Should a Muslim force be set up for Iraq?

Saudi Arabia has signalled that it might take a lead in forming a Muslim international military force to help establish security in Iraq.

The plan was revealed after talks between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and senior Saudi officials in the city of Jeddah.

A senior Saudi official said the kingdom had been contemplating the possibility for the past fortnight.

And that several Islamic nations had been approached.

Meanwhile a report published today by an influential UK Commons committee claims that an insufficient number of foreign troops deployed to Iraq has contributed to the deterioration in security.

What do you think would be the benefits of a Muslim military force in Iraq? Could it establish security? Could it lead to the gradual withdrawal of US and former coalition forces? How bad is the situation in Iraq?

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far.

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Abbas Al-Lawati, Oman: Should a Muslim force be set up for Iraq? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

I don't see a Muslim force for Iraq will put an end to the eerie violence perpetrated by the insurgents. The militants are not even sparing Iraqis or other innocent Muslims of other nations.
Aziz Merchant, Fremont, USA

Of course, a Muslim force would be more understanding towards the majority Muslim population of Iraq. But it doesn't take a scholar in Islam to know not to shoot at mosques, strip people, and use dogs as weapons... Furthermore, Muslims are not homogeneous and some of the issues in Iraq oppose factions of Muslims; a Muslim force could get caught in a way a non-Muslim force would not. So no, a Muslim force should not be sent to Iraq.
Kpdodo, Mauritius

It's time Muslim countries takes responsibility and clean the mess in Iraq Zafar Shaikh, Ohio, USA

For long Muslim countries have been mere spectators of conflicts in Muslim countries. It's time Muslim countries takes responsibility and clean the mess in Iraq. It does not matters who created this mess, lots of Muslims are being killed for no reason. Muslim countries with relative liberties and free press like Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and Pakistan could be involved but not brutal dictator ruled countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria.
Zafar Shaikh, Ohio, USA

Such a Muslim force will be viewed as a band of traitors and fakes by religious fanatics in the region. Fundamentalists of any religion don't respond well to logic and peace.
Gary, Seoul, Korea

Judging from the fact that the proposal included a restriction that soldiers from none of the six countries bordering Iraq would be party to the peacekeeping force, many people who posted here obviously didn't read past the headline. Furthermore, extrapolating their statements, one would believe that no outside force is suitable to help with peacekeeping until the Iraqis can assume the responsibility themselves. To all those who have objected to every proposal to transfer responsibility for security, what is your viable alternative?
Mark, USA

A Muslim force will simply create another target for the insurgence. Because the troops are Muslim it does not mean that they will do a better job in policing Iraq. The Americans must stay and sort out their mess. In recent days we have seen two Muslim Pakistani workers killed in Iraqi, introducing troops from the region can only server to destabilize the whole Arab world. Maybe that's what America wants.
Ian Golding, Malmo, Sweden

As a Muslim I would not want to be used as a human shield for the Americans. The US just wants a Muslim army standing in front of their Marines so that the insurgents shooting at US soldiers might hesitate or hit us instead. Muslims were not apart of this invasion, so why should we be part of the clean up?
Ahmed, Canada

This may be the only substitution for the UN Troops Ahmed Afifi, Sydney

I thing it's a good idea. This may be the only substitution for the UN Troops. I also thing that, this may calm down those rebels. Then they wouldn't see the coalition forces or any other as invaders.
Ahmed Afifi, Sydney, Australia

I have a novel thought, have the Iraqi people vote on this idea!
Alan, Oakland, California, USA

Great, a Saudi (Sunni and possibly Wahabi) force to occupy and patrol a mainly Shia country, should all get on like a house on fire. Another own goal from the coalition of the incompetent.
James Scobbie, Scotland

I think it is a clever idea by the Saudis (I can't believe I just said that). But for it to work the Muslim force must distance itself from the US forces. And the US must pull of its troops, the US presence in Iraq is part of the problem and can't be part of the solution.
Wael Hendawi, Endhoven, Netherlands

America asking for the support of Islamic countries in Iraq shows its weakness. By helping coalition of the willing and its crimes, Islamic countries will also become the part of the crimes.
Tariq Ahmed, Sweden

The peoples of the area certainly have the ability to be contributors Dwight Sinila, Michigan

The concept of a Muslim force taking a leadership role in the area is long overdue. Given the responsibility to bring peace and democracy to Iraq may serve as a stimulus for these countries to enter into the 20th Century. The peoples of the area certainly have the ability to be contributors, let's hope they have the resolve.
Dwight Sinila, Michigan, USA

Now the Saudis want to move in and take control of the oil fields in Iraq. Looks like they got their puppet president to use the American military to secure the oil for their distribution. November 2 can't come fast enough.
Bryant Lister, Gresham, Oregon, USA

I don't really think sending troops from Muslim countries would solve the problem. US and Britain should clean up the mess they have created for their own vested interests over the expense of the lives of innocent civilians.
Jasvant Singh, Pakistan

It is the right direction. A Muslim military force will have more acceptance, and will enjoy full respect of Iraq people compared to non-Muslims.
Faztudo Langisse, Maputo, Mozambique

The Saudis jump to save the Bush family again. Did we hear Wahabism and democratization now are hand in hand!
Maher, Sydney, NS

No. Let the Americans and British clear this mess. Let them prove it by themselves that Iraq is a better place than before.
Sajid Amin, Belgium

In my opinion, sending troops from Islamic countries is the worst idea ever. Everybody seems to forget that the majority of Islamic countries are run by dictators, their troops have only one purpose to serve and that is to oppress their populations and protect the ruling regime. There are two reasons why the dictators of these countries will send these troops, firstly, this might be due to American pressure as the majority of them are American puppets and have no choice in the matter if they want to keep their leadership positions, and secondly, they might just want a piece of Iraqi wealth and the presence of their troops in Iraq will provide them with a power base.

These decisions will also affect the countries whose troops are sent, an increase in militant activities and a further reduction in the minimal freedoms these people enjoy. So the results will be disastrous for all concerned, the normal Iraqis and the normal civilians of Muslim countries. Let the Iraqis rule themselves and keep away any involvement from Muslim states if any democracy is to be established in Iraq.
Ali, London, UK

You can't be serious? Never mind the fact that the Saudi army, though well equipped, is a laughing stock; I thought the idea here was to limit the influence of these Wahabi fanatics? Let's hope common sense prevails...
Jonathan, Lexington, KY (ex UK)

This is a good idea, but care needs to be taken to ensure that any Muslim troops entering Iraq aren't going to side with one ethnic group over another.
Jim, NJ, USA

The police recruits that get blown up everyday... are they not Muslims? The questions is not whether the army should be a Muslim one or not, but rather what their agenda will be! If it is the same as the US and its new puppet ruler i.e. to colonize the land and subjugate the locals, then I fear this new Muslim force will face the same hostility as the police recruits!
Imran Khan, London, UK

Independent Muslim country army yes but not under US or British command. So long as the US and British army are there, there will be no peace. Fanatic people will continue using this issue for their cause.
Sudra, India

A Muslim army will probably be able to neutralise the aggression of insurgents and potential ones. The sense of paranoia amongst the coalition and Iraqis opposed to their freedom is high.
Ayesha Bhayat, Johannesburg, South Africa

Pakistan also has a long history of peace keeping operations. Ultimately I do not believe additional forces are needed for Iraq. It will be up to Iraqi to take up responsibility for their own internal security. More foreign forces will not contribute to stabilizing internal security. Coalition forces should withdraw from these activities and remain only to safeguard Iraq from foreign forces.
Huan Vu, United States

A Muslim force is a good idea, but it must consist of non-Arabs as well as Arabs. The Kurds, for good reason, would fear armed Arab troops in their country.
Ben, USA

Any forces deemed to be helping the Iraqi Interim Government (which was, if not selected by the US, approved by them and which uses US forces as its rottweiler) will be under severe threat, as seen already by the attacks on any of its agents or potential recruits. The Islamic force will be in an even worse position, being seen as turncoats.
Gordon McAuslane, Kampala, Uganda

I think it is the right step for the Bush administration getting the Muslim Nations to assist in bringing this entire Iraqi nightmare to a end! This was the path that the United Nations wanted to take but America didn't allow reasons to prevail, thinking that she was going to defeat a sitting government like Iraq within a day or two. Now we all know the continued results of this mess America has caused.
Joe Noutoua Wandah, Accra, Ghana

There should be an Arab army but it should not include Malaysia, Pakistan or Indonesia. When you send these other so called Muslim countries, this will allow the insurgents to take them as hostages. They would be more reluctant to take a Syrian or a Lebanese hostage because in the Arab world the value of a Syrian life is higher than a Pakistani life.
Behyar, Washington DC

When is America going to leave and leave for good? Don't they have their own problems to sort out.
Oycan Mohammed, London, England

Nothing will change with Muslim forces in Iraq as long as US wants them in.
Ayub Nuri, Baghdad, Iraq

Those who were against this war at the beginning should setup a war crime court for Mr Tony Blair and Bush. Then same people must select a force to heal the wound of the poor Iraqi people.
Naser Nehzat, Isfahan, Iran

I don't think any Muslim country except for Turkey has experience or capability in leading an international peacekeeping force. What good would an inexperienced Muslim force do in Iraq? Go in and pray that the insurgency will go? Let go of the religion thing please and send in whoever is capable of saving lives.
Ipek Ruacan, Ankara, Turkey

This is an important development. It will give legitimacy to the new government in Baghdad, while hopefully at the same time; pull the religious/ideological rug out from underneath the insurgents.
Andy, Canada

This may seem like a good idea on the surface, but it would cause outrage within the nations involved. Many Muslims would consider this equivalent to fighting alongside Satan himself. If serious insurrection spreads to Saudi Arabia, both of the world's largest oil reserves could go offline, and the global economy would be devastated. This policy should not be pursued until US troops have left Iraq.
Jon E, France

A neutral Muslim country in the conflict will be welcome but Saudi Arabia will be targeted.
Mecano, Canada

No, as an Iraqi Muslim we should not allow this to happen, because how can you trust the Saudi government to take part. Do not forget Bin Laden and his criminals are considered to be Muslim. Please let USA and UK and other states help poor Iraqis to stand on their feet again... please listen to our appeal. There is no real good and humane Muslim country in this world.
KG Alshami, Sydney, Australia