AhlulBayt News Agency - The Iraqi prime minister’s office has stated that Mohsen al-Kaabi, a retired major general, has been appointed as the deputy chief of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The decree says that the new deputy chief reserves all of the executive and supervisory authorities, as he is given a carte blanche to choose heads of different branches of the PM Forces and to create new administrations in the body of the force. Furthermore, he was commissioned by the country’s chief commander of the armed forces to more accurately supervise the procedures of training and using the PMF.
On the other side, some Iraq’s resistant fractions have come against the order, saying that it was an anti-PMF conspiracy. Al-Abrar Movement, an affiliate of the popular resistant forces has described, in a statement, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the head of the Public Mobilization, as the engineer of the recent gains made by resistance forces, adding that the chief has been present in the battlefield while carrying the slogan “martyrdom or victory.” “Such bravery has caused his jealous opponents to seek his collapse, therefore, they have designed this replacement plot”, the statement continued.
The Public Mobilization Forces’ spokesman has confirmed the order but he said that al-Muhandis was still in place doing his duty, and no change has been introduced to the structure of voluntary forces. Despite the fact that al-Muhandis still serves as leader of PMF, a considerable amount of his mandates have been transferred to Major General al-Kaabi.
Several points could be extracted from the media statements of the Iraqi prime minister’s office on the one hand and those of the PMF on the other hand:
1. The back-to-back triumphs by the PM Forces and their growing popularity among the Iraqi public while the politicians in the country are living in the worst popularity conditions have set off the alarm bells for the Iraqi political parties.
2. The bravery of the young fighters of PMF has brought about triumphant victories in operations such as Muharram Operation in Jurf al-Sakhr town, operation of liberation of Tikrit, Amirli, Baiji and other regions in the country. Such gains have foiled the foreign sides’ planning for the country, making them consider the popular forces a serious rival for them.
3. On the other hand, it must be taken into consideration that quick establishment of the PMF has prepared the ground for outbreak of some social and financial corruptions. These violations were highly predictable due to the emergency situation in Iraq. Some people were receiving salaries in the guise of voluntary personnel. Also, there were cases of abuse of power.
These three factors have caused some internal political factions as well as foreign sides to stir a public wave against the PMF. The attempts finally were launched, aiming at usurping the leadership of the PMF and distancing the dutiful commanders from the body of the force. These efforts envisioned disbandment of the PMF at the end of the road.
This intention is phased in several steps which include:
1. Launching anti- PMF propagandas and tarnishing their image in the eyes of the public, especially after liberation of Tikrit.
2. Limiting PMF's operation zone. The Mobilization Forces were excluded from Ramadi recapture operation.
3. Accusing the Mobilization Forces of acting illicitly, abusing their power, and abduction.
4. Putting financial strains on the PMF and cutting its budget. Their salaries are not paid completely.
These are coming while the PMF has been created so quickly, and since their creation it has been engaged in diverse and complicated combat operations in the battlefields and thus the popular organization lacked the opportunity to make administrative reforms. Additionally, due to presence of large number of voluntary groups without any selection and processing, penetration of arbitrary and abusive elements was natural in the body of the Forces. On the other side, other security institutions in the country like police, army and security forces are immersed in a blatant corruption; however, they are not questioned over their corruptions and violations.
All in all, it must be said that the PMF is a revolutionary and modest complex. It was formed after a jihad (fighting) fatwa was issued by Iraq’s religious authority without any material expectations. Its existence presents a guard against the Shiites’ enemies.
Appointing a general from Iraq’s military forces as the deputy head of this organization would deal an irreparable blow to this popular force, as it would spread an air of disappointment among the fighters. So far, nearly 30 percent of the Public Mobilization Forces’ personnel, who are majorly coming from poor families, have cancelled their membership due to the delayed pays. It is expected that a large number of the fighters quit the organization should the process of removal of the dutiful commanders goes ahead.
It seems that a circle in Iraq seeks eliminating the PMF or at least it eyes seizing large amount of the PMF's authorities through recruiting infiltrators into the body of this popular military establishment.
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source : Al Waqt News
Thursday
25 February 2016
9:16:12 AM
737042
All in all, it must be said that the PMF is a revolutionary and modest complex. It was formed after a jihad (fighting) fatwa was issued by Iraq’s religious authority without any material expectations. Its existence presents a guard against the Shiites’ enemies.