"Ramadi -- A Delicate Lid"
a weblog entry by Dahr Jamail, NewStandard Weblogs
http://blog.newstandardnews.net/iraqdispatches/archives/000402.html
May 17, 2004; Ramadi, Iraq - The city of Ramadi, about 120km west of
Baghdad, appears to be much more stable than nearby Falluja, where the U.S.
military currently won’t enter the city after the failed siege of April.
Here U.S. military patrols still roam the streets and attacks seem to be
down. Both the Governor of the vast Al-Anbar Province and the Commander of
the Iraqi Police (IP) are hopeful about the recent calming throughout the
area.
In the heavily fortified building in central Ramadi which houses the
Governor of the Al-Anbar Province Mr. Ezzedin Abdul Kareem, he is upbeat
about the situation, despite having had three assassination attempts in the
last year.
“Both Ramadi and Falluja are extremely tribal,” he explained while
discussing why things have gone more smoothly as of late in Ramadi. “But
Ramadi is closer to Baghdad and the people of Ramadi are more influenced by
their religious leaders.”
He stated that there are good relations between the Coalition Provisional
Authority (CPA), and the government structures of Ramadi, and that in
addition to the $500 million the CPA plans on spending to rebuild in Ramadi,
there is now another $70 million earmarked for Ramadi and Falluja.
While he said the payment is to be issued in one lump sum, the actual
delivery of this money has yet to occur.
What is worth noting as another reason why the situation in Ramadi remains
relatively stable as of late is that on April 11, 2003, Governor Abdul
Kareem was elected as governor by a council of Sheikhs. In addition, he is
extremely well respected throughout Ramadi.
Nevertheless, he was surprised at how well the formation of the councils in
the cities and villages throughout Al-Anbar had gone this past January. Even
though the caucuses were set up by the CPA, many people have still felt a
fair degree of autonomy in that it was their own tribal leaders selecting
their governor and other council members. This differs greatly from the
appointing of the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) members by the CPA.
In sum, the governor said, “The people asked me to be in this position.”
It is safe to say that in Iraq today, I’ve been hard pressed to find anyone
who supports the IGC. If you want to anger an Iraqi, mention the occupation
or the IGC.
Jaadman Ahmed Al-Awany is the Commander of the Iraqi Police of Al-Anbar
Province, and in charge of 10,850 IPs. He agrees with the governor that the
sheikhs and religious men have helped to calm the volatile situation in
Ramadi. “There have been less attacks on IPs here the last few months
because so many of them come from this area, and are being better equipped
than before,” he said.
Nevertheless, two IPs had just been killed in Ramadi prior to our interview.
One must not forget that calm is a relative term in occupied Iraq.
Today was the meeting of all the city IP commanders from throughout the
province. Colonel Sabar Fahdil is the Commander of the IPs of Falluja, and
openly expressed his anger towards what occurred in his city during April.
“The Americans used the execution of the four American contractors there as
an excuse to surround and attack Falluja,” he said angrily. He lamented over
how helicopters and warplanes were used to bomb civilians and homes. “They
killed over 1200 Fallujans!” He continued, “I was there negotiating with the
Americans, but they broke the ceasefire so many times.”
After a huge lunch and pleasant goodbyes, out on the street the mood was
anything but calm.
One shop owner named Sfook, when asked if he felt things in Ramadi were more
stable nowadays said, “It’s not safe here, for Iraqis or Americans. The
Americans attack our homes so much, whether there is a reason or not. The
problem is the Americans’ presence here. We will never accept the
occupiers!”
He was asked what would happen in Ramadi if the US military attempted to do
what it did in Falluja. “This would be worse than Falluja,” he replied.
“Even now they are hit 3-4 times each day. We are honored by the resistance
here.”
Another man, Abdul Ahab, a 21 year-old student at the Economics College,
said, “Security is worse. All Ramadis are against the Americans. I used to
think they were different, but after seeing the torturing, I hate them.”
A 24 year-old student of the Science University here, listening to the
conversation, added, “The Americans are invaders. They took their authority
by invading, and it is worse here than before they came.”
All of the men I spoke with were extremely angry. Each question was like
taking another lid off of a boiling kettle.
The student continued, “They came with a mask of freedom, but we are not
free. They brought torture, worse security, and terrorism. They are the
terrorists!”
As an afterthought he added, “Saddam never closed hospitals to prevent
injured people from reaching them. Saddam never killed 2 year-old children!
They invaded Falluja because General Abizaid was almost killed there.”
As news of the assassination via car bomb of the current leader of the IGC
in Baghdad flashed across the television in another shop we were in, people
began celebrating.
I asked one man what the cheering was about, and he said, “They are not the
Iraqi Governing Council. They are the Prostitution Council!”
Outside, the main street of Ramadi was filled with countless cars honking
their horns in celebration of the bombing.
The impromptu poll continued on the sidewalk, and another man, when asked
how he felt about the situation in Ramadi, stated firmly, “Today is much
better than tomorrow. It is getting worse everyday because of the Americans.
I challenge the governor if he thinks things here are good.”
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Dahr Jamail is Baghdad correspondent for The NewStandard. He is an Alaskan devoted to covering the untold stories from occupied Iraq. You can help Dahr continue his crucial work in Iraq by making donations. For more information or to donate to Dahr, visit http://newstandardnews.net/iraqdispatches .