Turning away from extremism to local councils

FALLUJAH, Iraq — Make no mistake, Sheik Salam Farhan Salih is disturbed by, and fearful of, the recent targeting of sheiks by extremists looking to send a message to those who cooperate with U.S. forces in Anbar province.

But in this former hotbed of al-Qaida and Sunni militancy, a pensive peace has taken hold, and Salam, of the Jumaily tribe, said he doesn’t think those recent attacks will affect the population’s loyalties.

People want to see progress and are sick of the violence, Salam said.

“The principles of al-Qaida have been refuted here in Fallujah,” he said. “They named themselves as the resistance, but they killed the doctors, the professors and the community leaders.”

Iraqis interviewed here said the population turned away from extremists of all types last year due to exhaustion from the violence and intimidation tactics, along with the lure of U.S. reconstruction dollars.

Statistics provided by the Marine Corps show attacks dropping in all categories since mid-2007, from roadside bombs to suicide attacks and firefights. Men, women and children go about their daily business, albeit with checkpoints and patrolling Marines as a regular reminder of their war-torn history.

Dangers do persist, as shown on Thursday when a Marine convoy carrying the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines commander was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade along the city’s main east-west artery. Some Marines sustained minor injuries.

Platoons with the battalion have broken the city down by squads, and the same men patrol their area each day, putting a consistent face forward to the Iraqis.

The city is being patrolled with fewer Marines, and companies are conducting what were once battalion-size operations in Fallujah, Company L commander Capt. Steve Eastin said.

“Inshallah, from now on no one will be afraid of al-Qaida guys,” said Athir Abdul al Hamid Zidan, a Fallujah resident who said through a translator that he couldn’t drive his taxi before last year due to security concerns.

Marine and Iraqi commanders said those most susceptible to extremists of all types are the men on the street looking to get paid however they can.

Continued stability will be contingent on making sure men like those manning the neighborhood watch checkpoints continue to get paid, be it from the Marines as they are now, or the Iraqi government, according to 2nd Lt. Marco Rossi, who commands the 3rd Platoon of Company L in the southern part of the city.

“Ninety-five percent” of the local men manning neighborhood watch checkpoints likely fought U.S. forces, Rossi said.

Iraqi police are paid through Baghdad’s Ministry of the Interior, but neighborhood watch teams are still paid $150 each every month by the Marines.

They man the checkpoints that separate one neighborhood from the other, and such checkpoints are largely credited for much of the security improvements.

Rossi said it would be a significant setback if those neighborhood watch men aren’t kept on the U.S. side of the battle.

The goal is to get all those men through the Iraqi police academy, he said, giving them a steady paycheck from Baghdad and a formal position.

“For the guy on the street, it’s all about the money,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Mauricio Piedrahita of New York City, who is currently working with a civil affairs group on various city projects. “If he can make 20 bucks laying an IED [improvised explosive device], that’s what he’s gonna do. If he’s gonna make 20 bucks picking up rubble, that’s what he’s gonna do.”

But Salam said he was more concerned about getting proper developmental help for his city from Baghdad.

He also said he is looking forward to April, when a local city council and mayor will be elected. Right now, surrogates from Baghdad are in those positions setting up the government to run properly, military officials say.

“I hope my message to President Bush will be delivered,” Salam said. “We’ve helped a lot to establish security. We are Sunnis, we’ve helped a lot and we need our part in this government.”

“People from Fallujah can more specifically identify what’s needed for Fallujah,” Salam said.

Marine Col. Richard Simcock, commander of Regimental Combat Team-6, which oversaw eastern Anbar for the past year, said the people in the area made a choice in 2007 between what U.S. forces and the extremists had to offer.

“Al-Qaida doesn’t offer what the people of Iraq want,” he said. “Iraqis like things like air conditioning and TV and electricity. They like newspapers.”

“America is a very easy sell to the Iraqis,” Simcock said. “Al-Qaida wants to sell the 7th century.”