The Daily Background

Back in November of 2006, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki promised that the Iraqi military “would be able to assume security command by June 2007 — which could allow the United States to start withdrawing its troops… I cannot answer on behalf of the U.S. administration but I can tell you that from our side our forces will be ready by June 2007.”

Well, it’s June, so it looks like it’s time for a status check with the Iraqi military to see if it is indeed competent. Everybody knows it’s not where it should be, but there are indications now that it’s even worse than it was before. At least in the past, the Iraqi military itself hasn’t been seen as at threat to Iraq. Get a load of this:

Iraqi PM al-Maliki told Lara Logan of CBS Evening News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that he has a real fear of a coup by the Iraqi army.

Al-Maliki said that some of the officer corps have been creating problems and even violating the security of military operations. He stated, “I’m not afraid, but I have to watch the army, because those still loyal to the previous regime may start planning coups. Those people don’t believe in democracy, and for that reason we are monitoring the status of the army very closely.”

I have no comments, other than to say that the judgement of the Iraqi government is, like the judgement of the White House, exceptionally poor.

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog