Iraqi Tribes Strike Back at Insurgents

Washington Post ^ | March 7, 2006 | John Ward Anderson

[jmc1969]

First they killed the chief of the Naim tribe and his son. Then they killed a top tribal sheik who headed the Fallujah city council. Then they assassinated the leader of the al-Jubur tribe.

And now the reported killers of all these men -- al-Qaeda in Iraq, the insurgent group of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- have a powerful new enemy.

Tribal chiefs in Iraq's western Anbar province and in an area near the northern city of Kirkuk, two regions teeming with insurgents, are vowing to strike back at al-Qaeda in Iraq, a Sunni-led group that is waging war against Sunni tribal leaders who are cooperating with the Iraqi government and the U.S. military.

Separately, more than 300 tribal chiefs, politicians, clerics, security officials and other community leaders met last week in Hawijah, about 35 miles southwest of Kirkuk, and "declared war" on al-Qaeda in Iraq.

"Forming the group did not come from nothing," said Khalaf al-Fahdawi, a leader of the Sunni Albu Fahd tribe in Anbar. "It came from a need to destroy al-Qaeda, which we thought the Marines might have been able to do. We were wrong, since these armed men became stronger and raped other cities."

Hawijah leaders said they, too, wanted to create a militia to enforce their threats, but that U.S. military officials were opposed to the idea. For the time being, they said, they would intensify their cooperation with Iraqi military and police units.

A fighter in Zarqawi's group, calling himself Abu Azzam, said the al-Anbar Revolutionaries "are collaborators and dogs for America. They kill the mujaheddin to get money from the American crusaders. They are cowards and we have killed a lot of them. . . . All the people here support us and our jihad against the Americans and their followers."

[yoe]

Sounds a bit like Nancy Pelosi.............

[Billthedrill]

"Forming the group did not come from nothing," said Khalaf al-Fahdawi, a leader of the Sunni Albu Fahd tribe in Anbar. "It came from a need to destroy al-Qaeda, which we thought the Marines might have been able to do. We were wrong, since these armed men became stronger and raped other cities."

They might if they weren't being shot at by both sides, numbnuts.

[Marine_Uncle]

Heaven only knows how many ali babba are pushing up daisies. At any rate, more good news coming out. Sure looks like the tide has changed. To many like reports coming out over the past few months in many areas. Now as you posted from the CBS video, even areas in some of the former really bad Baghdad neighborhoods are calling the GI's to come in and clean up.
So someone does not have to correct me. Sure Hell if their rotten souls are now there, also knows, but ultimately the Lord of Hosts knows the whole deal.

[Hilltop]

Oh, you can bet your sweet ass the USMC can stomp a puddle in your ass and walk it dry.

Of course, the dogs of war are on a political leash.

Kiss your ass goodbye if they are ever unleashed.

This Billthedrill is not posted to you....of course, you knew that.

[lesser_satan]

Fahdawi, the sheik from the Albu Fahd tribe, said the militia was forged in a series of secret meetings among tribal leaders, each of whom was asked to help form the group. Some contributed men, some money, Fahdawi said. U.S. military officers attended some of the meetings, he said, and helped "with "all kinds of financial support."

As the meetings were held in secret, Mr. Fahdawi, I rather suspect you were supposed to clam the f--- up about the attendees and the source of the money.

[jmc1969]

250 million was appropriated this year for helping to 'motivate' Sunni tribes to join the war against the insurgents.

[lesser_satan]

Money well spent, IMHO.

[Marine_Uncle]

I should have added, like most of us need to be reminded at this point. The more these towns and cities work with us and the Iraqi army and police units, the less likely any of them are going to want to harm any American soldiers/Marines. As we get closer to them, as over the past two years, and clean out their neighborhoods of resistance, they get work contracts to improve their towns. We come in and offer medical facilities, install or improve their water treatment plants, sewage systems, schools etc.. It has been an ongoing system, that of course the L/MSM hardly lift a finger to report on for the obviouse reasons.
At the same time, we attempt to convince them to sign up as new police and soldiers. As this process continues relations between us and them continue to grow better.
This crap that Iraqis want us out of Iraq is misleading as far as I am concerned. I have read to much that says the opposite is true. Damn L/MSM go into some frigen still bad area of say Baghdad and asked a few folks if they want us to leave, that most likely are supporters of the insurgency, and then make it look like all Iraqi hate us.

[soloNYer]

In this one case, I don't care that their warped reasons include a swipe at the Marines, I'm just happy they are standing up for themselves against the enemy.

Of course the Washington Post loves that they can throw this line in while cringing at a story that deflects from the Inevitable Civil War theory.

[freema]

"It came from a need to destroy al-Qaeda, which we thought the Marines might have been able to do."

Horsecrap.

"We were wrong..."

Horsecrap again.

"...since these armed men became stronger and raped other cities."

Horsecrap, thrice. YOU allowed them to become stronger and rape other cities, baby.


"Hawijah leaders said they, too, wanted to create a militia to enforce their threats, but that U.S. military officials were opposed to the idea."

DUH!

"For the time being, they said, they would intensify their cooperation with Iraqi military and police units."

OK. Now why am I reminded of an old favorite...


MY WAY.

[freema]

The could just drop me off for coffee on a PMS PreMenopausal "good" day, the 'dogs' have been working hard ; )

[freema]

The=They
or
The=The President

[WOSG]

"250 million was appropriated this year for helping to 'motivate' Sunni tribes to join the war against the insurgents."

Good.

It was nutty of us not to build a paid network of 100,000 informants and lackeys back in 2003 when it would have been cheap. Not to mention disbanding an army we could have put on bases instead and groomed to rebuild an army... $100/month each, meant we could have had a veritable army for $120 million a year.

Too many State Dept milquetoast types who dont deign to bribe a local.

[Just A Nobody]

Not to mention disbanding an army we could have put on bases

The army needed to be disbanded. The Iraqi people would NEVER have trusted saddams' army. The new Iraqi army have worked very hard to earn the trust and acceptance of the Iraqis.

[Allegra]

"It came from a need to destroy al-Qaeda, which we thought the Marines might have been able to do. We were wrong, since these armed men became stronger and raped other cities."

The Marines killed a lot of them and got Fallujah back for you. As well as Tall Afar and other cities and towns.

You need to help out and you're doing the right thing by realizing that.

It is your country, after all.

[jmc1969]

No, the old Iraqi Army didn't have to be the new security force for Iraq. The US could have put them on the Iranian and Syrian border. Anything but disbandening the army and leaving tens of thousands of angry Sunni men with no money and their only skill being warfare.

[Just A Nobody]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Mine was formed by listening to people that live in Iraq. I trust what they say.

[eureka!]

fyi