America's North Shore Journal

So, the short answer is bureaucracy. It does not appear that any sort of anti-Sunni feelings are involved.

Mashadani was arrested under a warrant issued by the Iraqi government. He is suspected of illegally searching, detaining and extorting bribes in excess of $160,000 a month from the citizens of Fahdil, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks that killed Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), leading an IED cell, leading an indirect fire cell, ties to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and collusion with the terrorist network Jaysh al Islami.

The SoI have been in battle and have suffered because of it. In 2008, LTC Kulmayer reports about 500 were killed and about 750 wounded. Pay varies for the SoI, with those in Baghdad being paid $300 a month and those in al Anbar $130 monthly.

“It was my dream to be an IP since I was 12,” said Ammal, an Iraqi Police recruit and former SoI, through an interpreter. “I like to watch American movies. I watched Charlie’s Angels and it gave me motivation to see other females doing stuff and I thought that I can do it too.”

The first successful Iraqi government-led pay period of monthly wages to more than 26,000 Sons of Iraq in Multi-National Division Baghdad’s area of operations in Baghdad, which began Nov. 10, comes to an end Nov. 20.

“The Government of Iraq has followed through on its commitment to pay everyone,” said Lt. Col. Arnold Csan, civil affairs planning team chief and division SoI officer with the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Displaced Iraqi citizens are returning with their families and goods to local communities and muhallahs in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad. During 2008, More than 7,700 families have resettled in their homes and neighborhoods after leaving due to the sectarian violence and intimidation of previous years. Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division — Baghdad, are working with Iraqi security forces to ensure that the Iraqi families return home to security and a sense of normalcy.

Sons of Iraq members and Iraqi Police in Riyadh thwarted an attempt by terrorists to place a bicycle laden with explosives near a busy market area Sept. 21.

A road in a Western Baqubah neighborhood that had been closed to local travelers for more than a year reopened Sept. 1.