Kurds want to keep the Pesh Merga as a security safety belt

The New York Times reported Sunday that Kurdish leaders say they intend to write into the constitution a system granting considerable powers to individual regions, one that will legitimize their use of the pesh merga. Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said, " We want to keep our pesh merga. It's not a matter to be discussed." There are about 100,000 recruits in the pesh merga giving Kurdish leaders power over the region. The pesh merga, allies of the U.S, were used to fight in the ousting of the former Saddam Bath Party and are seen to have considerable power in the northern provinces. The Shiites also have their own militia that is 15,000 strong and are already operating in the southern Shiite areas enforcing strict Islamic law. The Sunni Arabs who are the minority in Iraq are expected to reject any such right to the present militias dominating the country. Â