So what is the Iraq GOV'T thinking with this one? Can fill the ranks of their Army so lets do the next best thing. Give local the right to bare arms? Let see how well this play out. Some great thinkers here.
Quote:
By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY
BAGHDAD — Iraq's government is studying a request from some local insurgent leaders to supply them with weapons so they can turn on the heavily armed foreign fighters who were once their allies, according to two Iraqi lawmakers.
Leaders claiming to represent about 11 insurgent groups asked for weapons to fight foreign al-Qaeda elements in Iraq, said Haider al-Ibadi, a Shiite lawmaker and member of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Party.
"They want to take part in the war against terrorists," said al-Ibadi, who supports the proposal. "They claim they could wipe out the terrorists and work with the government."
The insurgent request was confirmed by al-Ibadi and Mithal al-Alusi, another lawmaker. Al-Maliki was out of the country, and several officials in his office declined to comment.
The request came out of talks between people claiming to represent insurgent groups and the Iraqi government.
The U.S. military said insurgent talks are an Iraqi matter.
Coalition forces would "fully support the broad dialogue for reconciliation" but would not discuss details, military spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Johnson said in an e-mail.
Al-Ibadi said a committee of top Iraqi officials is being formed to study the request.
A cornerstone of al-Maliki's government has been a reconciliation plan aimed at undermining Sunni support for the insurgency and drawing Sunnis into the political process.
Al-Maliki has called for the release of 3,000 detainees in U.S.-run prisons and amnesty for some fighters.
Insurgents are really getting desperate. I don't see why the governent would even entertain the idea at this point. They must be desperate too if they are actually considering this. Looks like a can of worms to me.
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