I don’t have much of a context for this because news from Fallujah has been scant except for the usual US bombardments.
1st Marine Division plans to dissolve the controversial “Fallujah Brigade” and the Iraqi police department in that turbulent city next week, clearing the way for a future decisive battle if the Iraqi government orders it.
The move came six days after a series of kidnappings and the murder of a respected Iraqi National Guard battalion commander, Lt. Col. Sulaiman Hamad Ftikan, a crime officials described as the last straw in the tense standoff with the insurgents in the city.
Both the Fallujah Brigade and the city police are believed to have participated in the kidnapping and murder.
This comes as a dramatic change in the situation in the city that for the last three months has been a thorn in the side of U.S. forces in Iraq.
“If we have to go into Fallujah this makes it a lot simpler,” said. Col. John Toolan, commander of the 1st Marine regimental Combat Team at a meeting with two newly installed Iraqi National Guard battalion commanders.
Toolan said the Fallujah Brigade and the police are to turn in their weapons and uniforms to the Marines. Members of the police force will be allowed to remain on the force, but only as part of the highway patrol outside of town. If they decline, or fail to turn in their equipment, they will never be allowed to hold a government job. Salaries of the Fallujah Brigade are paid by the 1st Marine Division. The police are paid by Iraq’s Interior Ministry.
“I want to make sure anybody (in Fallujah carrying a weapon) no matter what they are wearing is no longer a good guy,” Toolan told the commanders. “Everyone who wants to fight for the new Iraq, join us. If not, we’ll see you inside the city.”
No order has been given for the Marines to attack Fallujah.
Toolan gave the commanders — both of whom are replacing leaders kidnapped on Monday — a deadline of Aug. 21 to muster their ING soldiers at bases outside the city, and reform their battalions. Many soldiers fled their posts after the kidnapping.
Toolan suggested the ING soldiers who want to remain on the force prepare for a serious fight and move their families out of town so as not to be victimized by insurgents.
Officials close to the plan said the ING will likely be given housing on bases. They risk being killed by the mujahideen if they return to their homes in the city.
Like the police, ING soldiers who fail to report with their weapons and ID will be put on a blacklist. Soldiers not wishing to rejoin the ING, but who turn in their weapons and uniforms they will be suspended without pay. Many soldiers will have lost their weapons and uniforms when they fled their barracks Aug. 9. If they rejoin their colleagues, they will have to be completely refit. It will be the third time this occurs.
More than half of the national guard deserted during the April fight and a sizeable number joined the other side, taking their weapons with them.
Sulaiman was kidnapped Aug. 9 in an elaborate plot that implicates religious and city leaders. Insurgents also overran and looted his headquarters on the western edge of the city. A second battalion commander was also kidnapped from another location and his office overtaken.
The fate of the second officer is unknown. Sulaiman was killed and his body beaten beyond recognition, according to intelligence reports. Fallujah officials claim he died of a heart attack. His body was dumped in front a youth sport ministry where he set up his first headquarters in January.
At least one more Fallujah ING officer was also kidnapped — Sulaiman’s intelligence officer, a man named Capt. Ali.
The dissolution of the Fallujah Brigade and the police next week will put up to 5,000 armed men in Fallujah off the government payroll and out of work. Most are believed to be supporting or participating in the mujahideen that grips the city.
Here we go again.