- BAGHDAD: The "militarization" of Iraqi society puts the country at risk of military coups, Vice President Adil Abdel-Mahdi said in remarks quoted by Baghdad's Al-Mada daily on Tuesday.
- Abdel-Mahdi said the country's 1 million police officers and soldiers mean that there is one policeman for every 30 Iraqis — and that at least one member of every family is part of the security forces.
"There is a historical precedent in this case. The country is set for military coups," the vice president said.
A 1958 military coup toppled the Iraqi monarchy and set the stage for a string of successive coups that brought the Baath Party to power.
"The militarization of society just does not make political, social, or economic sense," Abdel-Mahdi added.
Abdel-Mahdi faulted the government for using the security forces to provide jobs to the nation's unemployed young men.
"This is a pressure on the Iraqi economy, because reinforcements and arms are expensive and not necessary."
Abdel-Mahdi, one of Iraq's two vice presidents, added that there are four divisions in Baghdad alone.
"Such a large number is a serious indication of the militarization of society."
When Iraqi security forces put the capital on lock-down last month following intelligence of a planned car-bombing attack, rumors there had been a military coup spread so quickly that military spokesman Mohammed Askari was obliged to deny them in a noon press conference.
"The security forces can't stage a coup. Our security forces are professional," Askari told reporters in Baghdad. "The era of coups is gone."