Fallujah Leaders Seek Insurgents' Weapons

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Fallujah's civic leaders have joined American officials in calling on fighters in the city to turn in their weapons, and the U.S. military committed not to resume its offensive in the city if the arms surrender takes place, a U.S. spokesman said Monday.

The committments came in the first concrete statement to come out of direct negotiations between U.S. officials and a group of civic leaders and professions representing Fallujah's residents.

The joint statement also outlines promises to improve the humanitarian situation in the beseiged city and try to take the first steps to restore control by Iraqi security forces, said U.S. spokesman Dan Senor.

In the statement, all parties "call on citizens and groups to turn in all illegal weapons," Senor said.

"The parties agreed that coalition forces do not intend to resume offensive operations if all persons inside the city turn on the heavy weapons," Senor said. "Individual violators will be dealt with on individual basis."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20040419/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_fallujah_talks

[Devils Advocate NZ]

1. I suspect the "insurgents" will mimic the NRA...

and say that the US can have their guns when they pry them from their cold, dead fingers...

I mean come on - like they are just going to surrender their weapons based on US promises!

[htuttle]

2. What's Arabic for....

"Ourselves, alone."

?

[0007]

3. Are these commands given with a straight face?

Hilarious as the World Wrestling Federation

[bemildred]

5. They seem to be preparing a climb down in the South too.

Maybe it dawned on then that they might lose.

[papau]

9. Cease fire excerpts below:-Iraqi investigations will check 4 burned bodies

Following the initial meeting on 13 April 2004, the parties met again on 16, 17, and 19 April 2004 to consolidate progress made toward the achievement of a full cease-fire and a peaceful resolution of the situation in Fallujah.

All parties welcomed the improved situation in the city and committed themselves to take all possible measures, with all relevant parties, to implement a full and unbroken cease-fire, which they call on parties to faithfully observe. They recognize that in the absence of a true cease-fire, major hostilities could resume on short notice.

The parties agreed, that as a sign of goodwill, and to improve the humanitarian situation in Fallujah, Coalition Forces will allow unfettered access to the Fallujah General Hospital, to treat the sick and injured. The parties also agreed to arrange for the removal and burial of the dead and the provision of food and medicine in isolated areas of the city. The hours of the curfew will also be shortened so that the curfew will begin at 2100 (9 p.m.), rather than 1900 (7 p.m.) each night so that believers may fulfill their religious duties. Measures will also be put in place to facilitate the passage of official ambulances through the city, especially through checkpoints. Steps will also be taken to allow security, medical, and technical personnel access to the city to work. In due course, consideration will be given to allowing additional civilians to enter the city, beginning with fifty families per day commencing on 20 April.

In an initial effort to restore security in the city, the parties agreed to call on citizens and groups to immediately turn in all illegal weapons, illegal weapons defined as mortars, RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), machine guns, sniper rifles, IED (roadside bomb)-making materials, grenades, and surface-to-air missiles and all associated ammunition. This collection has begun and the parties discussed ways to turn the weapons over to the Coalition. Those who give up their weapons voluntarily will not be prosecuted for weapons violation. Unarmed individuals will not be attacked.

The parties also agreed on the pressing need of restoring regular and routine patrols in the city by joint Coalition Forces / Iraqi Security Forces. The parties will oversee the reformation of the Iraqi Police Force and ICDC (Iraqi Civil Defense Corps) in the city on an urgent basis. These forces will be bolstered and improved. They will be formed primarily from residents of Fallujah, who are best placed to guarantee security in the city. The Police and ICDC, supported by the residents of Fallujah and Coalition Forces must move to eliminate remaining foreign fighters, criminals, and drug users from Fallujah, in order for stability and security to occur.

The parties agreed that Coalition Forces do not intend to resume offensive operations if all persons inside the city turn in their heavy weapons. Individual violators will be dealt with on an individual basis.

The parties reaffirmed the absolute need to restore law and order in the city as quickly as possible, to rebuild the judicial system, and to initiate thorough Iraqi investigations into criminal acts committed in the city in this period of instability, which includes the killing and mutilation of the four American contractors and the attack on the Iraqi Police Station in February.

[David__77]

4. I wonder who these "leaders" are.

I suspect psy-ops personally. They are trying to divide the people of Fallujah, which makes sense from a military point of view. But I do not think this will happen. People in Fallujah have little incentive to trust US troops.

[bemildred]

6. It's not that hard to find some people to say these things.

You can even just make some up if it comes to that.
Then they become ipso facto "leaders". This is a fig leaf
for a climb down from all the threats to retake the town with
"overwhelming force" and so on. It most likely results from the
political heat from the killings of all those civilians. It's
a good sign in a way, it means that they are not going try to "level
the place" just yet.

[David__77]

7. Yes, political cover for US consumption as well.

They know that a Stalingrad seige will turn many more Iraqis into die-hard opponents of the US occupation. They are afraid to take decisive action. Certainly they could take the city, but they are frozen on its edges, fretting over the consequences.

We should view the "news" items through the lens of "what are the political needs and goals of the occupation, and is this 'news' US psy-ops?"

[bemildred]

8. I don't think there is any question they could demolish it.

OTOH they will never "pacify" it, and they have not
sufficient troops to even take a credible try at that.