January 25, 2007

Militiamen in Baghdad have kidnapped and killed 10 senior officers of the former army.

The officers were reportedly on their way home following a government meeting ostensibly held to lure former army personnel into joining the new army.

The killing has sent a chilling message in the ranks of former army personnel many of whom initially had thought the government was serious in gestures to have them rehabilitated.

The U.S. dismantled the former Iraqi army, a move that affected hundreds of thousands of commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

Analysts believe the officers now play a key role in the anti-U.S. resistance.

The government claims to have allowed thousands of these officers to return to the ranks of the new armed forces.

But several officers, refusing to be named for security reasons, said the government was not at all keen to have them returned to service.

"Frankly speaking, many of use would like to join the new army but there are so many hurdles. Some of us are even being ridiculed, abused and humiliated when approaching volunteer centers," a senior former army officer said.

Despite the mounting casualties and the upsurge in violence, joining the army or police is a dream for many in Iraq as others jobs are extremely hard to get due to rampant unemployment.

The officers said the screening of volunteers was not being done according to merit or past record. "You will need to be approved by political factions currently wielding power in the country, otherwise you have no chance," said another officer.

The officers said they were enthusiastic to join the new army out of national duty.

"We were not owned by any body in the past. We want our country, Iraq, to own us. Our spilled dignity and honor must be returned to us. The only way is to return to the service," said one officer.