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FRANCE 24 - IN-DEPTH REPORT

Iraq, five years on - an uneasy calm

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Watch the exclusive 26-minute report from our reporters Lucas Menget and Guillaume Martin. They travelled across Iraq for a month and report on the fragile truce between the US military and their former insurgent enemies.

Wednesday 20 February 2008

By FRANCE 24

Read Lucas Menget's reporter's notebook.

Since the US-led coalition invaded Iraq five years ago, Baghdadis have lived divided, walled up, and under surveillance.

Relative calm in Baghdad

At Al Dora, a southern district of Baghdad, a heavily backed-up Iraqi police superintendent inspects the walls that have been built on each side of the street, dividing the neighbourhood into Sunni and Shia areas. During daytime, the town is calm; but at night, the US army shells al-Qaeda weapons caches.

Further north, in the Adamiyah neighbourhood, police and army patrols have been replaced by Al Sahwa (or Awakening) Sunni militiamen who control the area. Some of them are former insurgents. Having freshly joined US forces, they boast they have been able to rid the area of al-Qaeda fighters. Al Sahwa militants are precious strategic allies but their loyalty has yet to be tested.

A relationship of trust

From their base at Taji, US soldiers drive out on reconnaissance patrols in their Strykers, armoured vehicles specially designed for the war in Iraq.

They try to foster a relation of trust with tribal leaders and Iraqi policemen. Yet despite their efforts, US forces have trouble overcoming rivalries between militiamen and tribal chiefs. It’s difficult to know who is in charge of security in the neighbourhoods of Baghdad.

The new US strategy has nevertheless raised hope for Iraq, though the US decision to arm and pay former enemies is a risky bet.

The two brothers of Fallujah

The city of Fallujah has seen it all. Following the US invasion and the civil war, this Sunni stronghold – once considered one of the most dangerous cities in the country – has somewhat calmed down.

The city’s police chief appears now appears to be in control. He patrols the streets – backed up by an escort – and mingles with the residents. Here, everything is in short supply. Whole neighbourhoods go without electricity and drinkable water is sometimes hard to get. In the hospitals of Fallujah, rooms are often crowded and medical supplies are lacking.

But it’s really Abu Maroof, the superintendent’s brother, who runs the show. He leads 13,000 militiamen, many of whom were al-Qaeda militants. After fighting the Americans, they struck a deal with their former foes and joined the Al Sahwa militias.

The Sunni tactical move nevertheless comes at a cost. The Al Sahwa militiamen are waiting for some sort of recognition from the US, the Iraqi government and its Shia majority. They want to regain some of the power lost when Saddam Hussein was toppled. They are waiting for results. But they will not wait long.

Watch the full report by clicking 'Play Video' above.

[2] react :

01/07/2008

Post Invasion Planning Failure

By Gordan

One of the reasons why the US will not leave the country any time sooner is that at this stage, there is simply not enough stability, security or infrastructure for the country to function properly. This could have been avoided by proper post invasion planning. Few crucial mistakes were made by the administration: 1. ORHA was etsablished only 2 months prior to invasion (enough time??? beg to differ) 2. ORHA's recommendations were not taken seriously enough and ORHA becomes CPA. 3. THEY BROUGHT PAUL BREMER TO RUN IRAQ!!!! 4. Dissolution of the Iraq army that left thousands of ppl without work, able angry deprived men, which left a huge social impact on the country. 5. Do we even have to mention Chelabi in all this?? So these are only some of the reasons that crippled the chance of Iraq to resemble a basic stability. Now, who is to blame? Insurgents? Insurgents are only a consequence of such a social malice Iraq was plunged in to. The fact that looting was allowed (can't blame the army I guess not enough man power) did not help the American image, th e fact that only oil operations were protected also does not help the USA image. The fact that Iraqi ppl were excluded from taking part in basic infrastructural reconstruction decisions, the fact that CPA was utterly out of touch with the Iraq society (how many employees actually spoke the language???), the fact that ppl like Bremer came over and "toured" the country, etc....That is why the end is not in sight....
The list is long, and debate will last forever...these are mine 2 cents...
Otherwise, good site, and good job for france24. I will add you guys to my regular news source.
27/03/2008

Iraqi's Responsible

By Anonyme

We Americans have spent BILLIONS of US dollars in Iraq and have little to show for it. However, this is not our fault. If the Iraqi's would choose to not let Al Queda and other outsiders incite violence and would choose to work together instead of against eachother we would have left 4 years ago. The only reason we are there now is because insurgents keep attacking citizens of Iraq. They say they fight because they want us out, but that is ridiculous. Be nice and we'll leave. We don't want to own Iraq. Japan and Germany made nice after WWII and we have lived in peace for decades. Grow up, insurgents, and act civilized.