Posted on 05/16/2004 2:32:01 PM PDT by toolbreaker
Iraqi General Urges Support of U.S. Troops
May 16, 2:54 PM (ET)
By KATARINA KRATOVAC
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - A former Saddam Hussein-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 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."
Yeah the General is good, but nowadays you earn respect in irak by sawing the head off an american.
Go ask the germans or japanese which is more profitable in the long run...
Hmmmmm....did a search, didn't come up.
Great news - but the national TV news will ignore it - in fact, they will look for stories to spin (lie) that say the exact oppposite thing.
"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
So they are finally getting it. We're not leaving until the job is done. If you want us out, let us finish our job without trying to kill us and we'll help you build your country. Why the hell could they have not understood this earlier. This is exactly what President Bush had in mind from the get go.
Can we clone this guy?
"Retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdul-Latif This guy seems to get it."
Yup, He sure does. Thanks for posting this.
Well it's a start. Before now no one was saying the correct things. I hope he knows deep down that he needs to says this a lot.
I think how hard and dangerous this is for him to say considering what position he once held before we took out Saddam. Lets hope it catches on.
While I don't trust him 100%(after all, he is a former general under Sadam) at least his remarks are positive. This is what we have needed from the beginning. And if this is successful maybe it will save many lives, especially American lives rather than the all out assault on Fallujah that many were wanting a few weeks ago.
Uh, not really, most Iraqis were horrified by that act.
Frankly, the Nick Berg murder was a reminder of how barbaric our enemy truly is. Those terrorists also killed schoolgirls in Basra a few weeks back.
Most Iraqis are appalled by that. The respect for the coalition in Iraq and opposition to violence is there in Iraq:
http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/
The saddest incident for the citizens during my last visit was the death of a coalition soldier from Netherlands in a grenade attack. The small town was shocked and I could hear everyone say, “who did this crime is a stranger and he’s not of us for sure”.
Many of the town’s known figures, officials and tribal leaders headed to the coalition base to declare their support to the coalition and to condemn the crime, one of those men said-with apparent affection-during the funeral ceremonies “our loss is big and we feel ashamed; you’re our guests but we couldn’t protect your men’s live; we’re terribly sorry”.
s Ronald Reagan said "trust but verify". He was imprisoned and banished by Saddam, so he has been vetted more than most.
Go figure that?
"Meanwhile, the Iraqi general leading a force that controls Falluja said he had no plans to disarm insurgents, defying demands by U.S. commanders who appointed him and raising tension with Marines encircling the restive city."
LOL That's what I get for not reading the *whole* thing. Dang it, Now I have to go back and finish reading the story! ;O)
This shows how low the Democrats have sunk.
A former Saddam Major General makes more sense and shows more support for the troops-than Kerry and the Democrats.
Go figure that?"
Not hard to figure out. Democrats simply want to win and will stop short of nothing. They don't even believe their own positions, one reason it's pointless debating these issues with them. They know you're right, but they want power *that* bad. I see this story as perhaps the most positive development in Iraq in months. Now we just need to make sure we cover this General with as much protection as possible.
Nah, click on the word "meanwhile" in my post... It's an entirely different Reuters article that I linked to.
If you don't want to register for WaPo for my "Meanwhile" article post, here's a link to the article on Reuters own server:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5146492
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