and Baghdad over a draft agreement covering the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq.
On Wednesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh described as "unwelcome" a warning by US military chief Mike Mullen of "major security losses" if Iraq does not pass the deal.

and

Rejection of any agreement with the Americans is spearheaded by the group led by the militant Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, who has strong grassroots support and also 30 seats in parliament.
The Sadrists have called for a mass demonstration in Baghdad on Saturday to denounce the accord.
At least one other big Shia faction is believed to have reservations about the agreement, and some Sunnis have also voiced dissent.
Iran, which has considerable influence with some Shia groups in particular, is openly opposed to the agreement.

so what do we have?


A walled up, blocked off, broken iraq. with a presiding US based, US backed puppet government. that needs US troops to have any authority.


True democracy....

[Mythre]

Umm... those articles do not support your closing points.
Sure, some violence happened. No one has said that all fighting has stopped. it just has gotten alot better.
They are saying there is some disagreements over whether to sign a treaty or not. Disagreement generally is a sign that a democracy is working. None democracy generally just kills anyone who dissents. Believe me, if that government was a puppet, there would be no dissent.
All the US commander said is that security gains would be in jeopardy. Which is true, if the US does not have permission to be there, it opens the door for the still weak Iraq to be attacked from every side.

[fieldmarshal]

True democracy....

Because Saddam was such a nice guy, and Iraq was one of the most stable countries in the Mid East.

This war wasn't done right, poor planning, poor execution, asinine leadership, but at least there is some hope for Iraqi's and Iraq itself for the future, that it will recover from this war. What hope was there under Saddam? After he dies, he is going to be replaced by his sons who are even worse. I would rather live in a horrible situation knowing that there is hope, than live in a horrible situation where i have no hope for a better future. That is one thing no one can deny about this war even though it was a horrible failure, that there is hope for the Iraqis for a better future.

[Captain Jin]

Actually the war part was well planned and nicely executed. It was the direct post-invasion part that we screwed up.

[Bleda]

And the Obama cult will tell you how the progress made is somehow a sure sign of imminent doom. I for one am happy to see progress made towards a stable Iraq, which = one step closer to being outta there!

[fieldmarshal]

You speak as if they lived in a land of milk and honey before the American hordes arrived.