Al-Sadr backs guns for money program as Rumsfeld assesses Iraqi security forces
October 11, 2004 ~ 2:33 p.m.
In Baghdad, members of radical cleric al-Sadr�s militia turned in their guns and other artillery for cash. Although al-Sadr has broken peace agreements before, this looks to be the most promising step yet taken by the Shi�ite minority opposed to Coalition occupation.
The handover of weapons occurred as Donald Rumsfeld detailed plans to hand over control to the Iraqi police and security forces, whose numbers currently stand at 100,000. The administration hopes to increase that number to 150,000 by January, and then, eventually, 250,000. This is key as the question of whether or not to send more American troops will hinge on the success of both increasing the Iraqi forces and training them to handle periods of unrest. Indeed, once that increase in Iraqi security forces has been achieved, there will be serious talk about withdrawing American forces.
The only drawback may be a tight budget that won�t allow for the increase in security forces, as Rumsfeld pointed out, which would render the question over more American troops moot. Of course, they would then be required. We can only hope that the plan works out and can be put into effect.
A well-equipped Iraqi presence, backed by American forces, is vital during the run-up to the January elections. But the Iraqis must know that we will take all steps necessary to ensure that they are in confident control before we dare to entertain the thought of withdrawing our forces, should the opportunity for such present itself.
A great day for Afghanistan
by AL BARGER, posted on Blogcritics.org, October 10, 2004:
Today marks the first election pretty much ever in Afghanistan. After all the laborious and bloody birth pangs of war, this is like watching baby take his first steps. It�s a beautiful thing.I just love seeing the ballot boxes, lines of voters, and the election observers. Voter turnout was apparently quite high, including a large percentage of women.
Now, like manufacturing sausages, looking real close at how a democracy actually works might make you a little queasy. Nonetheless, women voting and even running for president warms my heart. Wow, who could have imagined such things in Afghanistan even just three years ago?
They�re really catching on to the democracy thing, right down to the sore losers making largely bogus complaints that they were robbed. Makes me kind of nostalgic for Al Gore. It�s a good thing that they have bunches of international observers on the ground to double-check. By best reports, though, it looks like it has been run pretty well on the up and up.
Best of all, the Taliban remnants were not able to significantly interfere with the process. That was the main fear, but they apparently have been beaten down enough that they simply didn�t have the wherewithal to hinder the election.This should be the tipping point. Afghanistan will soon have an officially and legitimately elected government for the first time ever. If the Taliban couldn�t make even a dent in the electoral process, then they�re probably pretty well done. Looks like Afghanistan's turning into a real country. Congratulations!
It�s a great day to be a citizen of Afghanistan.
� M.E.M.
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Copyright � 2001-2007 by M.E. Manning. All material is written by me, unless explicitly stated otherwise by use of footnotes or bylines. Do not copy or redistribute without my permission.
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