Five Armies Fighting for the Same Iraq, Against Each Other
Three years ago, sectarian divisions escalated into a battle some believe has reached civil war proportions. Now the fighters have turned against each other.
In a series of reports, Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel Hamid looks at the new reality of Iraq’s many armies.
Part One – Sunni armed groupsSunni armed groups are a complicated web of alliances of Iraqi nationalists, Islamists, former Iraqi army officers and a few Baathists.
Part Two – Shia militias
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| The Mahdi Army is said to have more than 60,000 militiamen [AFP] |
The conflict between Iraq’s Shia rivals has been ongoing since 2003. The Jaish al-Mahdi, or Mahdi Army, is loyal to Shia leader Muqtada al Sadr. Said to have 60,000 men in its ranks, it is by far the biggest militia in Iraq.
Its rival, the Badr organisation, is the military wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, previously known as the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. This influential Shia party was formed in Iran during the presidency of Saddam Hussein and its leaders were exultant after the US invasion.
Part Three – Iraq’s security forces
In the remote desert areas of Iraq, US soldiers are training Iraqi recruits to form the nation’s new army and police force.
But outside the cocoon of a training camp, the newly graduated security forces must tackle one of the most challenging environments in the world.
The US is currently allied with some tribes in its fight against al-Qaeda. Incorporating Sunnis would ease some of the sectarian tensions.
Part Four – The US army
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| The presence of its troops in Iraq is a contentious issue in the US [AFP] |
They were supposedly welcomed as liberators who would bring freedom and democracy to Iraq.
But the most powerful army in the world was not ready for handmade road-side bombs that have killed hundreds of soldiers so far and maimed thousands more.
Part Five – Al-Qaeda
The Bush administration is building its new case to stay in Iraq as a war against al-Qaeda.
However, it is not the largest group fighting today, nor is it the one that carries out most attacks – only 15 per cent in the first half of 2007 according to the US military.
These are video reports that illustrate the situation in situ.
Al Jazeera shows how multiple armies, fighting on and for the same real estate, create an unworkable situation where no single answer exists.
What does NOT get addressed are those sneaky little private armies that Bush has situated all across Iraq and the Middle East. Five known armies are but the tip of an iceberg of Private Army Contractors not accountable to anyone. Well, accountable to the mighty dollar handed down by the American Taxpayer through King George’s corporate buddies. You would think the American Taxpayer would pay more attention to this. Most taxpayers feel they have no say or control over what their politicians do with their taxes. The American people struggle with worn out roads and bridges, neglected oversight of their food and medication, sub-prime mortgages, poor quality education at exorbitant cost. Americans have bought in to a SUB-PRIME Government run by the Bush A-Bomb-A-Nation — where is the return counter? Can we get our money back?
Sphere: Related Content
September 13th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Does anyone have recent info on Paige Craig or Christian Bailey of The Lincoln Group? They have over $100M in no bid DOD contracts to plant favorable media stories in Iraqui media. They live together in D.C. But no recent photos for Public re;ations “experts” with absolutely NO PR experience! Bailey is in fact a Brit! Links to page 6 socialite Jennifer 8.
PW7361@aol.com
September 13th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Any info on Paige Craig or Christian Bailey of The Lincoln Group. Any photos? Another DOD rip-off scam in Iraq.
July 8th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Does anyone read this site besides me and Paige Craig?LOL
Anyone know who in Congress supported his application to West Point? Why he left w/o commission.? Why he left Marines after 5 years at E5 pay grade? Unusual to have only rank of “sergeant?” ( I can not confirm this. From another blog.) “Plausible deniability” used to give contracts to Lincoln Group for psy-ops DOD despite NO experience in PR?
Does no Tweeter care? Where did $$$$ come from to be “angel” or “serial entrepreneur?”
Sadly, I actually believe no laws were violated because most US citizens don’t care or are too stupid to want to know how the gov’t. spends their tax money. Why didn’t Willem Marx, the LA and NYT follow up on their stories? Or connection to Charles Black, former McCain advisor? Rendon Group?
Thanks!
July 9th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
phil wagner:
Yes actually many people read this blog everyday. I have more readers than commentors. Not everyone likes to voice their opinion, they fear being criticized. So I have been told in emails.
As of late work has had me so bufy posting has been put on the back burner. Sorry.
I’m sure somewhere in the media world there’s actually a real journalist breathing who would get to the bottom of your questions. But for now we have to deal with the medias constant obsession with celebrities.
So far Paige Craig or Christian Bailey have only been reported in a few places and listed on source watch. I find the absence of information suspicious.
Thanks for your comments.
July 29th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
THANK YOU NYT! You’re my kind of Texan. I realize the kind of deals done by Lincoln are relatively small potatoes to the amoral morons that spend our money without regard to results. This is why the country is losing the economic war. Paige just plays paintball in LA and the mindless morons don’t even care how he got the $$$ to transform himself into an “angel investor.’ Ditto the Bailey Brit now in Boston. Who leaves West Point with only one year to go only to become a marine grunt. Not officer material? The Project for the new American Century has (had) a lot of LG ‘clients.” Sure, there are many worse than Craig. It’s not personal with me. I’m just sick of the corruption. What people do personally is not my business. But HOW and WHAT they do with the people’s money IS. Too bad Congress won’t even touch this stuff. Why didn’t the Times in NY LA and D.C. follow up? What happened to the LG “intern” Willem Marx and all the money that went missing in Iraq, our LARGEST Embassy in the world? You’re right to be “suspicious.
Thanks for caring. Phil
July 29th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Hi Readers! Congrats on Pulitzer to NYT reporter David Barstow for covering this DOD propaganda story. Kudos as well to Diane Farsetta@PRWatch.org.
Mother Jones (has a good story by Bruce Falconer w/ my commnts.
Guess these folks won’t be welcome to Craig Paige’s next paintball war or lalawag’s BBQ. LOL.
PW
August 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Hi nytexan!
Well it seems to me that there are so many of these sites that few people actually do read them. Most of the “buzz” goes to the mindless moron “twits” (The Brits were way ahead of us when they invented this word.LOL)
Who was it that said, “People get the government they deserve.”?
Any news on Paige, Christian, or Lincoln?
Have any of their companies actually made money for their investors? Since even publicly held company financials are suspect, private companies face even less scrutiny.
Even assuming that Lincoln employees sign ‘confidentiality’ agreements, why haven’t others like Willem Marx come forward? What happened to HIM? Or didn’t he sign one?
Thanks,
PW
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 am
HEY NY TEX!
Well I guess not that many people read this. Or worse, CARE! Meanwhile Paige Craig, Christian Bailey, Charles Black, Rendon, Lincoln, etc., continue their merry rip off of the taxpayers. Where is Tom delay when we really need him?
Phil
September 13th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Howdy NY Tex!
As I was saying, nobody cares. The corruption is simply endemic. People expect it.
Which is why the age of the American Empire will be short. US society has ADD. Sad, but true.
Notice Paige and Christian are pretty much off the screen these days. Try to find any real info that’s recent on any of these guys. Nada.
Phil wagner
November 7th, 2009 at 12:24 am
Just read that Christian Bailey is Suing his own Lincoln Group,LLC in VA. Federal Court for breach of contract. Check it out for yourself. Is Paige Craig, former roomie and co-founder, getting in on this action?.LOL
Phil wagner
November 7th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Welcome back Phil, We have been in hibernation from the blogs, but are being brought back (kicking & screaming) by recent turns of events. Has Lincoln Group changed its name to Fulcra Worldwide? Its becoming more and more apparent that higher corporate powers cannot live without a world in conflict. Just when things start to get quiet on the world stage, here comes another “incident” to exploit. Renewed religious conflict within America is easily stoked. Christians and Muslims have done enough damage to the world while each claws its way to the high ground. Religions challenging each other is a sore spot for me and will be described in a new post. The corporate ’string pullers’, that stoke these fires, need to be spotlighted. It is no longer necessary to highlight the military inability to handle real issues.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
HI BK
It appears so. Keep your eye on these guys. Bailey’s lawsuit will never see the light of day. Too much info to be public.he’s blackmailing his own company! LOL.Soon Fulcra will come full circle to Iraqex.
Phil
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Hey Bosskitty,
Looks like WE’VE lost YOU! Are these guys just not corrupt enough to follow?
It’s possible. Given what passes dot “checks and balances” a free press, and even more outrageous and uninvestigated Wall Street ptanksters. ut still …. “angel investors?” MIT “fellows” (BAILEY.)
Have you noticed all Lincoln Group bios on Wikipedia were deleted?
They’re very good. I’ll give ‘em that.
Phil Wagner