Iraqi military disbanded as US plans new army

The military that failed to protect Saddam Hussein’s regime suffered its final humiliation as the American occupation force ordered the dismantling of the Iraqi army and the Republican Guard, to be replaced by a “New Iraqi Corps”.

The security services and paramilitary groups that formed the pillars of Saddam’s Iraq were also were abolished yesterday under the decree issued by Paul Bremer, the top civilian administrator.

The move leaves tens of thousands of professional soldiers out of work, their future uncertain as US officials work to build a new army without Saddam supporters.

Also consigned to history was the information ministry, the regime’s propaganda and media-control arm, which became infamous for denying American troops were in Baghdad when US tanks could be seen and heard in the city centre. The ministry had tightly controlled Iraq’s media and the work of foreign journalists and was closely tied to Saddam.

“These actions are part of a robust campaign to show the Iraqi people that the Saddam regime is gone, and will never return,” the United States said in a statement.

The announcement came days after the American authorities banned the Baath Party and dismissed its members from future public service. It reflects US determination to crush the regime’s remnants ahead of a conference of political, ethnic and religious groups that will pave the way for an interim government.

Like the Baath Party edict before it, yesterday’s decree was largely administrative. Iraq’s military melted away in the wake of its defeat by the US-led coalition, and today it no longer represents an organised force.

But Col Ra’ed Nouri Yacoub, a veteran radar technician in the Iraqi air force, said: “This is not fair. We do not know our future now, and we do not know any other work. We have served our country as soldiers for many years, and suddenly we are thrown out in the street.”

“Most of the army officers have nothing to do with Saddam, but now everybody is punished.”

Bremer said the New Iraqi Corps would be “representative of all Iraqis” and not beholden to politics.

“We know that it’s important to reorganise an Iraqi army in the short term and do it right away,” said Lt Gen David McKiernan, commander of American ground forces.

He said details about the force – and how it would be armed – had not been finalised, but he said it would not start out as large as its predecessor. In the past, US officials have indicated it would include members of the army, navy and air force who were not compromised by their association to the Baath Party and who were not involved in criminal activities.