.U.S. plans to extend role of Iraq's successful Concerned Citizens Groups
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military hopes to expand the authority of Iraq's new auxiliary police force.
Officials said the new Concerned Citizens Groups would be given a civilian role in neighborhoods throughout central and western Iraq. They said CLC members would be placed in job and vocational programs to reduce unemployment among young Iraqis.
"In this culture, providing for one's family is a grave matter of honor," Col. Wayne Grigsby, commander of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said. "We've known all along that the CLCs were a temporary expedient."
Officials said CLC, known as Al Sahwa, would disband in 2009. They said the most of its members would be steered to jobs in the private sector.
The U.S.-led coalition, battling 40 percent unemployment around Baghdad, has established the Iraqi Civilian Conservation Force. Official said the Iraqi version of the 1930s-era U.S. program would pave roads, conduct neighborhood sanitation and improve infrastructure.
"They will accomplish civil works projects as determined by the mayor's council and the sheiks, and provide a way to earn an honorable living without resorting to the extremists," Grigsby told a Jan. 18 briefing.
Officials said the conservation force would employ CLC members not slated to join the police. About 25 percent of CLC officers were expected to be offered jobs in either the national or local police.
CLC, whose members work on 90-day contracts, has been trained to man checkpoints, patrol neighborhoods and report suspicious activity. The force, targeted by Al Qaida, works with the Iraq Army, police and U.S. military.
Officials said Sunnis in the Baghdad area would also be offered scholarships to vocational schools as well as employment in new businesses. They said the program would be coordinated with tribal leaders.
"In this country, if you cut the sheiks out, you might as well tell them to go work for the extremists," Grigsby said. "They have to be part of this."
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. military commander in Iraq, said about half of CLC members want to join the police force. Odierno said about 50 percent of those interested would be accepted.
"So what we will do then is put other programs in place, working with the Iraqi government, to put them to work doing other things, such as civil service corps operations, such as other job programs, through vo-tech institutes and other institutes," Odierno said.
World Tribune
Officials said the new Concerned Citizens Groups would be given a civilian role in neighborhoods throughout central and western Iraq. They said CLC members would be placed in job and vocational programs to reduce unemployment among young Iraqis.
"In this culture, providing for one's family is a grave matter of honor," Col. Wayne Grigsby, commander of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said. "We've known all along that the CLCs were a temporary expedient."
Officials said CLC, known as Al Sahwa, would disband in 2009. They said the most of its members would be steered to jobs in the private sector.
The U.S.-led coalition, battling 40 percent unemployment around Baghdad, has established the Iraqi Civilian Conservation Force. Official said the Iraqi version of the 1930s-era U.S. program would pave roads, conduct neighborhood sanitation and improve infrastructure.
"They will accomplish civil works projects as determined by the mayor's council and the sheiks, and provide a way to earn an honorable living without resorting to the extremists," Grigsby told a Jan. 18 briefing.
Officials said the conservation force would employ CLC members not slated to join the police. About 25 percent of CLC officers were expected to be offered jobs in either the national or local police.
CLC, whose members work on 90-day contracts, has been trained to man checkpoints, patrol neighborhoods and report suspicious activity. The force, targeted by Al Qaida, works with the Iraq Army, police and U.S. military.
Officials said Sunnis in the Baghdad area would also be offered scholarships to vocational schools as well as employment in new businesses. They said the program would be coordinated with tribal leaders.
"In this country, if you cut the sheiks out, you might as well tell them to go work for the extremists," Grigsby said. "They have to be part of this."
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. military commander in Iraq, said about half of CLC members want to join the police force. Odierno said about 50 percent of those interested would be accepted.
"So what we will do then is put other programs in place, working with the Iraqi government, to put them to work doing other things, such as civil service corps operations, such as other job programs, through vo-tech institutes and other institutes," Odierno said.
World Tribune
posted by madtom at 10:54 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home