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After one of the bloodiest weekends ever in Iraq, in which over 220 people were killed as the result of car bombings, suicide bombings, and shootings, Iraqi civilians have decided that they've had enough. They have lost confidence in the ability of Iraq's security forces to protect them and bring peace to the shattered country.

Calls for Iraqis to arm and defend themselves against extremist attacks were sounded throughout the country on Sunday. Sunni Arab vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi said that all Iraqis had to pay the price of terrorism, and that they should expect the security forces to protect them. However, he added, if the security forces cannot protect them, then it is up to them to provide their own protection. He called for government funding to arm the civilians, as well as establishing a committee that would ensure proper use of those weapons. In essence, al-Hashemi wants a civilian militia that is funded and overseen by the government.

Personally, I think this is the way to go. If we help arm the citizenry-the everyday people-not those already affiliated with a militant group, then we will have taken our first step in allowing the Iraqis to take over operations for themselves. One of the largest obstacles facing the US in Iraq right now is the lack of experienced Iraqi forces. This lack of experience not only makes them an ineffective fighting force, but also ensures that the US will spend many more years in Iraq-after all we cannot "cut and run". However, if we support a plan to create localized militias whose only directive would be to protect their home province from extremist attacks we will be creating a pool of combat experienced soldiers. True, they may not be officially part of Iraq's Security Forces, but they would still be a valuable asset in the fight against the insurgents. The most appealing part of this plan, for me anyway, is the fact that the government would be working alongside the volunteers, training and monitoring them. Also, since those involved would not leave their home province to perform their duties. This will help decrease the likelihood of vendettas being carried out in the name of peace and stability.

Sure, there is the potential problem that the citizenry, once armed, will turn those weapons on US and Coalition forces, but that is unlikely. The people who will join the militias will be the Iraqis who want the fighting in their country to end. They are the ones willing to take up arms against the insurgents and risk their lives so that they can have a better country. They would not be the ones we are fighting already (which is why we should not arm the Sunnis), further decreasing the chances that any weapons supplied to them would be used against US forces.

If the US and Iraqi governments support this call to action they would be that much closer to getting the US out of Iraq and establishing a more permanent and secure Iraqi government. This will not happen overnight, and even with the arming and creation of these city militias there will still be much bloodshed, but it could be an important first step toward stabilizing Iraq and bringing American troops home.

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