27 October 2003
American Troops Supporting Ramadan Activities in Iraq
While terrorists resort to increasingly desperate measures
By Jacquelyn S. Porth
Washington File Security Affairs Writer
Washington -- U.S. Army Major General Raymond Odierno says American troops are supporting the celebration of Ramadan in Iraq by facilitating religious observances and honoring local customs.
Speaking to reporters in Texas and Washington via video telephone on October 27, the commander of the 4th Infantry Division said this involves "lifting curfews to allow freedom of travel" during the fasting period, showing greater sensitivity to local traditions, and working with community leaders "to reduce coalition presence within urban areas."
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began October 27, and Odierno said U.S. forces have all been briefed "so they are aware of the cultural sensitivities." For example, he said, they have been advised to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in front of Iraqi Muslims who are fasting. They have also been told to be sensitive to Muslim religious sites and try to avoid conducting patrols near them during prayer time.
Since Ramadan is also a time for charity, Odierno said various U.S. military units are pursuing projects to benefit children at orphanages and schools. Such activities, he said, are designed to demonstrate that "we agree with the charity piece of Ramadan as it goes forward and that we want to support them as they move forward with their celebration."
Odierno also described attacks in recent days on soft targets in Baghdad, such as the car bombing of the International Red Cross and the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks on the al-Rashid Hotel, as indicators that the Iraqi resistance is resorting to increasingly desperate measures. He said attacks such as these, and against the United Nations headquarters earlier, are terrorist attacks. "They are not against military forces, it's not about war, this is about attacking civilian people; this is about attacking their own people," the commanding general said.
Responding to a reporter's question about the focus of the resistance, Odierno said his forces have noticed recently that those who are carrying out attacks are trying increasingly "to avoid direct contact" as a way to minimize casualties among themselves. "What we have seen is more mortar attacks" and more improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as they become increasingly desperate, he said, and more focus on soft targets.
Odierno highlighted some recent quality-of-life improvements that have been carried out in his area of operations in northern Iraq. "We have completed 883 projects," he said, with another 505 in train. Projects have included renovating or rebuilding public schools (480), repairing 96 percent of the hospitals and clinics, fixing 25 water treatment plants and boosting electrical power generation by some 300 percent since the beginning of "Operation Iraqi Freedom." Stability and support operations have sought to improve basic municipal services such as banking, courts and telecommunications, he added.
During the past six weeks, Odierno said, his forces have been conducting operations against forces that have been perpetrating mortar attacks and ambushes using IEDs. "These operations have resulted in the capture of 123 mid-level former regime members, ... 43 IED makers, and six financiers," he said. The raids have also pulled in $1.5 million dollars thought to be financing attacks on the coalition, as well as 340 AK-47 machine guns, more than 1,000 grenades, 680 RPG rounds, and blasting caps and mortar rounds.
Asked about payments for organized attacks against coalition forces, the general said the cost of finding willing attackers has gone up. When his troops first entered Iraq, he said, the resistance was paying $100 for attacks and as much as $500 if the attacks succeeded. "We now believe it's somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000 if you conduct an attack and $3,000 to $5,000 if you're successful," he said.
This comes against the backdrop of an attack on the al-Rashid Hotel October 26 while U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was staying there. During an October 26 interview with Iraqi media, Wolfowitz -- who was not hurt -- described this enemy as one that "doesn't stand and fight. They hit and run, and they're losing."
Odierno said everyone is working to turn public security operations over to the Iraqis. "Every day we train and equip more local police, who join our soldiers in patrolling their cities," he said. Right now there are nearly 8,000 Iraqi police officers, 1,800 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps members, and over 1,200 border police "working and training alongside our soldiers to protect and build a better future for their country," he added.
The commander also said the number and quality of tips coming into the coalition is growing exponentially. But Odierno also acknowledged that some Iraqis who have come forward with solid information face intimidation. "There are threats to Iraqis, ... there is intimidation," he said. Former regime loyalists, he added, "don't care what they do to their people. They don't care about the Iraqi people. All they care about is coming back into power."
Meanwhile, the hunt for Saddam Hussein continues. Odierno said there is no indication that the former Iraqi leader is controlling recent attacks in Iraq. He also said there is no evidence linking foreign fighters, from Syria or elsewhere, with loyalists of the former regime.
It will take time "to take these former regime loyalists down," Odierno warned, because they wear civilian clothes and hide behind women and children. The process is also slow because the coalition is careful in making arrests because "you want to get the right people in custody." All this means, there is no "overnight solution," he said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=October&x=20031027165754htrop2.337283e-02&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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