Former Iraqi general paints rosy picture of Fallujah

Jordan Times, Thursday, May 6, 2004

FALLUJAH (Reuters) — One of Saddam Hussein's former generals entrusted with taming Fallujah said on Wednesday he hoped to impose security in the country's most rebellious town without firing a single bullet. "The best strategy is to get what you want without firing a single bullet," said General Muhammad Latif after discussing the fate of the troubled town with a top US Marine commander.

"I consider this the best strategy in history," said Latif.

He painted a bright picture of the task of calming people infuriated by a monthlong US siege and fierce battles that have killed hundreds of people in the city west of Baghdad.

He also played down the role of foreign fighters that US Marines blame for some of the violence gripping Iraq and the challenge of retrieving heavy weapons that the Americans have been demanding from guerrillas for weeks.

"Maybe there are some, more than 30 kicked underground and the others escaped. I didn't see anyone and I have no information on anyone," said Latif as he left a dusty makeshift meeting area.

The heavy weapons have been silent for days as Latif's men try to spread a sense of security in Fallujah.

"These are not a problem. If they are there we will retrieve them. We will hit any group that causes trouble or whose weapons is a threat to peace," Latif said.

US Marines said they planned to lift a cordon around Fallujah on Wednesday and allow traffic in for the first time in a month. Troops of the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps on Tuesday began manning checkpoints previously guarded by US troops.

US forces are hoping the new Fallujah Brigade, commanded by Latif and predominantly made up of former members of Saddam's military, will crush 2,000 rebels and root out perhaps 200 foreign fighters.

'Proof in execution'

Major-General James Mattis, commander of the 1st Marines Division, said it was too early to gauge whether Latif's men could pacify Fallujah.

"The proof is in the execution. We will have to see how that goes," he said before holding talks with Latif.

The former Iraqi general declined to discuss any concrete steps his forces would take in Fallujah, preferring instead to stress that residents of the traumatised town wanted peace.

"As long as I build the city again and open up the streets and plant love, there will be no problem," Latif said.

Guerrillas may have layed down their arms but it is not clear if the insurgents will cooperate with US-backed forces.

"That's the $64,000 question isn't it? We will have to see. I don't like to speculate. I go with the facts. So far the jury is out on that," Mattis said.

"That is for the Iraqis to deal with right now. What they are doing is putting together forces, moving them into town, equipping them. That's a challenge obviously for anybody."

Asked if he was in contact with insurgents or reached a deal with them, Latif said: "There is no agreement with them whatsoever but when there is peace the enemies of peace escape."

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python (Alquds, 1/25/03.

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.

editor@aljazeerah.info