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With Paychecks Scarce, Iraqi Awakening Unravels

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 9, 2009 10:47 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The imminent withdrawal of US troops and the lack of funds to keep Sunni Awakening members on the payroll has led to rising violence there, the Wall Street Journal reports. The steep decline in oil revenues has left the Iraqi government broke, and former insurgents hired by the US to provide security and do clean-up and rebuilding haven’t been paid in months. Their ranks are thinning. “Who knows what they're doing with their time,” one leader said.

“If some individuals decide to fight the government again,” the leader continued, “no one is going to interfere.” A government spokesman agreed that militants are “testing the Iraqi forces. But we will show them.” US programs, like job creation in violence-prone areas, were supposed to continue after the withdrawal, but with oil at $40 a barrel that seems unlikely. “We bought a lot of security with these jobs,” an Army major said. “Now the city just can't afford to pay these guys.”

Awakening Council members search a man at a vehicle checkpoint in the Azamiyah area of north Baghdad.
Awakening Council members search a man at a vehicle checkpoint in the Azamiyah area of north Baghdad.   (AP Photo)
Awakening Council members stand guard in the Dora area of southern Baghdad. Many haven't been paid since January.
Awakening Council members stand guard in the Dora area of southern Baghdad. Many haven't been paid since January.   (AP Photo)
Iraqi troops with a US soldier.
Iraqi troops with a US soldier.   (AP Photo)
An Iraqi woman holds her family's identity papers during a search of her home by Iraqi police and U.S. troops.
An Iraqi woman holds her family's identity papers during a search of her home by Iraqi police and U.S. troops.   (AP Photo)
Security officials inspect the wreckage from a car bomb attack in Kazimiyah neighborhood in Baghdad.
Security officials inspect the wreckage from a car bomb attack in Kazimiyah neighborhood in Baghdad.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Robert_Dada
May 9, 2009 6:11 AM CDT
Hussein was an animal but the country and region was probably better off then than it is now. It's not like we went in there to help the people anyway.
Robert_Dada
May 9, 2009 6:09 AM CDT
If I believed in God, I probably word. My thoughts and best wishes are with him though.
kokuaguy
May 9, 2009 5:38 AM CDT
The Obama administration is left to deal with an unsustainable war effort and a bankrupt U.S. economy to deal with it. Pray for our president.

Government also moving on Awakening leaders
Times (UK)

 
Baghdad • troop surge • US military • troop withdrawal • Awakening Councils • Iraqi militias • Iraq war • Sunni Awakening • oil revenue

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