Irak

[ThomasWach]

Mögliche schiitisch-sunnitische Konflikte zeichnen sich jetzt ab...

Iraq's Sunni fighters leave U.S. payroll

The Sons of Iraq are now employed by the Iraqi army. Ruling Shiites still view the fighters with suspicion, and the feeling is mutual. In Baghdad, a bombing kills 31.
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Iraq's ruling Shiites still view the fighters with suspicion. The hostility reflects the deep mistrust between the country's newly assertive Shiite majority and the onetime Sunni elite, who are angry about their fall from power. If the government alienates the Sunni paramilitary fighters, who number nearly 100,000 countrywide, the fighters could restart their insurgency.

But as the U.S. military prepares to start pulling out of the country, responsibility for the Sons of Iraq was transferred to the Iraqi army. The payments Monday marked the last step in the transition.
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He and other U.S. military officials played down concerns expressed by many of the Sunni paramilitary members that the Iraqi government might renege on vows to find them jobs in the future.
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Quelle:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/...?track=rss



Und bezüglich der US-amerikanischen Armee in Irak...

U.S. to cut troop levels in Iraq this month
The cut to 14 brigades comes at least two months earlier than planned

WASHINGTON - Spurred on by a continued decline in violence, the U.S. military will reduce its presence in Iraq to 14 combat brigades this month — at least two months earlier than originally planned.

Military officials say two brigades from the 101st Airborne Division will leave Iraq this month and only one will be replaced.
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On Wednesday, however, the military announced the 2nd Brigade will instead return to its Fort Campbell, Ky., home base this month, after serving for 13 months, rather than the expected 15.
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The move leaves about 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

Decline in troop fatalities
U.S. forces have also seen a dramatic decline in troop fatalities, with deaths falling to their second lowest monthly level in October. There were 14 U.S. troops killed last month, including seven lost in combat.
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Quelle:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27562814/