U.S. Losing Ground Through Tribal Allies

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http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/iraq/000601.php#more

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June 15, 2007
U.S. Losing Ground Through Tribal Allies

Inter Press Service

By Ali al-Fadhily*

RAMADI, Jun 15 (IPS) ........

Massive U.S. military operations have brought short-term victories, but turned people more and more strongly against the occupation. The province remains the most dangerous for occupation forces, and attacks have continued to escalate.

This year U.S. military authorities worked to firm up a tribal coalition that they said would oppose al-Qaeda terror groups fighting against U.S. forces.

Unnamed officials in the Bush administration have made claims to reporters that the move has reduced violence in al-Anbar, but residents in the area think otherwise.

"The American Army failed to control the situation in al-Anbar province through military attacks that killed thousands of civilians, so they decided to set up local militias," former Iraqi Army colonel Jabbar Ahmad from Ramadi told IPS.