Jim Spiri in Iraq

Prior to this day, I had never been in a Stryker before. It is like a giant humvee so to speak, with all kinds of "stuff" in it, and an RPG cage surrounding the outside of the vehicle. I have seen them in many other parts of this country before, but had not had the opportunity to experience this mode of transportation.

Today's mission would be something rather interesting. We would go to a village close by camp Taji, that is referred to as Sheik Hammad village. We would be meeting with a person named Sheik Adil, who just recently returned after a long absence in Syria. What he was doing there in Syria of course is up for speculation, however, it was well known that he was wanting to return to this area.

He is a Sunni Sheik and has in the past been steadfastly against the American forces here. I do not know his background however it is a fair guess to speculate, according to conversations I've had with folks here that would know, that Sheik Adil was a bad guy. Now that the pressure is on, and much progress has been made in dealing severely with Al Qaida forces here in the area, it appears that Sheik Adil has also had a sort of "awakening" and wanted to now say he is with the U.S. forces in the fight against Al Qaida.

Sort of.

When I was lined up outside the Strykers awaiting to be assigned a vehicle to travel in, I had not yet met Col. Lehr. I had met the others, but Col. Lehr is an extremely busy and very focused soldier and came out to the Strykers just prior to the departure time for the mission. I was told I would ride in his vehicle.

When he came out, I was standing at the back of his Stryker. I had assumed he knew about me. He came right up to me and said, "Who are you?", with a voice and demeanor that commands immediate attentiveness. I introduced myself and he asked if I was going along. I took a deep breath and replied, "Yes sir, that was the plan, however, I'm flexible," with a bit of a waver in my body language.

What I am trying to convey here is that my first impression of this unit was in fact that of very serious attitude. I was a new person and these were all new persons to me. I was on unfamiliar ground, however. In very short order, Col. Lehr said, "Well then, hop on in..!" I jumped in and took my place and sat still and waited for whatever came next.

The back ramp on the Stryker closed up and we proceeded in a particular march order out the gate of camp Taji into the village where the meeting would be taking place. I watched as Col. Lehr took control of comms using his headset and conversing with others in the group of Strykers that we were with. I asked the Major sitting next to me if I could take a photo of the Col., and he replied, "sure." So, timidly, I took a few photos, without flash, of Col. Lehr in the Stryker, doing his thing. Again, I just sat quietly as we rolled into town. It was all new to me, and learning new personalities is always an energy expenditure for me. It seems I spend a lot of time explaining things as I go along the way. But this time, I just tagged along and played it by ear.

It would be a smart thing to do.

We arrived at the home where the meeting was to take place. A person came out to greet us, and shortly the colonel, myself, his PSD team and many other soldiers pulling security entered the home. Once inside the home, I noticed about a dozen middle aged men all dressed in local attire, waiting for our arrival. There were greetings and handshakes and in due time, Sheik Adil would be entering the room. I knew now that this would be a very interesting time.

I was sure glad I had come along. I would see what a colonel does in the midst of war in the matter of reconciliation between enemies who now "want to make nice." It is very surreal.

A man looking about my age, and a little smaller in stature, entered the room. He had a scruffy beard and was dressed in western clothes, looking like they could have been purchased at K-Mart. He greeted the colonel and others in the room and then sat down on a couch next to Col. Lehr. I would be just adjacent to them both, as the rest of the room had the dozen or so other local men along one wall, sitting in local fashion, and many U.S. soldiers along the other wall sitting in chairs. The atmosphere was cordial, but serious. Sheik Adil was here to say he wants to make peace; Col. Lehr was here to see what Sheik Adil had to say. I was apparently here to listen to it all.

And that is exactly what I did. I listened.

Chai (tea) was brought out shortly after the meeting began. I have come to really enjoy the chai. It wakes you up quickly. It is hot, and sweet. It is also a cultural thing that soothes the atmosphere a bit. I like it.

Col. Lehr began by asking the sheik what it is he wanted to say and what could the U.S. do for him. The sheik began by saying that in the past many things had been done and it was time to "bury the hatchet" so to speak. Col. Lehr, who is in charge of the battle space that Sheik Adil wants to now remain in and pick up where he left off, spoke rather directly, as well as firmly throughout the entire dealings with the Sheik. Both have much to gain by a successful result stemming from this meeting.

Where I am is where a large portion of the Surge that you all stateside hear about is taking place. In particular, the area around Sheik Hammad Village, has been the scene lately of heavy operations involving the hunt of Al Qaida personnel, and it has seen a large measure of success. The sheik, who had been in Syria for a long time, has seen what is going on from a far, and figured that now was the time to make his move, before he lost all his options. The tribal and cultural way of dealing with things here in Iraq is something that must be understood by anyone hoping to have success here. The colonel knows this extremely well and thus this meeting here, in this village, is exactly what is going on all throughout the country of Iraq on a daily basis. This is what is understood as the "Iraqi's taking the lead, not just militarily, but politically, (kind of) to root out the terrorists.

It was brought out by Col. Lehr early on in the meeting that there are two Sunni extremists groups. He made clear that there are Sunni extremists who are nationalists and there are Sunni extremists who are ideologists (fanatics) vying for control of Iraq.

Col. Lehr acknowledged to Sheik Adil that due to past mistakes by all sides in recent years, Sunni nationalists became insurgents. He emphasized and recognized through Sheik Adil's presence, that now is the time to forgive the Sunni nationalists and press on towards reconciliation. But there is a plan, not just a "Oh sure, not a problem glad you got the picture, come on over, we're all friends now" approach. Col. Lehr also said that Sunni extremists that are ideologists, i.e., Al Qaida, who have exploited the Sunni nationalists for the past years and created an extremely hostile environment, will not be tolerated, and will be eliminated. That he was very firm on.

The sheik spoke of many things. He mentioned for a long time how it had come to his realization as well as those in his tribe whom are in a sense under his control, that Al Qaida has brought a form of radicalism to their region that is not in line with their hopes, dreams and goals of living in Iraq.

Where at one time they may have looked like they were for the Sheik and his village, yet now it is obvious that through their murderous tactics and violent dealings not just with the Americans, but with the local population, here, a change needed to happen.

These are the words, paraphrased, that Sheik Adil spoke at length while I, and many others, listened.

He went on to say that the real problem is coming from Iran and everyone knows it. They have exercised a sphere of influence that is affecting Iraq, village by village, and now, with meetings such as what Col. Lehr is participating in, a critical path must be chosen to ward off the terror that is so widespread.

Col. Lehr explained to the Sheik that the U.S. is ready to stand up a police force of local members from the Sheik's tribe, right there in his village, immediately. It had been brought out that employment and a way to care for the families is what is in dire need at this time. Security depends on stability in the village based on employment. The talks went on and it was determined that a list of names was prepared by the sheik and his people and they were ready to implement such a thing. Col. Lehr spoke about how important it was that a visible sign of a change, such as the police force being stood up, would send the message to Al Qaida that no longer will acts of terror be tolerated. All in the room agreed that standing up to Al Qaida is the only way it will happen. Sheik Adil said for sure that is why he had come at this time, to do this very thing. He agreed with a smile that the visible presence of locals becoming assimilated into the IP here, would in fact determine such a move. The sheik said this.

At this very point, Col. Lehr, an excellent diplomat that is for sure a very wise warrior, told the sheik that he and his men would be taking a patrol at this very moment into the town just a couple of kilometers up the road. Col. Lehr invited Sheik Adil to accompany him along the way to show to the town the new way to go on.

It was at this point that Sheik Adil perhaps could have used a change of undergarments, for it was immediately obvious that the words that he had spent the last hour or so speaking, were about to be confronted with actions that the colonel had suggested.

It is fair to say that this point in the meeting was going to clarify where and when the rubber would be meeting the road. I had been extremely attentive the entire time, but even the more so as I saw the colonel present to the sheik a suggestion that would show, at least for the time being, who does what they say. I looked at the colonel at one point during this entire dialogue and he gave me a return look that could have said, "Did you get that Jim? This is how it's done".

Through much hesitation and little stumbling around with translation it was clear that the Sheik was not about to be seen with the colonel at least on this day, at this time, in town. Everyone knows that Sheik Satar was just murdered for doing exactly the same thing.

But in this country, it takes such vital steps to win the war on terror. It is a dangerous move. Sheik Adil knew the U.S. would not tolerate any violence coming from the sheik toward American forces. Sheik Adil also knew that his livelihood is in jeopardy and subject to being taken over by Al Qaida elements.

Sheik Adil also knew that in his town, there are many "eyes and ears" as he had mentioned earlier. The meeting would be over soon.

We pretty much began to wrap things up. Plans were made for the days and weeks ahead as to how to proceed in this village. I have seen this go on in many other parts of the country. It will be applied here, with or without the sheik, but odds are on that he will stay on board. After we left, we went through the village and I spoke a little with Col. Lehr. I asked him about the sheik declining at the moment to walk with us in the village. The colonel had told me that it would have been a big plus if the sheik had done so at this time. But he also told me he respected the man's decision and knows the obstacles the sheik is up against.

There will be another time for the sheik.

All in all, the meeting was much more in depth than I can describe in this entry, but for time sake, this will have to do for now. What is important to note is that Sheik Adil is back, and we knew he wanted to return. The Al Qaida forces are no longer getting a free reign based on Sunni extremism based on Iraqi nationalism. Al Qaida has shown is hand and the Sunni nationalists don't like it. The U.S. has offered a way to Sheik Adil and many many others how to get back their country and the sooner that happens, the sooner the Americans go home.

The Dixie Chicks wrote a song a while back called, "Not Ready to Make Nice," based in part on some of the trouble they got themselves into with statements they had made concerning the war in Iraq and Texas being the state the President is from. Here in Iraq, Sunni extremists who had done much worse than just make statements, are now "Ready to Make Nice" with the Americans, as they realize the negative influences from Iran, Al Qaida and others. There will be no tolerating under any circumstances Sunni extremism based on ideology, i.e., Al Qaida and it's radical brand of Islamic fundamentalism. The Iraqis will not tolerate it, anymore. Col. Jon Lehr, is surely not ever going to tolerate it.

We will see who really is "Ready to Make Nice."

Jim Spiri
Taji, Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com