Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Iraqi Hezbollah, fed-up with the REMFs, threatens to take ball and go home

I can’t make out just what their beef is.

Kata'ib_Hezbollah_flag.svg
Kata'ib_Hezbollah_flag.svg

I can’t make out just what their beef is.

I can’t make out just what their beef is.

It seems to be that they think the Baghdad government heeds the desires of the U.S. government too much. This puzzles me a bit because the U.S. flew airstrikes on their behalf last year. I suspect that Iraqi Hezbollah thinks that, despite that American support, that Baghdad, under pressure from Washington, is being too nice to the Sunnis.

The Hezbis, who have been operating southeast of Fallujah, also complain that their own needs and desires are not being met. “The government is not serious and not willing to listen to us.” Also, they say, they were forced overmuch to rely on their own resources and skills.

Sounds like every unit that ever felt hung out by the REMFs, don’t it? But surely a variety of political and ideological differences must underly the griping.

Bottom line: If their concerns are not addressed, “We will not participate in any battle.”

Can you imagine an American division putting out such a statement? Well, the Marines kind of did in Iraq once, after the first Fallujah offensive was aborted. Maybe there’s something in the Fallujah water.

Wikimedia Commons

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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