Saturday, December 30, 2006
Former army officers asked to report to army volunteer centres
Security, Military
The government has reversed a previous order banning former army officers from joining the new army. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has instructed the Ministry of Defense to accept applications from former army officers. The move comes following a pledge he made earlier this month to repair damage to the country’s security due to a U.S.’s disbanding of the former army.
But Maliki’s instructions only cover officers up to the rank of major. Officers with higher ranks are not covered. The Ministry of Defense is working to implement Maliki’s orders and has called on the officers to report to army volunteer centers. The fate of the members of the former army has become a sticky issue in Iraq and the government is apparently willing to solve as part of a national reconciliation drive.
Maliki has set up a new committee under Najeeb al-Salihi to present ideas on how to settle the issue. There are currently about 7,000 volunteers who were once members of the former army. But most of these were selected under a vetting system which leaned towards sectarian affiliation rather than talent and loyalty to the country. Under the new guidelines the number is expected to double.
But Maliki’s instructions only cover officers up to the rank of major. Officers with higher ranks are not covered. The Ministry of Defense is working to implement Maliki’s orders and has called on the officers to report to army volunteer centers. The fate of the members of the former army has become a sticky issue in Iraq and the government is apparently willing to solve as part of a national reconciliation drive.
Maliki has set up a new committee under Najeeb al-Salihi to present ideas on how to settle the issue. There are currently about 7,000 volunteers who were once members of the former army. But most of these were selected under a vetting system which leaned towards sectarian affiliation rather than talent and loyalty to the country. Under the new guidelines the number is expected to double.
