Iraqi General Urges Support of U.S. Troops Sun May 16, 2:54 PM ET Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo! 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."
This is a guy appointed by the US. Iraqis know this. His saying 'support the US' is hardly going to have an effect. His also being a former Saddam guy might lessen the impact as well. When independant, influencial Iraqis take stands, then it might warrent an " At last." This guy saying this...well, I'm sure, he's said before, or would have any time asked. I don't even see it as news, let alone a long sought after deliverance.
well he is making sense even if he is appointed by the US. but making sense has no place in that part of the world. the only thing that people should do is support radical crazy ideas against america just to spite america.
This is news because it is a case in point of someone with influence stating something that is in progression of our goal...As evidenced by this in the article: 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. The above is indicative of influence...He has already denounced the validity of the Saddam way, while voicing the future and sovereignty of the new and better Iraq!...This is what we want to hear by those with influence and a prescence...By his words, he clearly stands for the good of Iraq and good of the people...
A secular, influential Iraqi that was not part of the Saddam Regime? A pretty rare creature and I am unable to come up with a name at the moment. Barzani and Talabani would be considered secular, influential Iraqis (in the Kurdish areas), but they weren't part of Saddam's Regime. The Religious, influential Iraqis (Sistani, al-Hakim family, al-Sadr etc) are all over the board in regards to the U.S. in Iraq. Not exactly what you requested, but at least in the ballpark. <a HREF="http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/8683567.htm?1c">Pollsters: Most Iraqis favor a democracy</a> <i>Iraqis are likely to say they want to live in a democracy, but they don't necessarily understand how it works. Some pollsters who have done nationwide surveys of Iraq in recent months talked about their findings at a meeting last week of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. "There's the sense that people in Iraq know they want democracy, but they don't know how to get there," said Christoph Sahm, director of Oxford Research International. Sahm's firm conducted its first nationwide poll of Iraq last fall and did another in February for ABC News, the BBC, the German broadcasting network ARD, and the Japanese network NHK. Oxford is continuing to poll in Iraq. <b> Richard Burkholder, director of international polling for Gallup, said the type of government that Iraqis preferred was a multiparty democracy such as those in many Western European countries. "Very low down the list is an Islamic theocracy, in which mullahs and religious leaders have a lot of influence, such as in Iran," said Burkholder, who polled in Baghdad in August and nationwide in late March and early April for CNN and USA Today. </b> In the most recent Gallup poll, four in 10 said they preferred a multiparty parliamentary democracy; that was the form of government most often mentioned. When Oxford Research International asked Iraqis in a separate poll to name the party they favored or the candidate they backed, the majority offered no preference on either question. For Sahm, the inability or unwillingness to answer those questions indicates Iraqis have much to learn about how democracies and political parties work after decades living in a country ruled by a dictator. Sahm and Burkholder said Iraqis had a sense of optimism about the future of their country. But they understand that nothing can be achieved until the nation is more secure. Both pollsters found Iraqis very willing to share their feelings. Burkholder recounted how a transitional government minister initially told his team that Iraqis would not talk to pollsters. But as soon as the minister left the room, another Iraqi laughed and said, "Don't pay any attention to him; he's been in Minneapolis for the last 19 years." Sahm added: "The response has been tremendous. We go into 100 households, and only four or five refuse. It's unheard of." A recent Pew Research Center study of U.S. response levels found that only about one in four people contacted agreed to participate in a survey conducted over several days. Both pollsters found Iraqis growing more impatient with the presence of coalition troops, even before the prison-abuse controversy emerged. However, most favored getting rid of Saddam Hussein. Iraqis have identified some successful areas in post-Hussein Iraq, the pollsters found. "One of the things that comes up again and again as a success in the transition so far is education," Sahm said. He also cited increasing trust in the Iraqi police and Iraq's new army. "When we see the images of war and terror on the TV screen," he said, "it's hard to believe that behind all of this, many Iraqis are leading normal lives and going about their business".</i> <hr color=green> The religious sites in Najaf and nearby towns have drawn increasing crowds of toursits and pilgriims after the government change in Iraq. The retreat of Sadr and his men to that area has drastically cutback on the tourism and hurt businesses in the area. <a HREF="http://www.adn.com/24hour/iraq/story/1358033p-8569808c.html">Iraqis march in Najaf in protest of al-Sadr</a> <i>About 1,000 people, including a few women in black veils, marched through the streets of Najaf on Tuesday to urge radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his followers to leave the city. Tensions rose as the marchers passed by al-Sadr's office. Fighters from his al-Mahdi Army took up position and fired weapons into the air, but there was no clash and the march continued without incident. <b> The marchers also passed by the house of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani on Prophet's Street. The marchers carried portraits of al-Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, and of Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim</i> (not a Saddam guy) <i>, a member of Iraq's Governing Council and leader of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Republic of Iraq, a rival to al-Sadr's group. </b> Moderate Shiite leaders have said Al-Sadr took refuge in this Shiite holy city early last month after U.S. authorities announced a warrant charging him in the April 2003 assassination of a moderate, rival cleric. Since then, al-Sadr's forces have clashed repeatedly with U.S., British and other coalition forces in Shiite areas of southern Iraq and Baghdad. Moderate Shiite leaders have urged al-Sadr to end his standoff with the Americans. U.S. forces have vowed to kill or capture al-Sadr but have escalated the confrontation in measured steps to avoid inflaming Shiite passions. They have also avoided an all-out assault on Najaf to avoid damaging Shiite religious shrines.</i> <hr color=green> About that rival cleric...... <a HREF="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3068555/">Murder at the Mosque</a>
