Iraqi Official: "Third Iraqi Army" Responsible for "Dirty Jobs"
March 31, 2006 --
Iraqi Official: "Third Iraqi Army" Responsible for "Dirty Jobs"
Officials in Baghdad are talking about a "third Iraqi army" that takes direct orders from the U.S. and is responsible for "dirty jobs," al Hayat reports today. Iraqi National Security Minister Abdul Karim al-Anzi said the special Iraqi force is not supervised by the Iraqi government. A Colonel in the U.S. military denied this information and said the force was meant to fight kidnappings and assassination and takes its orders from the Iraqi ministry in coordination with coalition forces. The existence of the special force was revealed after its members participated in the operation at the Huseyneyat al-Mustafa in Baghdad resulting in the killing of 16 Shiites last Sunday. "Informed sources" told al Hayat that the force that participated in the operation was formed in mid-2004 and is made up of fighter from the former Iraqi intelligence, Republican Guard and Special Forces who were tested and offered a chance to volunteer to become part of the force. (Al Hayat)
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