US abruptly demotes Saddam general in Fallujah

Telegraph ^ | May 3, 2004 | Toby Harnden

[John Jorsett]

The general selected by the US marines to command a new Iraqi force in Fallujah has been abruptly replaced after he denied that there were foreign fighters in the insurgent city and blamed America for fomenting the bloody rebellion there.

Maj Gen Jassim Mohammed Saleh, a former member of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard, was trumpeted by local US commanders as the type of strong man who could pacify the 2,000 gunmen in Fallujah.

Gen Saleh: appointment angered Iraqi politicians

But in an indication of American desperation, it emerged that Gen Saleh had been selected even though little was known about him.

One of his main tasks was to ensure that an estimated several hundred foreign fighters were handed over to coalition forces. On Saturday, Lt Gen James Conway, the US marines commander, said the general was ready to deal with them.

Shortly afterwards, Gen Saleh said: "There are no foreign fighters in Fallujah and the local tribal leaders have told me the same.

"The reasons for the resistance go back to the American provocations, the raids and abolishing the army, which made Iraqis join the resistance."

Yesterday, coalition officials in Baghdad said Maj Gen Mohammed Latif, a military intelligence officer thought to have been exiled by Saddam, would take charge of the new Fallujah force and Gen Saleh would be a subordinate.

The appearance of Gen Saleh on the streets of Fallujah enraged several senior Iraqi politicians.

Iyad Allawi, the defence minister, said: "There is no place in the new Iraqi army for officers of Saddam's Republican Guard or those who have committed crimes against the Iraqi people."

[John Jorsett]

I have to say that this does not make us look like we know what we're doing.

[potlatch]

a former member of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard,

Are we surprised?? Wonder what they expected?

[Numbers Guy]

I have to say that this does not make us look like we know what we're doing.

Agreed. We chose to lie down with a dog in this case, and woke up with fleas.

[goodnesswins]

Well....they sure took care of that FAST.....

[John Jorsett]

SOrry about the screwed up link in the story. Click here instead.

[bonfire]

So we are supposed to believe they didn't know very much about him???

[John Jorsett]

Are we surprised?? Wonder what they expected?

I thought at least that they'd have had a sit-down with the guy and told him not to make any statements contradicting a US position without checking with us first. Or maybe they did and he just chose to proceed on his merry way regardless. Sigh.

[Texasforever]

It does look bad but it could have one other effect. This is one down and a new batter up. If he tanks then the case can be made that we gave it our best shot and then go back in full force.

[CatOwner]

Or maybe this general was purposely made an example of what happens if they stray to far from the desired goal. Well, at least the optimistic side of me can believe it was the plan. :)

[KQQL]

--

FIRED !

Gen Salehsaid: "There are no foreign fighters in Fallujah and the local tribal leaders have told me the same. "The reasons for the resistance go back to the American provocations, the raids and abolishing the army, which made Iraqis join the resistance."

[RBroadfoot]

As PFC Gomer Pyle would say, "Surprise, surprise!"

[mercy]

This is sickening. What a clusterf__k. George Bush is an amateur.

[mercy]

This society has no leaders. We only allow unichs to take power. We deserve whatever happens to us.

[lowbridge]

This is sickening. What a clusterf__k. George Bush is an amateur.

His next move will be appointing Osama Bin Laden as head of the Iraqi Air Force.

[potlatch]

Yes, he must have been a good talker to convince our people to use him!! Too bad, he could have been a help, now he won't be trusted for any job under our military.

[mickie]

I think Sadaam Husein(sp) will be released from prison and put in charge to restore peace in Iraq.
Nothing would surprise me anymore!

[Nonstatist]

We need to find a strongman and stick him in there. A former Prince or some such something or other.

[McGavin999]

No, it's the media that is making us look like we don't know what we're doing. The military has been saying from the start that this man hadn't been vetted yet. It's the media who jumped to conclusions.

[mercy]

No, we need to partion the country into three parts, protect the oil fields and let the bastards kill each other wholesale.

[mercy]

Obviously the military doesn't have much say in the matter.

[squidly]

I can only shake my head with disgust at this turd circus.

[McGavin999]

Yep, obviously it's the media who is making the decisions. At least that's how it must be since they are the ones telling us all this, and we have people who are dumb enough to believe it.

[MEG33]

George Bush did not pick the general.

[Captainpaintball]

I am SHOCKED! I'll also throw in "deeeeeeeeeeply concerrrrrrrrrned."

This must do wonders for troop morale. Not.

To heck with this, It's time for Captain Paintball's "THREE Ls:"

LEAFLETS for the citizens. Women and children have 24 hours to "ex-cape". (a little ebonics lingo, there.) ALL men leaving the city will be set aside in a nearby camp and interrogated. Humanely, of course.

LEVEL the city. With the force of 1000 daisycutters, Fallujah will be incinerated in a show of force not seen since Hiroshima.

'LIM-IN-ATE the survivors. Those not smart enough to leave, and all the "brave" insurgents left alive will be put out of their misery.

This will work if we do it hard, fast, and without apology.

[JLS]

Of course there is always the possibility that someone decided to put in place a Saddamite general for the Islamics in Al Fallujah to swoon over that they could then fire. That the US put this guy in charge one day and fired him the next, shows they did not win in Al Fallujah despite the 24 hours of talk on the part of the Islamics.

Is there this kind of deep thinking going on on the part of US officials in Iraq? Who knows. But it would take an Iraqi like this guy that the governing counsel would not be greatly supportive of for this to work out like it has.

[Let's Roll]

OR, there was no way he wanted to be caught between the Marines and his insane countrymen so he took the quickest way out.

[mercy]

Never happen. PC RULES. We're screwed. No, our sodiers (sons and daughters) are screwed.

[USMMA_83]

Man, you got that right! It will happen sooner than later. Our Generals over there have no frigging clue what they are doing!

[oyez]

Another Bagdad, Bob. Bring him over here and let him work for the DNC.

[Kate of Spice Island]

Sounds like a psychological means to an end.

He became the example of what to NOT do in short order for one reason or another.

Trust me...if you dig far enough into the mind of a terrorist, you would realize that there is a much bigger mark...the Marines already seized the opportunity to MAKE A POINT.

Think extremely hard here.

Saving PFC Lynch help.

Otay, then.

More examples, anyone.

[JLS]

This one I agree with you. I think we need to form the Federal Republic of Iraq. It would be made up of 3 states, the northern state, the central state and the southern state. Baghdad might be the equivalent of DC, a federal capital city.

I would think that Ninawa, Dahuk, Abril, As Sulmaniyah and At Tamim provinces might make up the Northern state. Whether or not we officially could call it Kurdish, that is what it would be. [Keep in mind for this state and the other two, I am guessing about which province belongs where. Ninawa might for example group better with the Central state.

The Central state might be made up of Al Anbar, Salahad, Baghdad and Diyala provinces. This would at least unofficially be the Sunni state.

I am not sure which state Babil province belongs in but lets say for now the Southern state along with An Najaf, Al Qadisiyana, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Al Bassrah and Al Muthanna provinces. Again remember, I am guess which provinces actually group where, but this is clearly the Shia state.

Then the US puts three huge bases in place. One between south of Kurkuk and north of Tikrit. Another south of Baghdad but north of Al Najaf. The third on the outskirts of Baghdad.

They get a bicarmeral legislature. Each state gets 10 Senators and each state gets their share by population of 100 members of the lower body. They have a popularly elected executive and a constitution that is very explicit about INDIVIDUAL rights.

The US stays on these bases except if fighting is about to break out between the various states. The US also focuses on border security so that the Iraqis can have their own internal battles.

The oil fields are in the two states, Northern and Southern where things have been calmer since major combat ended. The US gets 99 years leases on the bases. The US pays only to build its bases and the Iraqi government must use the country's oil money and any money stolen by France, Russia and Germany it recovers to rebuild infrastructure. Each state could have a capital, police force etc, but no army. Only the Federal government would have an army.

Here is a map of Iraq for examining my proposed states:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_wall_full_2003.jpg

[the_Watchman]

Perhaps there is another Wesley Clarke type in the military?

[Kate of Spice Island]

Perhaps there is another Wesley Clarke type in the military?

So we can have more refugees than we can stick a shake at?

[AntiGuv]

A couple quick comments:

Ninawa would without question be in the northern Kurdish dominated state, although it's possible that the southernmost quarter of the province might be partitioned off.

I would guess that Babil would also be partitioned, with the northern half to go with the Sunni state, probably added to Baghdad province for administrative purposes.

People keep ignoring that there are also oil fields in Central Iraq - the East Baghdad field has an estimated 11 billion barrels in reserves - compared to the northern Kirkuk field, by example, that has an estimated 9 billion barrels left. I dunno why people keep brushing off the Baghdad field..

Iraq should be partitioned into three independent nations - ASAP.

[Kate of Spice Island]

A hybrid of the two plans would be the best strategy.

Take out the trash, organize and meet that June 30th deadline!

[edsheppa]

It may be time for some micromanagement.

[Captainpaintball]

I think you are right. One for the short-term, the other for the long-term. I can't understand why forcing tribal-minded savages to live together in one common boundary seemed like a good idea to anyone.

[aquila48]

I can only shake my head with disgust at this turd circus.

Couldn't agree more. This is so incredibly pathetic - reminds me of our worst from Vietnam - makes me sick. I really thought Bush had more of a backbone. I doubt we'll recover from this fiasco.

I'm sure the Iraqization of this war is going to be just as successful as the Vietnamization of that other war.

[Robert_Paulson2]

bush said we would use double dealing, turn enemies against themselves, use subterfuge to turn enemies to allies one day and back against each other on other occasions....

THIS...
could be...
THAT.

I dunno.
Bait and switch... bigger than a loss leader at your local kmart seems to be going on...

[Robert_Paulson2]

Maybe we are playing a "yo yo" strategy in Iraq... to keep certain elements in the region off balance... perhaps even in other nations, that are secretly allied against us.

stranger things have happened.
the press is being played... for what I don't know.

[Barlowmaker]

Iraq should be partitioned into three independent nations - ASAP.

That's a cut and run strategy doomed to failure. Every one of the American warriors who have sacrificed life and limb will have done so in vain.

[GeronL]

Two steps backward and two steps forward, one step sideways and ... what were we doing again??

UGH. What are they thinking???

[Kate of Spice Island]

How about this for a strategy...our troops have to interact with them. The overwhelming majority are not much different than you or me. The primary difference is in how they treat their women. I know most of you have read about it. There is even an insurgent who I read about on a local website...I will look and see if the article is still there...

Anyhow, he said that he was treated like a woman. There is one name we can give our newborn girls and hope that the troops hear of this and get it circulater quickly. Sharayah is the name I almost gave my daughter. We pick our childrens names for a reason, what better than to honor our own little girls so much as to make men rethink about theirs.

[hershey]

Maybe it's time to do what needs to be done in Iraq.

[AntiGuv]

It might be a cut & run for some people, but that has always been what I thought the best solution for Iraq. Heck, that's what I wanted to see happen in Iraq back in 1991. I think my first Iraq comments on FR a couple years ago mentioned the preferability of partition.

Why is it a cut and run strategy doomed to failure?? What is so superior about forcing together an artificial republic of three peoples that hate each other?

[mickie]

It makes sense to me, three States forming one Republic.

[AntiGuv]

If it was a truly confederate system much like the former Yugoslavia, then I agree that it could probably work out OK enough.

[joesnuffy]

At the end of WWII...Nazis were put in charge of the circus....some of them made names for themselves.....we called them "WEREWOLVES" and when we caught them running subversion operations....
THEY WERE HUNG ON THE SPOT FROM LAMPOSTS....but now that would probably be called a
friggen "war crime".....