would be "the third time these two units have been reformed and refitted with equipment and weapons after such desertions (UPI, Marines Disband, 15 Aug 04). The new battalion commanders are now discussing with U.S. forces the possibility moving their soldiers and their families to more secure, isolated bases outside the city." "..ICDC troops and police were sometimes so enmeshed in local dynamics that they used their status and power to engage in corrupt practices.." (Salmoni, 54) "National Guard battalions based On the Kurdish militia (peshmerga) or Shi'a militias, performed adequately. Battalions based on Sunnis did not. Disaffected from the Iraqi government and angry at the Coalition, at this stage in the war, Sunnis generally sympathized with the insurgency and had no intention of fighting their fellow tribesmen or family members. There is little doubt that the U.S. military could have done a better job advising and training the Iraqis. Few commanders embedded advisers with local forces." In September 2004, a senior member, General Talib al-Lahibi was arrested on suspicion of having links with insurgent groups. In October 2004, the commander of the 507th ING Battalion, Colonel Mohamed Essa Baher, in Mahmoudiyah, south of Baghdad, barely escaped assassination. Lieutenant Colonel "Haydar Rasool, an Iraqi national guard battalion commander based in Baghdad, says he has lost more than 30 of his 1,000 men over the past year." In December 2004, it was announced that the Iraqi National Guard would be dissolved and merged into the New Iraqi Army. At this time its strength was officially over 40,000 men. The merger was planned to take place on Iraqi Army Day, January 6, 2005. New National Guard In 2016 the Iraqi parliament approved a draft law to recreate a National Guard. The draft law has raised disputes between political parties, and parliament has not yet set a date to take further action. Supporters believe the proposal eventually will be approved. References https://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/sigir/20131001140511/http:/www.sigir.mil/files/assessments/PA-06-056.pdf 609th ING Battalion Garrison], Thi-Qar Governorate Jeanne F. Godfroy, Matthew D. Morton, James S. Powell, and Matthew M. Zais. BArak A. Salmoni, The Evolving Iraqi Security Forces: Anatomy, Vision and Challenges (Part 2), Australian Army Journal, Vol. III, No. 1. Military units and formations of Iraq Military units and formations disestablished in 2005