Sunni Fighters Say Iraq Will Never Hire Them

(NEWSER) - As the US military prepares to withdraw from Iraq's cities, security officials in both countries have observed that a smaller but more lethal insurgency seems to be gaining ground. Several recent bombings, believed to be orchestrated by al-Qaeda in Iraq, have killed 123 people in Baghdad and elsewhere, while members of the Sunni Awakening Movement have faced assassination attempts. As the New York Times reports, the attacks are a reminder of instability in a country that has been relatively peaceful of late. More»

Disputed killings, lack of support weakens plan to reduce violence

(NEWSER) - The mostly Sunni volunteer forces that have drastically improved Iraq’s security are losing patience with US handlers, the Washington Post reports. Desertions are under way in key provinces over lack of resources, political disagreements, and disputed accounts of US troops killing members of the so-called Sunni Awakening. “Now, there is no cooperation with Americans,” one commander said. “We have stopped fighting al-Qaeda.” More»

Tariq al-Hashemi accuses Shiite PM of eliminating rivals

(NEWSER) - Sunni VP Tariq al-Hashemi today openly accused Nouri al-Maliki of trying to eliminate his political rivals and run Iraq like a "one-man-show," a move that Hashemi says is pushing the country toward sectarian war. The comments came during an interview with the AP, which notes that the escalating tension between the two men , along with the series of bombings that killed at least 69 people yesterday , have hiked fears that Iraq could indeed be thrown into new violence following the exit of US troops. More»

Sunnis walk out of parliament, demand more power

(NEWSER) - Iraq's political structure already seems to be unraveling. Before the last US troops have left , Sunni politicians are walking out of parliament and threatening to quit altogether, the Washington Post reports. Ministers in the Sunni Iraqiya bloc are demanding more political power and greater control of Iraq's Shiite-dominated militia—especially after tanks recently surrounded the homes of Sunni politicians in the fortified Green Zone. More»

Arrest of Sunni leader fuels tension

(NEWSER) - A showdown this weekend between Iraqi security forces and Sunni fighters known as the Awakening, both US allies, could signal challenges facing Iraq as the US prepares to leave, the Washington Post reports. After Iraqi and US forces arrested an Awakening leader Saturday, Sunni fighters swarmed a Baghdad neighborhood. "No Awakening member would remain silent over this injustice," one group leader said. At least eight Iraqi soldiers were injured. More»