Nouri al-Maliki gives his side of the story

If you missed the WSJ Interview with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki that appeared on January 2, it's worth reading in full. But here are some extracts:

"What is happening in Iraq is a war of gangs and a terrorist war. That is why it needs to be confronted with strong force and with fast reaction. We need to change the equation in such a way that it is the state that's attacking the terrorists and the terrorists are retreating. For this to happen the commander in chief (of Iraqi armed forces) needs to have in his hands the authority to move forces around. Because the way the Iraqi army and the (U.S.-led) multinational forces operate now is very slow in taking a decision to react. This gives the terrorists a chance to hit and run. And I think the Iraqis themselves must be the ones who fight terrorists and militias because the Iraqis know better how to pursue them. That's why we need command and control over the Iraqi forces and we also need troops at a high level of training and equipment. That is what we agreed upon with President Bush. The security plan we are working on now is based on these concepts and we have it will achieve good results.

"Since the first day I had this job, I held a strong opinion that militias shouldn't exist. Militias grew as a reaction to terrorist attacks, specifically to the attacks against the (Shiite) shrine in Samarra. But they have become a danger to the integrity of the state. I believe the state has the monopoly on armed force and on providing security. I also believe militias have become a safe haven for gangster and outlaws and those who want to sabotage the state. There are difficulties (in disarming militias), but I will continue to confront these difficulties. Sunni leaders want me to disband militias with a political declaration. If militias can be disbanded this way, I have already made many declarations. These things require some preparation, and we need pressure. I've reached a point where I've given orders to Iraqi armed force to attack any outlaws whether they are militias or others. We will continue confronting them with force in addition to other measures aimed at absorbing militia members. Shiite are concerned by terrorist attacks against civilians -- large numbers of them have been killed by the insurgents. But retaliation has to be the responsibility of the government, and not for (militias) to react. Moderate Sunnis and Shias must agree on a front against terrorism because terrorism kills both Shiites and Sunnis.

"I fully understand that reconciliation is a complicated process because it is not only about slogans, it is a matter of will. Reconciliation is a concept based on the principle of recognizing the legitimacy of the state, the constitution and the elections. Those who oppose the political process and whose opposition is driven by sectarian motives don't want to recognize what Iraqis have achieved since the fall of the old regime. They are divided into two groups. The first group has accepted the results of the political process, and the other group is still in opposition. At the front of this group are Saddamists and al-Qaeda and the followers of al-Qaeda. That's why I consider reconciliation to be the most effective way in dealing with the crisis gripping the country now. I think the political field that believes in reconciliation is growing wider and wider. What is happening on the streets is driven by gangs and by forces that don't recognize the value of reconciliation. The groups that we want to see inside the political process have some demands. We have to find solutions to some problems, such as the issue of the old (disbanded) army, of senior officers and of Baath party members and the issue of giving pensions to those members who deserve. There are a number of issues that we are working on."