3/28/2007 Iraqi Police Execute Dozens in Retaliation

The day after two truck bombs went off in the Iraqi city of Tall Afar, Shiitegunmen and police killed as many as 60 people in what appeared to be a retaliatoryattack. Tall Afar was cited by President Bush as a success a year ago that the "exampleof Tall Afar gives me confidence in our strategy."

The Washington Post reported the story:

But parts of the city reverted to chaos and carnage Wednesday as gunmen wentdoor to door assassinating as many as 60 people in revenge for the previousday's truck bombings, Iraqi military and government officials said. The attackwas startling for several reasons, including the alleged participation of policeofficers in the killings and the implication that the six-week-old Baghdadsecurity plan might be allowing violence to metastasize outside the capital.

But perhaps most ominous was the resurgence of reprisal killing at a timewhen U.S. and Iraqi officials have noted optimistically that Shiites haveresponded with restraint to recent insurgent bombings. The violence in Tall Afarfollows Shiite reprisal attacks on three Sunni mosques south of Baghdad onSunday, and it suggested to some Iraqi officials that Shiites are losingpatience with government security forces.

Iraqi police are alleged to have been affiliated with death squads in thepast. British troops have arrested police officers accused of leading deathsquads. That story can be found here  ABCNews .

How can we possibly have victory with this type of retaliation and behavior going on?