Ex-Hussein supporter gets Fallujah

[not systems]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/02/MNG6J6EIBO1.DTL

Marines turn over control of Fallujah to Iraqi general once loyal to Hussein

Baghdad -- In the old days, just the sight of his drab green uniform
was enough to strike fear into dissident Iraqi hearts.

As a commander of Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard,
Maj. Gen. Jassim Mohammed Saleh was part of the formidable army
that put down insurrections. Now the ex-Baathist is back in uniform -- this
time for the people who a year ago were his enemies.
...
On Friday, the 49-year-old general met with U.S. commanders while
clad in his old military fatigues -- garb that he last wore in
front of Hussein's brutal son Qusai, who was head of the
Republican Guard.
...
Occupation commanders acknowledged Saturday that they really have
no idea which category Saleh falls into.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one senior U.S. Army general said,
"We don't know if he was a level two Baath Party member --
we really know very little about these guys as of yet. They
introduced themselves to the Marine commanders in Fallujah
last week and said they had influence in the area that might be useful.

...

[fearnobush]

1. And what happens if this guy decides to join his insurgent Bros.?

[not systems]

2. Or what if was one already?

The CPA appearers to be flailing like a desperate animal.

[workforpower]

4. What do you mean if?

Appointing this guy is an act of desperation. It will be seen as a victory over the marines.

[TryingToWarnYou]

5. The Marines lost in Fallujah. N/T

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Ain't it cute

Didn't we go to Iraq to Liberate Iraqis from the horrors of
the Ba'ath Party?

Oh wait, that excuse no longer holds water either....


I am sure we have always been at war with Oceania, and when we go to war with East Asia we have always been at war with East Asia, and at peace with Oceania

[damnraddem]

6. Keep shuffling those wanted cards, Dick, we need a few more commanders.

I think it was Maureen Dowd who called it 'the reBaathization of the deBaathization.'

[maddezmom]

7. a new sherriff is in town today

US Names New Iraqi Officer to Lead Falluja Force
Mon May 3, 2004 03:38 AM ET


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States appointed a former senior officer of the Iraqi armed forces to take overall command of an Iraqi force in the town of Falluja, a senior U.S. military official said on Monday.
The official said Mohammed Latif would lead the Falluja Brigade, subject to checks on his background.

A first battalion of the brigade is currently operating under the command of General Jassim Mohammed Saleh.

Marines besieging the city of 300,000 against insurgents and, they believed, foreign Islamic militants, accepted an offer from Saleh to lead several hundred ex-soldiers in restoring order in the Sunni Muslim town while the Marines pulled back.


snip

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=IZKQFDB5FG2LSCRBAEZSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=5011901

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. Mission Accomplished

absolutely.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. Americans have no principles - they just want to keep their own asses safe

.
.
.

And they think Iraqis are dumb?

From the article:

"The U.S. has slipped into the swamp in Iraq, and now they are trying to hang on any rope to get them out," said one former Iraqi army colonel who used to know Saleh. "They do not care whether he was in the Baath Party or not. All they are interested in is suppressing the militants and rebels. What message does this send out? That the Americans have no principles -- they just want to keep their own asses safe."

/snip/
__________________________________________________________

Yeah, that about says it.

And it appears the Iraqis are a weee bit concerned about how Saleh will "handle" things.

More from the article:

Some now speculate that Saleh may bring the same uncompromising methods to Fallujah. "The Iraqi armies do not f -- about," said one colonel. "They will just shoot any Iraqi who does not tell them where the insurgents are. It is the kind of methods the Americans would love to use, but cannot be seen to."
___________________________________________________________

What a friggen mess

(sigh)

[RedEarth]

10. Update.......Saleh has now be replaced by a different Iraqi general

I just heard that on NPR. Apparently, Saleh was a little too extreme for some people, so now they have replaced him with someone different. I guess now we will see how well this new person is received.......maybe four days, five days?......flip-flopping.