. Military Space News .
Feature: U.S. works hearts, minds

US not seeking permanent Iraq bases: White House
The White House denied Thursday that the United States seeks permanent military bases in Iraq, days after the US "war czar" said that would be part of talks next year on long-term security ties. "We do not seek permanent bases in Iraq," spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters after Lieutenant General Douglas Lute said Monday that the flashpoint issue would be part of negotiations to decide the future of US troops in Iraq. Asked about such installations, Lute told reporters: "That's another dimension of continuing US support to the government of Iraq, and will certainly be a key item for negotiation next year."
by Richard Tomkins
Rutbah, Iraq (UPI) Nov 29, 2007
The United States is in perhaps its most difficult phase to date in the war and occupation of Iraq -- counterinsurgency and all the strategy and tactics it entails.

On the one hand, it must continue to fight insurgents where it finds them. On the other, it must win the trust and cooperation of a people who are still struggling to unlearn the lesson of survival during the brutal reign of Saddam Hussein: mind your own business, don't stand out, don't get involved in anything that could have repercussions to you and your family.

It also means encouraging the people to gain a level of trust in their own government, military and police forces, which in the past had been the dispensers of punishment.

It's not an easy task. It's constant adjusting and adapting in a twilight zone that is neither war in the traditional sense nor pure peacekeeping.

"I tell my troops this is advanced warfighting," said Marine Col. Stacy Clardy, who oversees military operations in western Anbar province. "I tell them they have to look at being here as trying to help the Iraqis on a daily basis, and you can't let the first (combat) negatively impact the second. If you do, you're failing, you're working backward."

Army Capt. Jason Schuerger, in charge of a company of soldiers in and around the city of Rutbah -- population 10,000-15,000, or 30,000-35,000 depending on U.S. estimates or local claims -- summed up how he views the counterinsurgency goals he faces on a more tactical level.

"I believe 10 percent of the people here are for us, 10 percent are against us, and 80 percent are on the sidelines. It's that 80 percent I'm after. From what I see, they prefer us much more to insurgency, but insurgents are very good at intimidation and they live closer to the people than I do.

"It's that 80 percent I'm looking at. They're just people trying to live normal lives. They may not like us, but they dislike the violence of insurgency even more."

A large part of military operations in Rutbah, a highway town along the main road from Jordan and Syria to Baghdad, involves helping keep insurgents and terrorists from gaining access to the community to propagandize, intimidate and resupply themselves. Mao Zedong once wrote that revolutionaries must be like fish in a sea. That dictum applies to insurgents and terrorists as well. Coalition forces in Iraq are trying to dry up that sea.

In Rutbah, as in other communities, this has involved surrounding it with berms, forcing all vehicle traffic to pass through one of two traffic control points, where identity and vehicle checks keep weapons out of the city. Building them was a calculated risk, but Schuerger said he has found the people of Rutbah on the whole welcome them because they have helped reduce violence.

It also means foot patrols down Rutbah's rubbish-strewn streets, meeting and greeting people as you go, listening to their complaints and entreaties. And it means working with local authorities to help solve general problems resulting from self-governance, and practical matters such as building water wells.

It means helping recruit local police. And it means keeping your ear to the ground. In short, everything and anything that helps build security and personal relationships as well as organizational ones.

Three examples:

-- During foot patrols, troops heard of two families struggling in the hard-scrabble city. Reports were made, supplies gathered and Iraqi policemen were recruited to distribute the items. U.S. troops were present, but only to help maintain security. The result: Jasim Turkey Zaiter, who with his wife and their five children lives in a stone house without windows or heat after fleeing Fallujah's violence last year, received blankets, a heater, sugar, cooking oil and T-shirts supplied by U.S. troops but handed out by Iraqi authorities. So, too, Awad Marghab Fhaimy and his family, who because of a drought lost his sheep, the only source of family income.

The object, besides helping the families, was two-fold: help build a favorable impression of the Iraqi police, who are increasingly becoming responsible for security in the town, and also to help the Iraqi police get used to doing something beyond their law-and-order brief.

-- When the Rutbah City Council meets every week, Schuerger and about a half-dozen soldiers from his command are present to speak about mutual problems, answer questions and make suggestions. At a recent gathering, he spoke about helping build wells that the town needs badly for water and encouraged the council to appoint a representative to the provincial council to develop relationships there and lobby for Rutbah's needs. The meeting was business, but it was also a relationship-building exercise over tins of fruit juice and strong Iraqi coffee.

-- The muezzin at one of Rutbah's five mosques called the people to prayer Friday. As they approached the building to attend services, they walked past U.S. soldiers who greeted them with smiles and calls of "salaam" (peace). The presence was not a usual occurrence. Every week, troops pull up about a block away from one of Rutbah's mosques for the meet and greet and its other purpose -- monitoring what the mosque's cleric was preaching. Among the troops was one soldier with a small tape recorder to capture the sermon, which was broadcast over a loudspeaker. Also present was an Iraqi interpreter. An anti-coalition sermon or remarks praising jihad would result in a report, extra monitoring of the cleric and perhaps arrest by Iraqi government authorities. In this instance no negative report was necessary. The preacher spoke of the necessity of doing good to one's neighbors.

All were small potatoes in the overall, grand scheme of counterinsurgency in Iraq perhaps. But then again, small steps add up, and at least in Rutbah and other communities in west Anbar, those steps could turn into strides.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Analysis: Kirkuk project battle heats up
London (UPI) Nov 28, 2007
Iraq's Oil Ministry is accusing the Kurdistan region of preventing development of one of Iraq's oldest, largest and most controversial oil fields, another dispute in the battle over control of the country's vast reserves.







  • China says ties with US damaged, amid naval row
  • US, China, feud over Taiwan, Tibet, port dispute
  • Keating Aims To Improve Communication With China After Port Call Rejections
  • Russia studying US missile defence proposals: agencies

  • NKorea to come clean on secret nuclear programme: US envoy
  • US energy pact does not prevent new Indian nuclear tests: PM
  • Mechanical Engineer Aims To Improve Detection Of Nuclear Smuggling Activity
  • Ahmadinejad hits back after 'nuclear spy' cleared

  • Lockheed Martin-built Trident II D5 Missile Achieves Record 120 Successful Test Launches In A Row
  • Iran builds new longer-range missile
  • India tests SAM missile near Pakistan border: officials
  • Asymmetrical Iskander Missile Systems

  • STSS's Second Satellite Completes Thermal Vacuum Testing At Northrop Grumman
  • Ex-Czech PM calls US anti-missile plan 'provocation': report
  • US, Russians hold missile defense talks: Pentagon
  • Russia dismisses US offers on missile defence: reports

  • Announcement Of Opportunity For Sounding Rocket And Balloon Flights
  • China to order up to 150 Airbus jets during Sarkozy visit: report
  • Time Magazine Recognizes The X-48B
  • Virgin to offer carbon offsets alongside drinks and perfume

  • UK Awards Lockheed Martin 4.8 Million Dollars For Desert Hawk III Unmanned Aircraft Systems
  • Boeing Awarded International Aviation Trophy For X-45A
  • Galileo Avionica: The UAV FALCO System Completes Operational Validation Testing
  • NASA Evaluates Compact Synthetic Aperture Radar

  • Feature: U.S. works hearts, minds
  • Analysis: Kirkuk project battle heats up
  • Japan opposition votes to end Iraq mission
  • Ex-US commander in Iraq backs troop pullout bill

  • EDO Receives 54.4 Million Dollar Contract For F-22 Weapon-Release System
  • BAE Systems Completes In-Country Commissioning Of Airborne Reconnaissance System
  • F135 Team Delivers F135 STOVL Propulsion System To LockMart
  • Unit Receives Task Force Marne�s First MRAPs

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement