That's gonna leave a mark:
Iraq's government has offered a reward of $17,200 (£10,300) for each foreign militant killed from al-Qaeda or the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), a former affiliate.
A larger reward of $25,800 (£15,500) is being offered for the capture of militants belonging to the two groups.
While the fact that the reward for a living jihadi is encouraging on the surface. The ease of proving a dead Sunni is a jihadi will be far easier than proving a living and talking prisoner is a jihadi. So Iraqis will go the dead route and make a profit on volume.
In theory, rewards are good. But it should be for named leaders.
Otherwise, Iraqi Shias will get rich on the theory that any running foreign Sunni Arab is a jihadi; and any foreign Sunni Arab standing still is a well-disciplined jihadi.
This will not help cement a new Awakening alliance against al Qaeda. I suggest Vice President Biden--who is the administration point man on Iraq--get on the line with the Iraqis to urge a quick change to this offer.
