Ramadi- A Delicate
Lid
By Dahr Jamail
19 May, 2004
The
New Standard
The
city of Ramadi, about 120km west of Baghdad, appears to be much more
stable than nearby Falluja, where the U.S. military currently wont
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, Ive 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, Its 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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 The
NewStandard.
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