Some Good News from Fallujah

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20040516/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_fallujah_1

Iraqi General Urges Support of U.S. Troops

2 hours, 6 minutes ago

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By KATARINA KRATOVAC, Associated Press Writer

FALLUJAH, Iraq - A former Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)-era general appointed by the Americans to lead an Iraqi security force in the rebellious Sunni stronghold of Fallujah urged tribal elders and sheiks Sunday to support U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq.

Retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdul-Latif rose to prominence after nearly monthlong battles last month between the Marines monthlong battles in April between the Marines and insurgents hunkered down in Fallujah's neighborhoods.

"We can make them (Americans) use their rifles against us or we can make them build our country, it's your choice," Latif told a gathering of more than 40 sheiks, city council members and imams in an eastern Fallujah suburb.

The siege of this city of 200,000 people, located about 40 miles west of Baghdad, was lifted when top Marine officers announced the creation of the Fallujah Brigade — a force made exclusively of former Iraqi army officers.

The Marines withdrew from Fallujah into the rural hinterland and far-flung suburbs, allowing the Iraqi force to take up positions and start patrols inside the city. The brigade is expected to number about 1,500 men, many of them conscripts or noncommissioned officers under Saddam.

They are expected to fight the guerrillas, although some of the same insurgents who fought the Marines last month will likely join the brigade.

On Sunday, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment provided security for the gathering in Kharma.

Latif, 66, a native of Baghdad, urged the elders to talk freely, citing the Muslim holy book, the Quran.

"The Quran says we should sit together, discuss and make a decision, but let it be the right decision," the silver-haired Latif — a slim figure wearing a blue shirt and dark blue tie and pants — told the sheiks.

The venue offered a rare insight into Latif's interactions and influence over Fallujah elders. As he spoke, many sheiks nodded in approval and listened with reverence to his words. Later, they clasped his hands and patted Latif on the back.

Latif, speaking in Arabic to the sheiks, defended the Marines and the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

"They were brought here by the acts of one coward who was hunted out of a rathole — Saddam — who disgraced us all," Latif said. "Let us tell our children that these men (U.S. troops) came here to protect us.

"As President Bush (news - web sites) said, they did not come here to occupy our land but to get rid of Saddam. We can help them leave by helping them do their job, or we can make them stay ten years and more by keeping fighting."

Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, the Marine battalion commander, said, "No truer words have been spoken here today than those by General Latif."

Latif also told the insurgents to "stop doing stupid things."

"Those bullets that are fired will not get the Americans out, let them finish their job here so that they can return to their country," Latif said.

"Our country is precious, stop allowing the bad guys to come from outside Iraq to destroy our country."

Latif, a former military intelligence officer said to have been imprisoned by Saddam and exiled, praised the former Iraqi army.

"The army used to be honest until Saddam made the men turn into beasts, take bribes, betray their own country," he said. "The real army is the army that works hard to serve its own citizens, with courage and strength."

After the meeting, Latif told The Associated Press that the situation in Fallujah has greatly improved, that "winds of peace" prevail in the city and the people that fled the fighting have returned. He would not elaborate on the size or current activities of the Fallujah Brigade.

"Let us speak about peace," Latif said in English. "Fallujah was an open wound, now it's healing."

Lets hope this is a sign of things to come.

Originally posted by Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin

Latif, a former military intelligence officer said to have been imprisoned by Saddam and exiled ...

There's America's problem right there.

The US should have recruited officers from the military who weren't exiled and thus tainted in the eyes of Iraqi's as pro-American or pro-West. The entire Iraqi army was instead dispersed and dissolved and its soldiers left defeated, unemployed and frustrated, just looking for ways to get back at the victor.

Originally posted by 979guy

There's America's problem right there.

The US should have recruited officers from the military who weren't exiled and thus tainted in the eyes of Iraqi's as pro-American or pro-West. The entire Iraqi army was instead dispersed and dissolved and its soldiers left defeated, unemployed and frustrated, just looking for ways to get back at the victor.

I say, look to get more of the guys saddam exiled on our side, hell, most these Iraqis were scared of saddam, and knew of people wrongly ousted by him and obstained from doing things in from fear of this tyrant.

The only people who will think that these guys are "tanted" are saddam loyalist.

Originally posted by panel

The only people who will think that these guys are "tanted" are saddam loyalist.

Probably not only Saddam loyalists, but what harm would it do to gain the support, or at least the non-violence of former Saddam loyalists? Do you intend to battle it out in Iraq for all eternity or is the objective to regain quiet and try to rebuild the place?

979guy, the problem is that even the appointment of Latif has angered some Shiites, who don't particularly like the idea of any former members of Saddam's regime being in positions of power in post-Saddam Iraq. To put it mildly, this whole damn situation's more prickly than a porcupine at a tumbleweed convention. That's certainly not to say that retreat is the answer, just that securing the groundwork for anything resembling a democracy in Iraq is gonna continue to be hard work.

Latif was a solid choice, because I believe he fought in the Iran-Iraq was and was visibly loyal to his country until his falling out with Saddam. He is an ideal compromise - someone with solid army and patriotic credentials who wasn't around quite long enough to be implicated in any war crimes.. He's not some guy decades removed like Chalabi.

I think a lot of people in Iraq have a problem telling the difference between the Anti-Saddam Iraqi's and Anti-Iraq Iraqi's. Even if its easier for us. They don't have accept to the same information we do.....propaganda still festers in their minds.......and word of mouth is still the most powerful communication device.

Originally posted by Bufford 3.3

I think a lot of people in Iraq have a problem telling the difference between the Anti-Saddam Iraqi's and Anti-Iraq Iraqi's. Even if its easier for us. They don't have accept to the same information we do.....propaganda still festers in their minds.......and word of mouth is still the most powerful communication device.

Good point, Bufford.

I actually don't expect every word from the mouths of Iraqis to be praising the US, even those sympathetic to our cause. It's just not human nature. Even if we destroyed North Korea's government, there will be huge numbers of people who will be upset or at least resentful.

All I want to hear is that Iraqis are moving in the right direction. In time, they can "forgive us" for freeing them and a more mature relationship can be forged with them.

I'm also not one of those people who thinks EVERY LAST insurgent is nothing but a blood-sucking terrorist. You still have to kill them on the battlefield, but there's nothing wrong with finding ways to drive wedges between the Iraqis who don't know any better and the foreign terrorists and Ba'athist holdovers and AQ. That kind of co-opting is something that was widely utilized in Vietnam and worked pretty well in the latter stages of the war.

its a different world over there....and its no Black n White.

It is possible to hate Saddam and want him gone while wishing the US to stay away from the situation.