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May 16, 2:54 PM (ET)
By KATARINA KRATOVAC=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - A former Saddam Hussein-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.=20
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.=20
"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.=20
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.=20
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.=20
They are expected to fight the guerrillas, although some of the same =
insurgents who fought the Marines last month will likely join the =
brigade.=20
On Sunday, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment provided security =
for the gathering in Kharma.=20
Latif, 66, a native of Baghdad, urged the elders to talk freely, citing =
the Muslim holy book, the Quran.=20
"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.=20
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.=20
Latif, speaking in Arabic to the sheiks, defended the Marines and the =
U.S. occupation of Iraq.=20
"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.=20
"As President Bush 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."=20
Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, the Marine battalion commander, said, "No truer =
words have been spoken here today than those by General Latif."=20
Latif also told the insurgents to "stop doing stupid things."=20
"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.=20
"Our country is precious, stop allowing the bad guys to come from =
outside Iraq to destroy our country."=20
Latif, a former military intelligence officer said to have been =
imprisoned by Saddam and exiled, praised the former Iraqi army.=20
"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."=20
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.=20
"Let us speak about peace," Latif said in English. "Fallujah was an open =
wound, now it's healing."=20
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<DIV><FONT size=3D1>May 16, 2:54 PM (ET)<BR><BR></FONT><FONT size=3D2>By =
KATARINA=20
KRATOVAC=20
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<P>FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - A former Saddam Hussein-era general appointed =
by the=20
Americans to lead an Iraqi security force in the rebellious Sunni =
stronghold of=20
Fallujah urged tribal elders and sheiks Sunday to support U.S. efforts =
to=20
stabilize Iraq.=20
<P>Retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdul-Latif rose to prominence after =
nearly=20
monthlong battles last month between the Marines monthlong battles in =
April=20
between the Marines and insurgents hunkered down in Fallujah's =
neighborhoods.=20
<P>"We can make them (Americans) use their rifles against us or we can =
make them=20
build our country, it's your choice," Latif told a gathering of more =
than 40=20
sheiks, city council members and imams in an eastern Fallujah suburb.=20
<P>The siege of this city of 200,000 people, located about 40 miles west =
of=20
Baghdad, was lifted when top Marine officers announced the creation of =
the=20
Fallujah Brigade - a force made exclusively of former Iraqi army =
officers.=20
<P>The Marines withdrew from Fallujah into the rural hinterland and =
far-flung=20
suburbs, allowing the Iraqi force to take up positions and start patrols =
inside=20
the city. The brigade is expected to number about 1,500 men, many of =
them=20
conscripts or noncommissioned officers under Saddam.=20
<P>They are expected to fight the guerrillas, although some of the same=20
insurgents who fought the Marines last month will likely join the =
brigade.=20
<P>On Sunday, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment provided =
security for=20
the gathering in Kharma.=20
<P>Latif, 66, a native of Baghdad, urged the elders to talk freely, =
citing the=20
Muslim holy book, the Quran.=20
<P>"The Quran says we should sit together, discuss and make a decision, =
but let=20
it be the right decision," the silver-haired Latif - a slim figure =
wearing a=20
blue shirt and dark blue tie and pants - told the sheiks.=20
<P>The venue offered a rare insight into Latif's interactions and =
influence over=20
Fallujah elders. As he spoke, many sheiks nodded in approval and =
listened with=20
reverence to his words. Later, they clasped his hands and patted Latif =
on the=20
back.=20
<P>Latif, speaking in Arabic to the sheiks, defended the Marines and the =
U.S.=20
occupation of Iraq.=20
<P>"They were brought here by the acts of one coward who was hunted out =
of a=20
rathole - Saddam - who disgraced us all," Latif said. "Let us tell our =
children=20
that these men (U.S. troops) came here to protect us.=20
<P>"As President Bush said, they did not come here to occupy our land =
but to get=20
rid of Saddam. We can help them leave by helping them do their job, or =
we can=20
make them stay ten years and more by keeping fighting."=20
<P>Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, the Marine battalion commander, said, "No =
truer words=20
have been spoken here today than those by General Latif."=20
<P>Latif also told the insurgents to "stop doing stupid things."=20
<P>"Those bullets that are fired will not get the Americans out, let =
them finish=20
their job here so that they can return to their country," Latif said.=20
<P>"Our country is precious, stop allowing the bad guys to come from =
outside=20
Iraq to destroy our country."=20
<P>Latif, a former military intelligence officer said to have been =
imprisoned by=20
Saddam and exiled, praised the former Iraqi army.=20
<P>"The army used to be honest until Saddam made the men turn into =
beasts, take=20
bribes, betray their own country," he said. "The real army is the army =
that=20
works hard to serve its own citizens, with courage and strength."=20
<P>After the meeting, Latif told The Associated Press that the situation =
in=20
Fallujah has greatly improved, that "winds of peace" prevail in the city =
and the=20
people that fled the fighting have returned. He would not elaborate on =
the size=20
or current activities of the Fallujah Brigade.=20
<P>"Let us speak about peace," Latif said in English. "Fallujah was an =
open=20
wound, now it's healing." <BR><!-- Subject: Iraq Fallujah --><FONT=20
size=3D1><BR></FONT>
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