Joint patrols, will that really work?

BAGHDAD, April 15 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – U.S. forces converted what was once a symbol of Saddam Hussein's rule into a prison for those who were caught indiscriminately ransacking their city in the days after the Iraqi strongman's regime collapsed, according to press reports Tuesday, April 15.

The courtyard of Baghdad's town hall is filling up with some of the city's looters, on their knees, heads covered with cloth sacking and hands tied behind their backs.

U.S. marines have deployed tanks, Humvees and jeeps around the courtyard between two town hall buildings.

Some heavily armed soldiers stretch out on the grass while others take aim at nine sweating looters, barefoot and in rags, trussed and with heads lowered, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

One prisoner is pushed roughly to the floor. A marine pulls the detainee's shirt up over his head so he can't see what's going on in the complex. He is made to lie out in the dust, as his fellow looters are.

One of them cries out "Please!", but soldiers shout "Shut your mouth! I am not your friend!"

According to the Independent correspondent, the ride was unexpected and unofficial, and no law enforcement whatsoever took place. But it was an opportunity to witness one of the first police patrols in Baghdad since the American occupation.

The U.S. military authorities had asked for 100 of Baghdad's law enforcement officers to attend the National Police Academy to launch joint U.S.-Iraqi patrols to restore calm. Nearly 2,000 officers, serving and retired, turned up and the scene soon degenerated into confusion. Many refused to go out on patrol because the Americans did not want them to carry side arms. "That may work in Britain," said Major Hamed Hassan, 50. "But here the criminals have guns."

Several marines keep guard over the prisoners. A jeep pulls up with a man face down on the front. His hands are bound behind his back and feet tied tight with the strong, thin tape shopkeepers use to gift wrap presents.

"He robbed a bank," the driver says. In the back of the jeep are four Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles.

"They belong to these nine looters. They attacked shops and passers-by while threatening them with their weapons," the soldier explained.

Looters, finally stopped?

"From now we are banning looting and carrying arms in the streets. Order must come back to the city."

The nine looters were arrested in the main shopping precinct in the Baghdad district of Sorja by a squad of marines to the applause of passers-by exasperated by widespread looting.

"Bush, Bush!" cried the people, but the soldiers were so nervous they shouted at them to back off.

"We want security. We want to be able to open our shops. We don't want to see these bandits. The Americans must act. What they've done is good but it's not enough," said trader Kazem Ali.

In a Humvee transporting them to the town hall, the soldiers mete out tough treatment to the prisoners. If one raises his head in an effort to breathe, he is screamed at to lower his head at gunpoint.

U.S. troops Monday started joint patrols with Iraqi security forces in a bid to restore order to the capital hit by looting and violence after the fall of the Baghdad regime.

The decision to institute the joint patrols was taken at a meeting of U.S. military officials, Iraqi civilian leaders and officials of humanitarian groups operating in Iraq.

Iraqi anger had been growing over continued lawlessness in the country, with a spate of looting breaking out in the capital and other cities after Saddam's regime fell on Wednesday.