Allawi says strong security forces can save Iraq

Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, tipped to be security supremo in a new administration, called on Tuesday for Iraq's forces to be reinforced to prevent sectarian conflict exploding into all-out civil war.

"We are in the early stages of a civil war. We hope we don't get to the point of no return," he said at the headquarters of his Iraqi List, a cross-sectarian party that is the fourth biggest bloc in parliament with a tenth of the seats.

"We mustn't get to that stage. We must strengthen the army, police, security and intelligence services. If we make them capable then we can stop ourselves before reaching the fatal point. If not, the situation will be disastrous."

The creation of a new Security Council announced this week is, political sources say, designed to bypass the wrangling over a unity government and give Allawi, as the council's likely head, a major role in fighting armed groups on all sides.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAC144939.htm

security forces and the insurgency would be suppressed.

Sad solution.

"but now that since we don't have one ... see ya!!!!"

We're already WORSE than Hussein. How much WORSE can we go?!

Allawi may be a thug, but he is a secular thug!

Allawi is alleged to have executed two detainees personally at a CIA-run holding facility in Baghdad. I'm in a hurry, so I can't source it fully today. But I will try to source it tomorrow if anyone needs that.

"Tipped to be security supremo in a new administration?" Bullsh*t. Muqtada Sadr hates Alawi and has specifically ruled out Alawi's participation in any new cabinet. Sadr is the strongest player in the new parliament.

With no majority bloc in Iraq, the UIA is under 50%. The possibility exists the secular Shia, Kurds, and Sunnis will get together. Allawi would then have to pick off some parties inside the UIA and become PM or take on another high level position.

That power council idea was a good stab at that too.

If they get their guy Abdul Mahdi as PM. The UIA is made up of four different parties.

They're really playing fast and loose with Iraq's territorial integrity here. Anything to get what they want and shut out Sadr I guess? We'll see...

There is alot of inter UIA rivalry.