Posted By Karima Saifullah

Last year, Iraq’s western Anbar province was the most dangerous in the war-torn country. 

The Sunni-dominated province -- the largest in Iraq; sharing a border with Syria, Jordan (undefined), and Saudi Arabia -- has witnessed some of the worst attacks since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. 

U.S. occupation forces were often targeted. Residents in the local capital, Ramadi, were forced to remain home to stay alive.

But last summer, Sunni tribal leader Sheikh Abdulsattar Abu Risha gathered his fellow tribal chiefs and formed a strong police force in an attempt to restore security in the province. Under the umbrella of the Anbar Salvation Council, Abu Risha’s initiative showed early signs of success. About 200 young men from Abu Risha’s tribe first signed up as police recruits last year, and after two months of basic training in Jordan, they took to the streets. 

"The situation (in Anbar) was unbearable before, people were tortured, shot dead, bodies littered the streets. We couldn't even leave our homes to bury the dead," Abu Risha told Reuters. 

About 20,000 police are now deployed in the province, where 15 large police stations have been revived and are being controlled by the provincial police chief. 

"I joined the police force so that we can protect ourselves, and defend our tribes from the terrorist groups,” said Nizar Mahmoud, 30. 

U.S. military commanders say the number of car bombings in Anbar, especially Ramadi, has fallen. And for the first time since the war began, U.S. military deaths in the province are fewer than in Baghdad, where a two-month security crackdown involving extra U.S. troops failed to halt violence or reduce the civilian death toll. 

"The number of attacks and incidents across the entire province has dropped significantly," said Brigadier-General Mark Gurganus, the U.S. Marine commander in charge of ground operations in Anbar. 

At a news conference in Washington on Thursday, the U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, praised Abu Risha and other Sunni tribal leaders, saying that they "helped transform Anbar province and other areas from being assessed as lost as little as six months ago to being relatively heartening."

Ramadi residents also noticed the changes. More people could now be seen shopping at outdoor markets. Students are returning to schools. Patrols in blue-and-white police vehicles with machine guns mounted on the top rumble along Ramadi's streets. 

Police said when they first started patrolling the streets, residents threw flowers at them. 

"God protect you. God save you," a woman yelled at a passing patrol last week. A young boy also signaled the 'v' sign for victory at the patrol. 

Abu Risha said life had improved in Anbar but there was more to do. "The Americans kind of failed in securing this area. But we know where the (rebels) hide," he said. "Once we've got more weapons, we'll continue with the crushing." 

In addition to restoring peace to one of the most dangerous provinces in Iraq, the Anbar initiative shows that U.S. troops could withdraw from the war-torn country once security is handed over to the Iraqis. If a determined, relatively small police force succeeded in halting violence in Anbar, then the Iraqi army is certainly capable of restoring peace to the whole country.

©  EsinIslam.Com

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