State gifts to militia commanders
If you are a militia commander and fought -- and perhaps killed U.S. troops or members of a rival militia -- now is your time to cash in. Iraqi government officials are using their power to give land to leaders of both main Shiite militias: the Badr Brigade and the Mahdi army (of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr).
The officials -- many themselves members or supporters of the militias -- are giving out plots of state property, as well and positions in the army and police, according to a senior U.S. military commander. They are rewards to the militia leaders who led battles, or were injured.
It could be the militia leaders are afraid they will not have as much power in the next government and are cashing in now ... or that they remain confident and are just doing a little profit-taking during this militia bull market.
Get-out-the-vote – Iraqi style
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