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Subscribe to RSSEditor's note: Photojournalist Kael Alford spent 10 months covering the invasion of Iraq and its immediate aftermath in 2003-2004. She returned this summer to see what has and hasn’t changed as the U.S. prepared to withdraw its troops.
By Kael Alford
Former Iraqi National Police Col. Ihsan Ali Ibrahim has the bearing of a man accustomed to giving orders. Even wearing his long white dishdasha and playing with his children, he’s got the presence of the most popular boy on the playground, the guy everyone wanted to please. Which is why he’s so uncomfortable in his new role as a recluse.
Kael Alford / Panos Pictures
Col. Ihsan Ali Ibrahim sits at home with his young son and daughter, June 2011. Since his dismissal from the Iraqi National Police, he fears straying too far from home in case he is recognized by the members of Al-Qaeda or other armed groups that he helped to combat during his time on the force.
“I keep myself here in the house. I can’t do anything outside,” he says.
A career soldier and once one of the most feared law enforcement officials in the toughest neighborhoods of Baghdad, Ibrahim is now a man with nowhere to hide. Even in his own town of Dujail, he’s not really safe. He says his brother and brother-in-law were both killed by al-Qaida-affiliated groups here. His brother’s wife now lives under his roof according to Iraqi custom.
During his career including the time he worked in tandem with US troops during the surge, he made enemies. Serving as law enforcement in Iraq is one of the most dangerous jobs. Revenge for grievances is status quo, the code of the street that challenges formal institutions. While American troops can leave, Iraqi law enforcement officials stay and expose themselves to continuous threats. “I worked against many kinds of criminals and gangs or other militias … so of course, I have to avoid them, because if I see them anywhere, maybe they’ll kill me,” he says. “Now I’m without guards or guns, protection or anything.” Now that Ibrahim can no longer work in law enforcement, he says he'd consider leaving the country for a life somewhere else. But with the American military apparatus gone, he has no one to ask for help.
Photo courtesy Ihsan Ali Ibrahim
Colonel Ihsan Ali Ibrahim, seen here in a Nov. 2009 photo, is a career soldier who served in the Iraqi National Police in West Rasheed from 2004 - 2011.He was dismissed in March of this year under accusations of ties to the Ba'ath Party.
His life is limited to the new two-story house he built just before he lost his job. He also feels safe nearby on the family farm full of date groves, vineyards and wandering chickens. But he can’t risk going much farther afield.
As the U.S. withdrawal progresses, the intensity of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s far-reaching campaign to purge Iraq’s government and security services of any traces of Ba’ath party affiliation has been increasing. Talented and experienced people are barred from public service, leaving them few other options. The tendency may reflect Maliki’s anxious grip on control in a country with a history of coup attempts from within. But it’s also an indication that Iraq’s sectarian and political rifts in Iraq are far from bridged. Wikileaks documents released in February this year contained U.S. diplomatic cables that indicated a systematic effort by Maliki’s government to stack the security services with Shiites, regardless of their qualifications.
Some observers have noted that Maliki’s purges border on paranoia, with citizens who obviously pose no threat being dismissed from their jobs or arrested.
Ibrahim’s fortunes have mirrored the recent convulsive history of the military and security services in Iraq, including the recent, ham-fisted “de-Ba’athification” efforts.
As a child, he started out on the wrong side of the law in Dujail -- a predominately Shiite city south of Baghdad, famous for its palm groves and an assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein by gunmen who hid in the lush orchards and attacked the former president’s motorcade in 1982.
In one of Saddam’s most violent acts of retribution, he sent his security guards to round up more than 600 men, women and children from Dujail, many of whom were executed. Others were imprisoned and tortured. The Dujail massacre was the primary crime for which Saddam was tried and hanged by an Iraqi court in 2006. After the purges, anyone from Dujail was blacklisted from holding official positions in Iraqi government.
Ibrahim hid that he was from Dujail and enlisted in the Saddam Fedayeen, the elite paramilitary organization of Saddam’s Baath Party, after graduating from military college in 1989. After two years of training with the Fedayeen, his commanders discovered he was from Dujail and had been arrested as a boy. He was immediately dismissed and imprisoned again.
After serving time, he was permitted to join the regular Iraqi Army as a major.
Fast-forward to the U.S. invasion. Ibrahim was fired from his Army post, this time at the behest of Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator to Iraq, who dismissed the entire Iraqi military in the early days of the occupation. When Iraqi forces were reorganized in 2004 as the country appeared to be spiraling into civil war, Ibrahim was recruited to join a new elite paramilitary unit, the Iraqi National Police, charged with countering terrorism.
In 2007, U.S. military units began partnering with the INP on joint patrols to tackle sectarian violence in Baghdad’s West Rasheed district. The sector alongside the Tigris River was one of the most violent districts in the capital, with both Al-Qaida affiliated fighters and Shiite militias using it as a corridor to reach Baghdad from the south, leaving civilian carnage in their wake.
Photo courtesy Ihsan Ali Ibrahim
Iraqi Col. Ihsan Ali Ibrahim, center, is seen with U.S. Gen. Raymond Odierno when he was U.S. Joint Forces Commander in Iraq.
Taking part in the U.S. strategy known as the surge, Ibrahim finally got a chance to prove himself, helping to clear the sector of insurgents and make the streets livable again.
“We collected illegal weapons from the area, searching houses and bringing displaced people back,” he recalls with obvious pride. “We even closed and blocked the streets so people could enjoy themselves in the amusement park. This made us happy.”
Slowly, as patrols cleared the neighborhoods of insurgents, secured the markets and erected blast walls to protect civilians, residents who had fled the violence began to return.
But when U.S. forces ended combat operations in Iraq in 2009 and withdrew to their bases, Ibrahim’s past found him again.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki began a fresh round of “De-Baathification,” gutting Iraqi institutions of qualified people for any actual or imagined connections to the now defunct Baath Party of Saddam.
On March 29, Ibrahim received a perfunctory letter of dismissal from the Ministry of Interior.
Ibrahim was baffled and crushed. He said he never even made it out of training for the Fedayeen 10 years earlier before being imprisoned for disloyalty to Saddam’s regime. Given his loyal service with the national police, he finds it hard to believe that he would be seen as a threat.
“If they really wanted to fire us, why did they … let us join in the beginning?” he asked. “All this fighting, risk and sacrificing for nothing?“
Ibrahim has sent formal appeals to the prime minister’s office and the national police commander. He says he was told by an official in Maliki’s office that he’d need to pay a $30,000 bribe to have his dismissal reconsidered.
Like a museum to a bygone era, enlarged glossy photos of Col. Ibrahim in his blue fatigues, presiding over neat rows of caches of mortars, RPGs and Kalashnikov rifles, line the pink and yellow walls of a spare bedroom in his home. Framed letters of praise from American commanders serve as testament to his competence.
One letter from Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Division names “Col. Ihsan” as part of the team that detained over 900 insurgents and discovered and destroyed over 800 weapons and ammunition caches. The letter reads:
“The aggressiveness of the Brigade is only shadowed by their compassion for the citizens of West Rashid (cq). … “As the Coalition Force commander of this area, I leave with the greatest confidence that W. Rashid will be the shining light for all Baghdad to follow in their efforts to take back their neighborhoods and provide a peaceful coexistence for all Iraqis.”
Kael Alford / Panos Pictures
Col. Ihsan Ali Ibrahim spends time with his son in a spare bedroom he uses as an office and museum to his accomplishments, June 2011.
The day before our interview, a bombing had rocked a West Rasheed market, the first major attack in the area in months. Ibrahim heard about it from some former colleagues, who called him to say civilians in the area were asking for his help.
“It really hurt a lot because they’re all my friends, you know, my people,” he says. “…Terrorists don’t recognize that this is innocent blood of kids or women or anyone else.”
Seated on a plastic chair beneath vines heavy with grapes, Ibrahim says the attack adds a fresh sting to the steady pain of forced inaction.
“I lost all those people precious to me, and now I lost my job,” he says. “What else can I do, be a farmer?”
More from the series:
Introduction: As U.S. withdraws, the people speak
For 'the Sheik,' U.S. pullout is cause for alarm
Patchwork electrical grid a symbol of country's disconnects
A new day for culture and consumer goods
For women, freedoms under fire
Suspicious minds in a squatters' camp
Colonel helped with the ‘Surge,’ then his past came calling
Related stories:
Analysis: Welcome to Shia-stan
Troops come home to families’ delight
Koppel: Is the U.S. really leaving Iraq?
Engel: A look at the US bases, Iraqi troops and other legacies of the US presence
Leave a Comment:
What I hate to see is the waste of a good man.
Indeed R.B.,
It is always a sad thing to see. Here is a man who was dedicated to his job, served his community with honor and this is his reward? Let go because of government paranoia?
Unfortunately, he is but one of countless numbers throughout history. We never learn.
This has nothing to do with the US backing out and everything to do with the transformation of Iraq, Sunnis had power over Iraq for years under Saddams rule. Now that he's been ousted Maliki wants to ensure they never rule again. People like Abrahim who actually have support as a Sunni will be the first to fall because the now Shiite majority want to ensure no popular Sunni ever has the chance to gain power. If he was given his position back and elections were held he could be declared a war hero and even run for a political position. Shiites would never allow this to happen. This is much like the Republican and Democrat parties who do everything they can to prevent the other party from gaining seats or political power in the white house.
He is the type of man I would love to see immigrate to the U.S. People like him who stood up in the wake of corruption, fear and death and fought for what is right. Much like our founding fathers. He would stand to make our country better, though I would feel bad he left Iraq in its time of need.
this goes to show they are not ready for democracy, paranoia, secular factions and just lack of understanding. its obvious they are moving backwards, not forward. perhaps the US Government should show some support to those individuals that assisted us with honor and good intentions, maybe they are we never get the real story. I do hope these people will be spared any further hardships at the hands of the government they helped to build and that government will do what is right. its a terrible waste.
I'd hold off on the immigration. We cannot keep the floodgates open if we want the European way of life to continue. Or we would wind up in the same boat as this man you love so much.
maybe he can get a job ...with the highway patrol...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M&feature=related
I'm against a major migration. but sometimes you have to help a friend, I constantly post against the liberal view on immigration, this is a different situation this man and his family are in trouble besides we can use him in other ME countries, just make life possible for him and his family, and give him a chance. as it stands he has no options that is obvious his country turned against him for no apparent reason, I sense a cleansing coming and it wont be pretty, besides with his talents he may be able to save Americans lives, probable already has. verify the story and his credentials if true give him a job. you will probably find him to be eternally grateful and loyal. I don't like to burn bridges or waste assets. unlike the suits in Washington DC that seam to be detached from the rest of the country. living in their own narcissistic dream world. Besides the floodgates are already running full capacity and out of control, at least we will know something about the ones we actually research and invite.
he helped us !! Why cant we help him back?
Because our President is intent to leaving these people to die in a civil war.
Excuse me, Proud??? And WE are going to STOP them from having their civil war??? Oh, yeah, by WASTING more American lives, and straining our already strained economy??? Freakin' BRILLIANT. Gosh, please run for President. And no, I didnt vote for him. I am a Proud Independent. BOTH main parties are corrupt. More American involvement in overseas civil wars is NOT the answer. And neither are you.
I agree, but no way should be brought to a Christian country or even the USA, he looks like a candidate for India, they have over a hundred million Muslims, I don't have a problem with helping people out who helped us even if it was while trying to help their own country, Much better to spend the dollars on helping him get started on a new road in a Muslim or part-Muslim country than spending it to help create a another minority in this one. We can't even say Christmas to a shopleeper anymore so many newbies who don't understand or respect our old culture have arrived. I'm for a blanket ban on Muslims and Jews coming here. But since that can't happen it's enough you know where I stand. I'm behind this gentleman and his kids but not in a Western country.
Well stated Charlie I agree. My statement was somewhat harsher. I can respect this man more in his country. We European Americans are having trouble keeping our people afloat. He sounds like a good man. For HIS people.
WE need people in our military that understand the ME attitude, people like him could be of service to the US military, we could employ some of them and move their families to a safe place. this is a qualified individual on Persian life and terrorist tactics, could be of some value. I wonder where he stands on Iran. like it or not we stand a big chance of winding up their. We have a obligation to stand beside those that stood beside us.
It is not to ask why
but to do and die
If ou server in the armed forces, police, fire, whatever you accept the chance of this occurring. If you join not understanding there are politics involved....I do not know what to tell you.
those wmd's....he might make bush paranoid...if he's comes here...lol
I agree. The US military is always short on people with local expertise. This man sounds like he could be an asset. It's not like the the problems in the ME are just going to go away because our military is no longer in Iraq. Do we have officers in our military that have the brains to see and take advantage of this opportunity?
@Charlie and Tammy: Yes, let's keep America proud and white! Screw those other minorities that are clearly not important! And screw anyone that isn't Christian either (btw I'm being sarcastic and you two are nothing but a bunch of ignorant racist bigots that deserve to be dropped in a country where intolerance is practiced, since you want that so much in the US)
he needs to go thru proper procedure to come in...go to the mexican border and sneak in....like the rest...
By your namesake of "Captain Porkchop." apparently you have never served in the armed forces and have never been in a firefight with "Muslim Insurgents." You need an education, go to Dearborne, Michigan and witness for yourself the muslim takeover of America, starting there!! Fool as you are, we are not racists, but pragmatists. The truthy is so obvious, but liberals want to forgo the truth AND HAND OVER AMERICA to the muslims with their anti Christian rhetoric!!!
By the way, here is a statement for you, "Not all muslims are terrorists, but all recent terrorists acts have been inacted by "MUSLIMS"!!!" Go Figure porkchop, and by the way, don't get near a hungry dog with that name!!!!
Why did Reagan befriend the Afghani people and arm them? The answer is--to break the USSR. We gave nearly unlimited military support, yet we wouldn't give aid for building of schools and transformation into the 20th Century--hell, even the 15th Century. When the USSR fell, we turned it over to the Taliban. Watch "Charley Wilson's War." Rep Charley Wilson of Texas rounded up tons of military aid for the people to fight the USSR.
Same situation. I hope he finds a safe place to raise his family.
Cpt. porkchop. Been there done that more than once! been spit on by my own people for doing it to. I have some feelings left, and I can see a asset when I see one providing the story is accurate. and that can be verified people like him could be a asset not a hindrance. that is the type person you help because his gratitude and loyalty will be there when you need it. if not return to sender.
So Tammy, "European Americans" should come first in your book? Bigoted much?
Just forget Natives(and Hawaiians), blacks, Hispanics and Asians who helped our country become great, eh?
How about any person or family with fortunes that was made of the backs of slave(and low paid peasant) labor, land barony, and any shady business that conned people out of money, be forced to give up their wealth and/or move out of the US. If you can't prove you or your ancestors earned it lawfully or righteously, you'd best give it up.
That sounds fair, doesn't it?
On another note:
If I had a business where I could use a man like Col. Ibrahim, I'd hire him in a milli-second.
He sounds like he has more courage and integrity, than at least half the people in the US have.
Our military should make an exception, and let him enlist/serve for his citizenship.
Robert:
the truth IS obvious. You are a bigot, and are giving into(or trying to help spread) the "Muslims are trying to take over America!" BS sky is falling/McCarthyism style fear mongering.
More and more, it's looking like bible thumpers are the ones who are actually trying to impose their version of morality on everyone. I don't see you crying about that now, maybe because it's ok only as long as you personally agree with it, right?
Hypocrites and bigots run rampant here in the vine.
If you remember, it was President Ronald Reagan that said, "Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall," and it fell, in part because Gorbachev watched President Ronald Reagan fire all of the striking air traffic controllers as he said he would!
After that action, Gorbachev was heard to say,"We need to fear this man, he does what he says." That is a historical fact!
Oblowhole on the other side of the spectrum, is a piss ant wimp, bowing and apologizing for the past greatness of America that he has ruined in the last 3 yrs.
Wasn't America made Great by it's people? So hence, oblowhole hates the American people!!
We need to fire this S.O.B., Governor Christy had the balls to say it best,"What are we paying you for."
America now needs to say the same thing , but the liberal "tingle in my leg" media will NEVER show the truth.
Oblowhole needs to go now as the demise of America is imminent iunder his quise as a duly elected, yeah right, president.
So Reagan "firing air traffic controllers" was something to fear?
I really am LOL at that one.
So then Obama not asking Pakistan for permission, and going ahead with the raid that killed Bin Laden, must show that he(Obama) makes good on his pledge to hunt down enemies and threats to the US, right?
Is firing air traffic controllers higher on your list of fortitude and showing backbone, than entering sovereign territory to strike at an enemy?
Or do you just love bowing to the memory(distorted of course) of "Saint" Reagan?
You don't need to respond.
Your use of "oblowhole" to describe our POTUS, speaks volumes about your lack of character or class.
Carry on bloviating(spewing gaseous fumes) about "Obama is bad, blah blah".
As Ive Stated I'm against the Muslim on-slot of invading immigrants to our shores but this is a different situation, we may have good use for these displaced families. they may prove very useful as the world struggles to understand these people. we just don't want to create another Dearborne Michigan or Bloomington Minn, where they set up their own culture. spread them out and Americanize them. they will grow to be Americans if they live apart from one and other. make them learn and respect our way of life and they wont be able to band together and demand we change for them. which is what they will do. hell we did it to the Native Americans its the same thing. personally I don't think the Native Americans want to change again, they are just getting used to the last change. and I'm only talking about the few not the masses. piss on the masses. I have an idea well swap the bad ones we have for the good ones they have, do you think they will take Sudanese in trade.
LOBO- how young are you was Obama your first, your dog wearing shaving cream or is it as mad as you appear to be you throw the insults around pretty heavily, I hope you don't feel this way when you wake up in the morning or your whole day is shot. the fact is the world is going through some painful adjustments right now and the Immigration issue is a valid concern to allot of intelligent people. and Obama disregarding another Nations sovereignty was a huge mistake. you just don't do that. it was a sneak attack and America is above that. enough said. careful your sounding like a uneducated Liberal.
liberal
Ouch! Aren't you concerned that this guy might step outside that doublewide and end it?
Exceptional and entertaining comment--thanks.
D-Buck:
If I'm a "liberal"(which you are probably quick to ASSume of anybody who doesn't parrot your views), then you must be a dominionist/baptist bible thumping far right imperialist/industrialist, who wants to impose religious law on the US(like Santorum), right?
If you want to play the ASSume game, don't be surprised if it's thrown back at you.
There is no set "American culture" or rules on how to live(excepting our basic laws and civil liberties).
Everone is free to pick and choose whatever cultures/customs/religions they want to follow, as long as it doesn't harm others. That part of the freedom we Americans have, is one of the greatest.
Those who are against other not exactly like themselves, coming to live here in the US, are indeed bigoted. No argument you can give will change that fact.
BTW: I didn't vote for Obama(nor McCain), but if the current crop of GOP hopefuls are the only ones running against him, I will vote for Obama this time.
Obama is more to the center than true leftists and righties want him to be.
Robert wasn't providing rational insight or commentary about our "immigration problem"
He was going on talking about "oblowhole", and how Reagan was such a strong leader that was "feared".
I actually feel pretty good when I wake up every morning. I post everything with a smile on my face, even when I'm giving rabid posters like Robert a little enlightenment on why their posts are pure BS.
My stress level didn't even go up a notch. I've bantered with enough folks over the years, I'm accustomed to shooting down BS arguments(and bigoted rhetoric) without batting an eye(or my blood pressure rising).
Bush is responsible for al-Qaeda being in Iraq. Prior to Bush's illegal war of revenge for the attempt on his father's life, al-qaeda was not in Iraq.
Seems to me, the head idiot should take out the people like this guy and give him and his family a life in america. He did his part. Its time to do ours.
You Morons do understand that someone (the nationals) has to stay and keep the country clean right? I would not leave here if some gov't helped and left, I would stay and continue the cause. Take him to America? Sheesh.
Stubbleq,They were always in Iraq just as they are in Libya now. Based on your logic Bush was the cause of the first WTC atack in 1993 then in 1998 and again in 2000.
Andre-H. No they weren't. AQ showed up shortly after we lost control of the country when foreign nationals started streaming in aching for a fight. Saddam was a notorious anti terrorist and probably actually killed Abu Nidal.
Better look up Zaraqawi before you start making assumptions.
Aside from Al Queda, Iraq under Saddam Hussein was one of the world's foremost sponsors of state terrorism. And was so according to the State Department of Bill Clinton's Administration. Carlos the Jackal, Abu Nidal... just to name a few sought refuge in Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
In the days after 9/11, there was near universal acceptance that this wasn't a "War on Al Queda"... this was a "War on Terror". And Iraq under Saddam Hussein was a terrorist safe haven.
So sorry to burst your overly blind biased bubble, but the facts are the facts.
@LakerFanDan. Wrong. Preceeding the days before the Iraqi invasion in 2003, Saddam Hussein was welcoming in truckloads of foreign Arabs to join his Fedayeen to fight the invaders. And in fact, even before the threat of invasion, did so as well. You even referenced Abu Nidal.
Your version of the Abu Nidal event is a bad joke (re: Saddam Hussein killing him). It's apparent to anybody who spends any time looking into it.
Abu Nidal, by all accounts, was living in an affluent area of Baghdad for years before he was killed. Prior to this, he also had a past history of coming to Iraq. And with Hussein's almost Stalinist grip of control on Iraq, it's unlikely in the extreme to impossible that Iraq's intelligence didn't know that he was there. Kinda like Osama bin Laden found hiding in Pakistan next to a army academy.
Iraqi version of events state that they discovered that he was there, went to arrest him, and he quickly commited suicide. With three gunshot wounds to the head. Um... YEAH... RIIIIIIGHT.
Pretty much everybody else's version of the event indicated that there was a shootout at the mansion that he was staying at, and then he was executed.
Almost certainly, Saddam Hussein gave him safe haven years earlier, but then in the final days leading up to the invasion in 2003 decided that he was a liability and had him executed. Not only does this make sense, but the official Iraqi version and the facts (living in an affluent area for years) simply don't add up.
We should have gotten him and his family out.
nupe.... let him enjoy his own country...like we do ours...our leaders have made his and our life's so enjoyable...let's play a game of who's got the food stamp card...LOL
Its just like in Veitman where they left all those people there when the North came, when we left....Such a disgrace.
Leave the Iraqis who helped the Americans to fend for themselves over there.. The only way to bring stability is to have those who were opposed to the radical Muslims to stay and fight them..
It is their war not ours and not our responsibility for the shaping the growth of that country.. If you bring all the good ones here, who are you going to have to mold it into something good? No one.
Problem is they will kill all the good ones and then there will be nothing. and it will go back to what it was. If you don't want them here send them to France France likes Muslims, and they wouldn't even realize a few more. hell France is going to be a Muslim country in a few years anyways.
Why can't your propaganda machine stop talking about Iraq ?. It is over ,thank God, and hopefully with the money saved we can pay our debt to the Chinese. People I talk to and I are sick of hearing about Iraq and Afganistan and our endless wars that got us broke.
Are you asking msnbc to stop reporting on Iraq? I personally would like to know as much as possible about what is going on there. If you don't care there are plenty of stories about Lady Gaga in the Entertainment section. Also, your friends may have donated something to your farm in Farmville.
The endless debt was not caused by military spending. It was caused by overspending by our "not wonderful" elected officials. If it wasn't for these wars we would be bombed back to the stoneage by terrorists. It's people like you that think all we have to do is say "stop" and terrorists will go running for the hills. Wake up and smell the coffee, if it wasn't for our wonderful soldiers fighting for us we would be broken up into colonies for other countries to use and abuse. Get off the "illegal" train. There is nothing illegal about these wars. If you don't like it, why don't you go live somewhere else.
Joe, if you're sick of hearing about Iraq, then why waste your time commenting on an article about Iraq?
You just keep gettin' it wrong, Proud. You, as a Proud American, should know (cause I'm gonna tell you), see it goes like this. Wars are supposed to sanctioned by the American people, through Congress. Well, that aint happened here in past few wars. Some puppet jackass of the Powers That Be called the President decides that his feathers got ruffled and by God (or even better, Jesus) off we go....cause the Pres said so. Well, that is UnConstitutional. Illegal? As a Proud American I would hope you would see that it is both. Seems you got more pride than sense.
Unfortunately, the same thing keeps happening throughout history. Remember Vietnam and Cambodia? I wonder why we are not seeing the Iraqi people who helped us relocated to the USA? Must be because they are muslim and all muslims are bad. (sarcasm)
Once we're done with Iraq, we stop caring about the locals we leave behind. Except for the few that we airlift out, of course. If you're not on that Last Plane Out, you will be forgotten.
As for this Colonel, he's probably doomed. The radical sunni-types will try to kill him (and hopefully his tribe backs him up!) and the Shia government is cleaning out Sunnis to ensure whoever's left is loyal to their agenda. They also want to clear out people who might have loyalties to America rather than to Iraq.
I get the feeling that people who are members in MEK will receive the same treatment, and people who are part of Al Quds will take their place. Persia is coming, be afraid!
This is despicable, a good man thrown under the bus over paranoia when hes shown that he has passion for his work and his ppl.
And even worse, the gov't wants him to 'bribe them' with $30k dollars for chance to have his dismissal reconsidered. That gov't is going to fall like a ton uh bricks, they already found "documents previously released in February this year contained from U.S. diplomatic cables that indicated a systematic effort by Maliki’s government to stack the security services with Shiites, regardless of their qualifications."
What a waste of our tax dollars and a huge waste of a good person(s), I'm sure there are more in his situation.
I hope he can find some kind of salvation for himself and his family.
Also notice we aren't seeing anyone on the right or hard right conservatives commenting on this article, hmm curious...
@ Archidiot. Some arguments are so benign that to argue them gives no meaningful chase. Imean if I am going to argue with that I should take on other equally meaningful challenges like kicking puppies or pointing at handicapped children and laughing. Lean forward and choke yourself!... You see where this is going?
Guess I pulled the two hard right wingers out! hahaha Such hostility you both have. Let me dumb down that statement (yes statement, not argument) for you 2 since you can't understand what [that] meant (and while I was writing the post most of the other ones were written around the same time so the comments from other hard right wing conservatives to moderate conservatives wouldn't have shown yet). In terms you would understand it in would go something along the lines of "I don't see many hard right wing conservatives or conservatives in general stepping up to say this man should be helped someway or somehow for the things he did to help us." There, that help clear it up a bit for your narrow minds or are your heads still stuck in the clouds?
Apparently not b/c your sitting there on your computer making mentally challenged remarks, and ones about someone of whom you do not know. And I obviously do worry about the things going on in the world or I wouldn't take the time out of my day to read articles such as these. So before you start carrying on with your moronic comments, think about what your going to say so you don't make yourself look shallow and childish like you are now...
C'mon, really?? archidiot? lean forward and choke yourself? How lame, I'm almost at a loss of words for your blatant stupidity (key word there being almost). Post's like yours are the kind that gives me little hope for society. You're both just feeble minded sheeple, following the herd...
Oh and by the way...I've been disabled since I was 14 @!$%#.
The both of you obviously have no grasp on...well, anything. Your moral compass is so fu*ked idk how your able to find your front door everyday.
And the hurt goes on....what a waste this war has been in lives, careers (other than those of the greedy bastards behind the war), taxpayer funds, etc. This man and others will suffer for the egos and lust for money and power exhibited by the warmongers
This war's proponents have a lot to answer for and little to offer by way of justification.
I have an idea, we can allow all the iraqi & afghanis who fought with us, and the survivors of those who sided with us and died doing it, to come to America .They can settle in the south east, or arizona or utah, , with similar climates, and enjoy life as a muslim in America. To show how we feel about people who help us when we come asking. Didnt we do that to many vietnamese officials and military?
The worst foreign policy decision since Viet Nam was to invade Iraq. It has killed thousands of our troops, decimated our economy, made us sub serviant to China- and the end result will be an unfriendly nation aligned with Iran. Bush, Cheney and I am so sorry to say- Colin Powell- are to blame for the terrible mistakes in judgment. Get out of Iraq, Afghan and Pakistan now- NOW- NOW !!
OK, I'm willing to send money to this man, if only for a bribe to get his dam job back! This so sucks!!
This so reminds me of the stories from Viet Nam when we pulled out of the country: most of the people who helped us got persecuted and killed. This also so sucks.
Wait until we pull out of Afghanistan: we will see the same stories, but perhaps even worse, given all the Al Qaeda terrorists left there and next door in Pakistan. Once again, a typical story of an invasion of a foreign country by the USA where we route the enemy, only to have them just wait us out, then take back over. When we will every learn? When will we every spend as freely on ourselves as we do in these worthless wars!! This is BS and the people who got us in it are held accountable. Get rid of them all in 2012 elections!
Why are we showing this story if he needs to be hiding?
because it's the american thing to do ...destabilize and destroy...haven't you noticed...that's middle east policy...
There is a saying "You live by the sword you die by the sword." I think this is a good man and we should help him though.
Didn't take long for corruption to set in did it? Most here in the U.S., civilians and military alike, knew nothing had changed in Iraq (or Afghanistan either for that matter). We are trading one dictator for another, just as easily bought as any other, while they use and abuse those who truly love their country and see it's potential. It never ends, only changes hands.
Maybe he should gather with a few dozen other men of the same fate and create a security company. There is strength in numbers and by joining with others they can help protect each other and sell their services to the highest bidder. I suspect there are many people with OUR money that wish good security. Just a guess.
Bring him here. Now. We did it for the south Veitnamese, we need to do it now.
there were many left behind
the united states have always done this to the people that are sold on the idea of "democracy" in order for us to pacify the populations....our biggest industry is war and brother, business isa boomin'....on to the next one....Afghanistan is still a good cash cow for the oil companies who SELL to us when we are at "war"...when we completely alienate Pakistan then we can create really cool and very, very expensive ways to get enough supplies into Afghanistan...i don't get it...are we at war or not?...if we are then mobilize this country and do it....the war profiteers are all making money off the blood of our children...Afghanistan is a matter of business and not really a big enough fiasco yet to break the grip of our defense industry...all for the almighty dollar...
the hmoung (sry about the spelling) people and other mountain tribes were chased down and killed for 20 years after we left vietnam..after our special forces had recruited thousands of them as militia (as we have done in iraq)...when we left, they slowly died
i saw a video of one of them crying about being hounded by the Vietnamese...it was sad
amen
This has nothing to do with the US backing out and everything to do with the transformation of Iraq, Sunnis had power over Iraq for years under Saddams rule. Now that he's been ousted Maliki wants to ensure they never rule again. People like Abrahim who actually have support as a Sunni will be the first to fall because the now Shiite majority want to ensure no popular Sunni ever has the chance to gain power. If he was given his position back and elections were held he could be declared a war hero and even run for a political position. Shiites would never allow this to happen. This is much like the Republican and Democrat parties who do everything they can to prevent the other party from gaining seats or political power in the white house.
So much for leaving Iraq in a stable condition that anyone who helped Americans will end up dead after we leave...
Soon the world will learn what we americans allready know.......NEVER TRUST WASHINGTON POLITICIANS!
Never. Just ask the mountainyards of central vietnam, the special forces and US military promised them support (and meant it) then washington decided it was politically better to abandon them to the North Vietnamese.
Same with the vietnamese in south vietnam.
Same with the anti russian fighters of afghanistan.
Same with the iranians who helped get americans out in 1979.
Sleazy politicians send our military in with promise of support, then deny our own men air support, artillery etc,
They promise our allies everything to solicite cooperation and support then when the political wind shifts they stab them in the back and leave them with a smile and a speech.
That is why many in the world despise us today, not because of our stand against terrorism or communism....but our inability to be loyal and dependable.
He should of chosen his friends better.
yep...his country went from stable to unstable just like our's...for stability...plain bob 2012...
It seems to me if this man helped the American forces then we should at the least offer him some help in his re-location where ever it be to the USA or another place of his choosing..
nupe...let him enjoy the stability the united states brought him...
Listen to all the smucks The GOP & Teabaggerss Its all about the Wealthy getting richer and the middle class getting poorer.....They don't want to help out the poor, I do mean the poor not the lazy good for nothings...Who are the one's that leach off the taxpayer.They: are the Wealthy that get welfare both for themselves or for the Corps. So really both party are at fault...But it seems that the Wealthy get away with it like the Corzine.....They steal billions and the few poor steals a few thousands. So what does the GOP want to do is Screw the MIddle Class to get even with the few. As I say its the me me me and F everyone else.... The failures of the Republicans party trying to take away SS and Medicare so they can give their wealthy Blackmailers more money...To hell with the Poor and Needy. Let them freeze in the winter and stave the Old and Babies,let them die from bad water, do away with the EPA and thats what you'll have, just like all you Teabaggers want...You make me sick with your Me Me Me altitude. It just a matter of time before the masses raise up against you . Greedy and you all call yourself Christains. What a laugh: Your no better than the Muslims you all hate. Wake up America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAKE UP: "
ZZZZZZZZZ....ZZZZZZ......ZZZZZZ......we're screwed.....