Marines Pull Back From Fallujah as Agreement Reached to Create Local Iraqi Security Force
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) – Iraqi security forces took over positions from withdrawing U.S. Marines on Friday, and a U.S. official said an agreement had been reached to allow an Iraqi security force to patrol the city and end the monthlong siege.
Members of the 1,100-member force moved into the former Marine positions in southeastern Fallujah and raised the Iraqi flag.
Negotiations were also taking place in the southern city of Najaf, where tribal leaders and police discussed a proposal to end a standoff between soldiers and militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. In a sermon, al-Sadr remained defiant, saying he rejected “any appeasement with the occupation.”
The commander of the new force is Maj. Gen. Jassim Mohammed Saleh, a veteran of Saddam’s Republican Guard. He shook hands with Marine commanders at a post on the southeastern entry to the city.
Recycling former oppressors from Saddam’s regime as kindred, enlightened defenders of democracy is a go? Who wrote this script [via Ipecac]? Here’s where these racists chronically err in judgement. The Iraqi people aren’t ignorant and tragically, too sadly for them their memories are vivid and long.