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Length: 3:21
KYRA PHILLIPS: Iraqi
police: part of the solution or part of the problem?
For a long time now, many believe Shiite death squads
have infiltrated Iraqi security forces. Well, today,
there's word the Iraqi government is pulling a whole
brigade off the streets.
CNN's Michael Ware joins us now live from Baghdad.
Set the scene for us, Michael.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, what
we're seeing are U.S. forces stepping up in their
ongoing battle with the death squads and the militias
that are so dominant here in Iraq.
The sectarian killings by some of these death squads
have developed so far that they're institutionalized,
and they're occurring within the government. What we
saw is, in a decision made late last night, for an
entire brigade of the Iraqi national police to be
pulled off line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, MULTINATIONAL FORCE,
IRAQ: The government of Iraq had lost trust and
confidence in the 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police
Division's ability to serve the public due to their
poor performance and alleged criminal wrongdoings.
Therefore, they've been pulled off line and will go
through retraining before they'll be recertified and
allowed to again conduct activities as police forces
for the government of Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARE: So this is just the tip of the iceberg, Kyra.
Major General Caldwell said that there was elements
within this brigade that were known to be complicit
with the death squads. But it extends beyond this
brigade, beyond these units, and permeates through
every facet of the government at the moment, all but
-- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So are these officers that have been in
place? Or are these ones that have gone through
training and recruitment and have been a part of the
corruption since the new regime has taken over?
WARE: Well, these are men from units that have been
here since the beginning. And it also includes new
units, as the militias encouraged their members to
join the security forces, receive U.S. training, and
then be given the legitimacy to go out and conduct
militia activities.
So in many ways, the U.S. has been training some of
these people or certainly their associates. So these
are long-standing organizations which are
capitalizing on the current situation and are now
effectively in power, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So how are U.S. troops trying to look these
men in the eyes and figure out who is for real and
who isn't?
WARE: Well, it's very, very difficult. As you know,
before any operation or certainly major operation in
the city, certain members or elements of the Iraqi
government have to be informed beforehand.
Also, the U.S. forces like to try and put an Iraqi
face on operations. So they work with Iraqi troops,
as well. They, too, must be told about the operation
beforehand.
U.S. commanders openly concede that they leave this
notification to the very last minute because they're
well aware of the leakages. Once you tell the Iraqi
government something, eventually it moves out to many
-- most times, the targets themselves, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Michael Ware, live from Baghdad. Thanks,
Michael.