Iraq

Tareq al-Hashemi, the Iraqi vice president, provided a chilling picture of what the U.S. had done in Iraq...

(Al-Hashemi was unsparing in his criticism of the US decision to disband the Iraqi army and other security forces after the March 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

He said: "Imagine one day waking up and finding out that your nation's leaders had completely dismantled all police and military. As a result, there is not one policeman, or state, or federal law enforcement agent, or even one national guard or any soldier to protect you from criminal elements, or terrorists. It will be total chaos.

"Then imagine that instead of calling back the army and security forces, the authorities in this imaginary scenario decided to form a new army and police from racist militias, some mercenaries and organised crime gangs.

"With the new government-issued budget and government-issued vehicles, these armed groups begin arresting, torturing, murdering innocent people either because of their faith, or creed, or purely for profit.

"This is exactly what has happened in Iraq.")

taken from: Aljazeera.net, 12.14.06, http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A01C637D-1B7D-494A-8130-4CF343D051AF.htm