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The uniformed kidnappers of Baghdad The uniformed kidnappers of Baghdad
(about 5 hours later)
By Paul Wood BBC News, BaghdadBy Paul Wood BBC News, Baghdad
The search is continuing for a British computer expert and his four bodyguards who were seized last month from a building belonging to the Iraqi finance ministry by men in police uniform.The search is continuing for a British computer expert and his four bodyguards who were seized last month from a building belonging to the Iraqi finance ministry by men in police uniform.
All foreigners in Iraq dread being kidnapped.All foreigners in Iraq dread being kidnapped.
Searches are being carried out for the missing BritonsIt is what keeps most Westerners inside the heavily fortified Green Zone.Searches are being carried out for the missing BritonsIt is what keeps most Westerners inside the heavily fortified Green Zone.
Contrary to widespread belief, the BBC bureau is not in the Green Zone, walled off, literally and psychologically, from the rest of Iraq.Contrary to widespread belief, the BBC bureau is not in the Green Zone, walled off, literally and psychologically, from the rest of Iraq.
Even so, for us too, the screw tightened yet again on our freedom of movement with the kidnapping of the five Britons.Even so, for us too, the screw tightened yet again on our freedom of movement with the kidnapping of the five Britons.
But then you do not have to go far to bump into tragedy in Baghdad.But then you do not have to go far to bump into tragedy in Baghdad.
One of my Iraqi colleagues at the BBC bureau told us about his cousin and his cousin's neighbour, both Sunnis. A week ago, policemen came to their homes and arrested them.One of my Iraqi colleagues at the BBC bureau told us about his cousin and his cousin's neighbour, both Sunnis. A week ago, policemen came to their homes and arrested them.
They were terrified when, as they were led away, they saw Mehdi Army fighters with the police, apparently directing operations. The neighbour has now been found dead, bound and shot in the back of the head. The cousin is still missing.They were terrified when, as they were led away, they saw Mehdi Army fighters with the police, apparently directing operations. The neighbour has now been found dead, bound and shot in the back of the head. The cousin is still missing.
One of our drivers told me about a friend - another Sunni - snatched while waiting at the bus station in Baghdad. His kidnappers were policemen.One of our drivers told me about a friend - another Sunni - snatched while waiting at the bus station in Baghdad. His kidnappers were policemen.
They tortured him for three days, using an electric drill to make holes in the muscles of both legs. They left him for dead atop a pile of rubbish in the suburb of Mansur.They tortured him for three days, using an electric drill to make holes in the muscles of both legs. They left him for dead atop a pile of rubbish in the suburb of Mansur.
Kidnap for ransomKidnap for ransom
So, when crimes are blamed on men in police uniform most people take it as read that they are actually the police.So, when crimes are blamed on men in police uniform most people take it as read that they are actually the police.
In fact, militia infiltration is believed to be such that no one walks anywhere in the Green Zone for fear of being snatched off the street A government minister believes this was the case with the kidnapping of the five Britons. "This was a renegade unit of the police commandos," he said, "but they were also the Mehdi Army".In fact, militia infiltration is believed to be such that no one walks anywhere in the Green Zone for fear of being snatched off the street A government minister believes this was the case with the kidnapping of the five Britons. "This was a renegade unit of the police commandos," he said, "but they were also the Mehdi Army".
"Actually," the minister went on, "it is more complicated than that. This was a faction of the Mehdi Army, one close to the Iranian elements believed to be operating inside Iraq. That doesn't mean Iran was behind this - although it can't be ruled out.""Actually," the minister went on, "it is more complicated than that. This was a faction of the Mehdi Army, one close to the Iranian elements believed to be operating inside Iraq. That doesn't mean Iran was behind this - although it can't be ruled out."
"In fact," he continued, "these police officers were also members of the Dulaimi tribe, which has been linked to kidnapping for ransom. This could have been about money, or about blackmailing the government into giving the tribe more jobs in the security forces.""In fact," he continued, "these police officers were also members of the Dulaimi tribe, which has been linked to kidnapping for ransom. This could have been about money, or about blackmailing the government into giving the tribe more jobs in the security forces."
Underlying this is the fact that the main Shia militia group, the Mehdi army is splintering.Underlying this is the fact that the main Shia militia group, the Mehdi army is splintering.
Its spiritual leader, the radical cleric Moqtada Sadr has told his followers to set aside their weapons and stick to politics. But the militia commanders are ignoring him and a power struggle is taking place.Its spiritual leader, the radical cleric Moqtada Sadr has told his followers to set aside their weapons and stick to politics. But the militia commanders are ignoring him and a power struggle is taking place.
One of our translators told me that most of the fighting in his part of Baghdad is not Sunni-Shia but is between two factions of the Mehdi Army.One of our translators told me that most of the fighting in his part of Baghdad is not Sunni-Shia but is between two factions of the Mehdi Army.
The contest is over who will control the property formerly belonging to Sunnis in the district who have been forced out or killed by the Mehdi Army.The contest is over who will control the property formerly belonging to Sunnis in the district who have been forced out or killed by the Mehdi Army.
The empty buildings are rented out again and the money funds weapons, militiamen's salaries and the next round of sectarian plunder. This is a battle for spoils.The empty buildings are rented out again and the money funds weapons, militiamen's salaries and the next round of sectarian plunder. This is a battle for spoils.
Failure of the surgeFailure of the surge
This does not mean that all the violence in Baghdad is by Shia militia groups or the police.This does not mean that all the violence in Baghdad is by Shia militia groups or the police.
Big bomb attacks are generally by Sunni militants and despite the surge of US forces, these have continued unabated.Big bomb attacks are generally by Sunni militants and despite the surge of US forces, these have continued unabated.
It is the revenge attacks by Shia death squads which briefly paused and now seem to have resumed, so that last month saw some 2,000 sectarian murders in the capital.It is the revenge attacks by Shia death squads which briefly paused and now seem to have resumed, so that last month saw some 2,000 sectarian murders in the capital.
Why isn't the surge working? The strategy is to clear, hold and build. The Americans are clearing, but - they will tell you privately - the Iraqi security forces are failing to hold.Why isn't the surge working? The strategy is to clear, hold and build. The Americans are clearing, but - they will tell you privately - the Iraqi security forces are failing to hold.
A Western company recently bought a new generator by truck up from an industrial estate in southern Baghdad. They had no paperwork for it but it sailed through 12 checkpoints with the driver paying small bribes. No-one looked to see if it was a bomb. A Western company recently brought a new generator by truck up from an industrial estate in southern Baghdad. They had no paperwork for it but it sailed through 12 checkpoints with the driver paying small bribes. No-one looked to see if it was a bomb.
A US general told about this said: "Our working assumption is that if there are only Iraqis on a checkpoint, you have no checkpoint at all."A US general told about this said: "Our working assumption is that if there are only Iraqis on a checkpoint, you have no checkpoint at all."
This leaves the death squads free to do their work. Shia politicians are pushing a plan to open the main avenue along the river in Baghdad, Abu Nawas.This leaves the death squads free to do their work. Shia politicians are pushing a plan to open the main avenue along the river in Baghdad, Abu Nawas.
It was originally an American plan. The coalition's generals had visions of strolling couples, and fish restaurants doing a roaring trade, something like normal life.It was originally an American plan. The coalition's generals had visions of strolling couples, and fish restaurants doing a roaring trade, something like normal life.
But the coalition has now realised that the impetus behind this is to give Shia militia groups unfettered access to two bridges leading to Sunni areas. Sunnis are now talking about blowing up the two bridges.But the coalition has now realised that the impetus behind this is to give Shia militia groups unfettered access to two bridges leading to Sunni areas. Sunnis are now talking about blowing up the two bridges.
Who controls the capital, controls the country. The Shia death squads are systematically trying to drive the Sunnis out and draw a new sectarian map in Baghdad.Who controls the capital, controls the country. The Shia death squads are systematically trying to drive the Sunnis out and draw a new sectarian map in Baghdad.
To get a grip on this, the coalition needs its Iraqi allies, but the situation is confusing. A uniform - as the kidnapping of the Britons showed - is no sure sign of loyalty.To get a grip on this, the coalition needs its Iraqi allies, but the situation is confusing. A uniform - as the kidnapping of the Britons showed - is no sure sign of loyalty.
One measure of how bad things have become is that Western diplomats will no longer visit the Iraqi Defence ministry, even though it is inside the Green Zone.One measure of how bad things have become is that Western diplomats will no longer visit the Iraqi Defence ministry, even though it is inside the Green Zone.
In fact, militia infiltration is believed to be such that no-one walks anywhere in the Green Zone for fear of being snatched off the street.In fact, militia infiltration is believed to be such that no-one walks anywhere in the Green Zone for fear of being snatched off the street.
So, if the coalition cannot even guarantee its own safety in the heart of its power base, what hope for the rest of Baghdad?So, if the coalition cannot even guarantee its own safety in the heart of its power base, what hope for the rest of Baghdad?
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 16 June, 2007 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 16 June, 2007 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.