Iraqi Government Dismisses 1,300 Soldiers, Policement

Iraq's government moved on Sunday to restore discipline within the ranks of the security forces, sacking more that 1300 soldiers and policemen who deserted during recent fighting against Shiite militias in Basra. Is it any wonder? What good are they if they take off when the fighting gets tough. At the same time, Iraq's Cabinet ratcheted up the pressure on anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr by approving draft legislation barring political parties with militias from participating in upcoming provincial elections. Sounds like a good idea to me. Al-Sadr, who heads the country's largest militia, the Mahdi Army, has been under intense pressure from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also a Shiite, to disband the Mahdi Army or face political isolation. Al-Sadr's followers are eager to take part in the local elections because they believe they can take power away from rival Shiite parties in the vast, oil rich Shiite heartland of southern Iraq.