An AP story about Iraqi policemen says that many Iraqi cops “expressed resentment toward the Americans, who are better armed and less vulnerable to attack. Several policemen referred to the resistance against the Americans as a jihad, or holy war, and said Iraqis had a legitimate right to fight occupation.”
Also, “a group of police said they would not notify the Americans if they knew of an imminent attack against the coalition or identify an attacker — a sentiment also expressed by police in Baqouba and Samarra.
“‘We would stop it if we know it will be carried out in the city, because we don’t want the Iraqi people to get hurt,’ said Salman, an officer who refused to give his last name. But he would not report or stop an attack elsewhere, he said.
“‘We are not spies,’ said his colleague.
“‘I wouldn’t tell,’ said another policemen.
“‘I wouldn’t tell on a Muslim,’ Salman added.”
Nothing surprising here. These men know that the Qur’an (Sura 4:92-3) and Islamic tradition forbid a Muslim to fight another Muslim, or to side with unbelievers against Muslims. I am sure that virtually every Iraqi knows this; does Paul Bremer? This is a primary obstacle he will face in trying to establish democracy in Iraq, as well as in trying to establish Iraq as a stable U.S. ally. (Thanks to LGF.)