Letters to the Editor received from Friday, April 25, to Thursday, May 1.
Rule of Law - Law Day
We of the Army JAG Corps here in northern Iraq are doing much more than
reflecting on the role the rule of law plays in civil society as we approach Law
Day. We are actively engaged in assisting Iraq make the rule of law a reality.
On Monday of this week, I flew from here in Tikrit to Baghdad, picked up the Inspector General of the Ministry of Justice, and flew with him to Kirkuk, where he was able to meet with principle officials from his ministry there for the first time. Then, in the afternoon, he was able to represent the central government of Iraq at a ceremony for the release of over 120 detainees who were released pursuant to a recent statute, Iraq's amnesty law.
We are also actively engaged, in support of Department of Justice officials in each province, in re-surveying Iraqi judicial resources and capabilities, and building secure multi-agency 'rule of law complexes' where the security situation warrants. The security situation is much improved, but now is the time for rule of law efforts to come to the fore, for the sake of continued security, with justice meted out by Iraqi institutions.
–– James H. "Jim" Robinette, II
Lt. Col., U.S. Army Staff Judge Advocate, 1st Armored Division
COB Speicher (Tikrit), Iraq