Sectarian mistrust still alive in Iraq by Barbora Misakova

Saddam’s 400,000-strong army was the largest in the Middle East, but when it invaded Kuwait in 1990, U. N. sanctions were imposed after his army and they last up to this day. When in 2003 this strong army was dissolved, it was widely seen as a key factor of Sunnis’ alienation toward the new Iraq and Americans as well. As Sunnis dominated Saddam’s regime and many of them held top military functions, army’s dissolution was understood as a hit below the belt. Some of them took their experiences to the insurgency, that was for some a way of seeking an income, for others just a revenge. Today when the news of army’s reinstatements appears, new specu! lations are following as well. The timing of this announcement raised suspicions that Shiite Prime Minister al-Maliki and his allies are doing it in favor of the upcoming election for a new parliament. Defence Ministry Spokesman Mohammd al-Askari denied suspicion the announcement was linked to the election. What is more news of army’s reinstatements was followed by a U. N. announcement which says that Iraq is very close to end U. N. sanctions and so to reinstate 20,000 Saddam-era army officers. Even though Al-Askari claims that “this measure has nothing to do with elections, rather it is related to budget allocations,” critics still think this sudden return of jobs might influence the votes and the results of elections. As Associated Press informed, the skepticism is still alive in Iraq and while many had hoped the vote would be a chance to move past the Shiite-Sunni divisions, the sectarian mistrust has become more stark.

related story (sgx! 16617): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100226/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq;_...

by Barbora Misakova for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

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