Anbar Awakens Part II: Hell is Over (GREAT< GREAT READ)

michaeltotten.com ^ | 09/18/2007 | milwguy

[milwguy]

Violence has declined so sharply in Ramadi that few journalists bother to visit these days. It’s “boring,” most say, and it’s hard to get a story out there – especially for daily news reporters who need fresh scoops every day. Unlike most journalists, I am not a slave to the daily news grind and took the time to embed with the Army and Marines in late summer.

................“We don’t need to wear body armor or helmets,” he said.

I was poleaxed. Without even realizing it, I had taken off my body armor and helmet. I took my gear off as casually as I do when I take it off after returning to the safety of the base after patrolling. We were not in the safety of the base and the wire. We were safe because we were in Ramadi.

[WVNan]

Amazing! Thanks for posting.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Interesting link, thanks.

That interview squares pretty well with what I’ve read: the the brutality of the extreme Islamic Militants (both those identifying themselves as “Al Qaeda in Iraq” and others) has forged an alliance of convenience between US forces and Sunni Groups such as the “1920 Revolution Brigades” who were attacking US forces a year or two ago.

As I understand it the good news is that this has allowed a massive rebuilding of “civilian” LE, up to something like 15,000 in Anbar from around 2,000 18 months ago, and a corresponding improvement in civic order.

The less pleasant news is that apparently (as expressed in that interview) they owe their allegiance to local leadership rather than to the Central Government.

[Tolik]

Independent Journalism at its best.

Anbar Awakens Part I: The Battle of Ramadi

Anbar Awakens Part II: Hell is Over

Tons of pictures and the first hand observations by a great journalist (as they supposed to be).

If you've never read him, read his archives.

Must Read!

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[Cap Huff]

It is a matter of getting the right balance between local allegiance, self reliance, and national loyalty. (Not only in Iraq, but also in our own good ol’ USA I might add.) The problem in Fallujah seems to be partly that under Saddam, Fallujah had it good with the socialist handouts. Maybe there will be a weaning off of that mentality now, but that may take a generation or more.

Still, there are some good developments.

[secretagent]

Well worth reading, from just a skim now. Thanks very much for posting this.

[Toadman]

bookmark

[USMCPOP]

Thanks for posting this! I really needed it.

[Albion Wilde]

Ping to a brilliant article with lots of pix that show what we are working — and succeeding at — in Iraq.

[Rummyfan]

Thanks for posting this! I expect to see it splashed all over the media ....... Yeah right!

[pgyanke]

The less pleasant news is that apparently (as expressed in that interview) they owe their allegiance to local leadership rather than to the Central Government.

We were no different at our founding...

[donnab]

thank you for posting this...great stuff...
Harry and Nancy would faint.

[jazusamo]

Outstanding piece! Thanks for posting.

[FortWorthPatriot]

"Translation...We can't advance the anti-war agenda by writing about Ramadi anymore."

Kinda drives the point home the "if it bleeds, it leads" philosophy.

It is so discouraging to see such wonderful stories coming out of Iraq only to have "journalists" ignore them because they are "boring."

These "journalists" are pathetic.

[Earthdweller]

This article really got me POed.

...because it is such a fantastic and much needed report that no one!... is going to freaking hear about.

I just want to shove it down the throat of a CNN or NYTimes editor.

[ryan71]

“I just want to shove it down the throat of a CNN or NYTimes editor.”

And sadly, you won’t even see it on Fox News.

[Lurker]

For later.

L

[Earthdweller]

You know if they report it the next day the town will be attacked full force.

Stinking dem scum count on that for political advantage.

[MEG33]

Great Read indeed! God bless our troops.

[bray]

The Surge is Working and Victory is at Hand
This is a story that could have never been written w/o the Surge.

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[ScreamingFist]

Thank you so much for this thread......from part 1.....

“One night,” Lieutenant Markham said, “after several young people were beheaded by Al Qaeda, the mosques in the city went crazy. The imams screamed jihad from the loudspeakers. We went to the roof of the outpost and braced for a major assault. Our interpreter joined us. Hold on, he said. They aren’t screaming jihad against us. They are screaming jihad against the insurgents."