Small Blessings

"Some tentative progress has been made under the new government." Namely, "Death squads in police uniforms no longer kidnap and kill with absolute impunity in parts of Sunni-dominated western Baghdad, many Iraqis say [emphasis added." The plan to continue de-militiafying the police: "Each brigade will be pulled from the field one by one and put through a six-week training course in policing and the rule of law." Can you imagine that?

Trainer: "Arrest people when you have evidence they're guilty."

Cop: "But what if they're members of the disfavored sect, can't we just kill them arbitrarily?"

Trainer: "No, that would be wrong."

Cop: "Oh, I hadn't realized. What about summary execution of my party's political adversaries?"

Trainer: "That's also wrong, morally speaking. Don't do it."

Cop: "Wow. This is useful training. How about torturing prisoners.

Trainer: "Go for it -- the rule of law rules!"

Should be good times. At any rate, as the article makes clear the problem with eliminating militia influence from the police is that the parties that run the militias are also running the government. They found a non-party person to run the Interior Ministry, but that just means he lacks political clout inside the government and can't really get things done.

Comments

Yeah, this "training" BS has been driving me crazy for three years now. The US didn't need much training before or after the American Revolution. Talking about training is just fantasy.

Posted by Chris | September 16, 2006 2:03 PM

The US didn't need much training before or after the American Revolution.

Wrong. Washington employed a number of experienced European officers to drill his troops. They teach that in primary school.

Posted by David Tomlin | September 16, 2006 3:34 PM

Well,

We've been in Iraq as long as the U.S. fought in WWII now.

The U.S. drafted and army of 16 million men, helped defeat Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy and started shipping our troops back home to civilian life in the time we've been in Iraq.

The funny thing is...we've spent as much on defense during the "war" on terror as we did on WWII (in constant dollars)...where is all that money going?

Posted by monkyboy | September 16, 2006 5:12 PM

I love the way we're fighting the Shia militia, the Sunni militia, AND Iran.

Kit Marlow taught me to say my prayers,
"Why this is Hell, nor am I out of it."

Posted by Jeffrey Davis | September 16, 2006 6:29 PM

Washington employed a number of experienced European officers to drill his troops. They teach that in primary school.

Yes the most important was Baron Von Steuben from Germany. His Revolutionary War Drill Manual still forms the basis of our Army Field Manual today. You know, the one the President wants to change to allow for the use of torture.

Posted by Just Karl | September 16, 2006 8:04 PM

Well, at least now we'll be creating more effective death squads.

Posted by MattNotYglesias | September 17, 2006 10:29 AM