Raulken co.UK - Some US-backed Iraqi fighters desert posts

By Ahmed Rasheed and Tim *****s BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Some US-allied Sunni Arab fighters who helped drive al Qaeda out of much of Iraq are deserting their posts because of delays in pay and a spate of arrests and government raids targeting them, ...

60? "60px": "auto" ); height:expression(do*****ent.body.clientHeight > 60? "60px": "auto" );' onload=this.style.filter='progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Shadow(color=#000000,direction=135,strength=5)'>By Ahmed Rasheed and Tim *****s Reuters Wednesday, May 6, 2009; 10:51 AM BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Some U.S.-allied Sunni Arab fighters who helped drive al Qaeda out of much of Iraq are deserting their posts because of delays in pay and a spate of arrests and government raids targeting them, their leaders say. And though the militiamen, many of whom are ex-insurgents who switched sides, are not rejoining the insurgency en masse, leaders fear some will soon see that as their best option. U.S. military officials say hiccups in pay are temporary and that Iraq knows the program is too important to fail. The mostly Sunni Arab "Awakening Councils" -- Majalis al-Sahwa in Arabic -- were key to cutting violence in Baghdad, western Anbar province and other former al Qaeda strongholds. Their roughly 100,000 guards, who man checkpoints and raid insurgent hideouts, were paid by U.S. forces until Iraq took control of them in the past few months. Since then, their pay has fallen behind and some have been arrested in crackdowns. There were no precise numbers to nail down just how many guards had left their posts but several commanders said there had been desertions. How the Shi'ite-led government, viewed with suspicion in the Awakening, treats the militiamen is a major test for Iraq as it seeks reconciliation after years of vicious sectarian war. The government has promised to put 20 percent into the...
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