Corruption Is Iraqi Army’s First Enemy !

[DinarThug]

CNN. Broadcasting While Taking Money Under The Table !

 

 

 

 

Corruption is Iraqi Army’s First Enemy
By Judit Neurink 6 hours ago

opinion

Analysis on why Mosul fell so fast into the hands of a small band of militants make interesting read. Was it because the officers of the Iraqi army quit, they told their soldiers to quit, or because the Islamic militants had got active help from groups inside Mosul?

It could all be true, but it may mostly have to do with the way the Iraqi military has been built in the past ten years. The widespread corruption in the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the political circles around him had also trickled down to the army.

How could all that work and $25 billion the Americans put into the new Iraqi army have led to the outcome we all saw? How is it possible that the Shiite Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia is a better fighting force than the Iraqi army?

Apart from being better trained by the Iranians and the help of many seasoned officers of the former army, the militiamen are also highly motivated, while many soldiers would only see the military service as a way to get rich.

As award-winning journalist Patrick Cockburn heard from well-informed sources, until very recently a position as division commander in the Iraqi army could be worth as much as $2 million.

“When one candidate asked where he could get that kind of money, he was told to borrow it and pay back $50,000 a month through various forms of extortion,” he wrote. “Checkpoints on roads acted like private customs posts, charging a fee to every truck passing through.”

No wonder the price for military positions had increased enormously in the last five years. A position that would cost $20,000 in 2009 would now be worth ten times that amount.

At the same time, soldiers would pay their officers half of their salary to be allowed to stay out of the barracks.

The image Cockburn paints is that of an army of fortune seekers, of people who were not so much interested in defending their fatherland as they were in lining their pockets.

This image matches the stories I hear from Mosul where the military was not only hated for the way it treated civilians but also distrusted for many atrocities, kidnaping and extortion that they did and blamed on the militias or gangs.

Corruption has left its marks on the Iraqi society. It is the answer to the question of why Baghdad and other places have changed so little in the past ten years while the Kurdistan Region became the economic motor and the most developed part of Iraq.

Corruption has invisible effects as the fate of the army in Mosul showed us. Corruption is a way of life where making money becomes the main goal and pursued at all costs.

Power and wealth collide in the worst possible way when money is earned over the backs of others and stealing is allowed only because the victim is a stranger, of another tribe, or the enemy.

Corruption in the army has many faces. Those who may not be interested in money, might still be less interested in their country. To them, religious loyalty comes first. 

Many units are so deeply infiltrated by Sunni extremists or Shiite personnel backed by Iran that their American advisors could face serious risks to their safety, so US officials thought recently.

This could be why the Americans are hesitant to send trainers and advisers to help the Iraqi army. As late as 2011 some Iraqi soldiers had planted roadside bombs against the American military in Iraq.

It makes you wonder if any help the Americans or anyone else for may offer could be of any use, knowing full well that corruption is so deep in Iraq that it is seen as a vice, instead of a crime.

How can the failed state of Iraq be mended without first tackling corruption, its biggest enemy? If corruption is not fought aggressively and successfully, it will change Iraq into a state where money and religion taken over from democracy, loyalty and humanity.

http://rudaw.net/english/opinion/21072014

[millionaire in training]

Corruption has been a way of life for these people  .............A very hard habit to break.......   

[kennyc]

After reading this article & reading about how crooked & corrupt these so called religious zealots are. I have one question. What would Mohammad do? Would he say that this is OK to do to the people of the country, much less all these people areMuslim. Makes me wonder.

[gymrat76541]

Corruption is how the system works in many Middle Eastern countries!

 

The US found that out when we occupanied Iraq!~~~~~Bribes!

 

In order to do anything you have to greeze the hands of tribal leaders, military leaders & officials at all levels.

Do you seriously believe that America lost all those hundreds of millions of dollars worth of vehicles, equipment and supplies?

They were given away as "gifts" in order to safely conduct operations, use their lands, or recieve their cooperation.

Edited July 22, 2014 by gymrat76541

[Maggie123]

Thank You Thuggie... Interesting Article.

 

 

They learned from the best... We went over there with the 20 Million that we stole from Iraqi's "frozen" US bank accounts...

 

That's how we "greased the hands" of the Iraqi's military (a few $$$'s for ours too) and the American corporations.

 

I believe it was only about 9 Million that our military "forgot" to get receipts for as they were handing it out.

 

 

PS. Was it Millions or Billions??? Ahhhh... What The Heck!

[Nelg]

This is the most turbulent, warlike atmosphere I have ever lived through.  The world is coming to a crisis time when we in the USA need to consider our ways.  

Corruption by world governments is created by corrupt people . . . and we gleefully snicker behind a facade of outrage and disgust.  Give us a chance and we take the same position in business and government in America.  The government we "help" learn from the best, and the deeper our pockets the more prone we are in "greasing the wheels" to get things done.  

Corruption thrives in all cultures.  We are deceitful above all else and prone to glory in how we "get it done" by pay-offs and under-the-table dealings.  

What a mess we have created.  Now we set in it and feel comfortable.