U.S. forces want Iraqis to be more self-reliant

1 Comment | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 7, 2003 | by JOHN DIEDRICH

HABBANIYAH, Iraq - Lt. Jason Webb has become a kind of ambassador to this small city west of Baghdad.

The Fort Carson tank platoon leader ventures into town each day to meet with Iraqis, trying to figure out whom he can trust and what problems may lie ahead, and encouraging locals to restart basics such as policing and utilities.

This kind of job often is done by Army civil affairs soldiers who specialize in getting war-torn countries functioning again. Those soldiers are in short supply in Iraq, so the job has fallen to the 25- year-old from Heber Springs, Ark.

It's often maddening work.

Residents have become accustomed to relying on higher authorities in larger nearby cities or Baghdad to handle the basics of their government. Now they will have to do it themselves.

Habbaniyah is further along than other cities in this area. There have been problems, but there is more order than in nearby Fallujah and Ramadi.

Some in Habbaniyah already are talking about elections, but soldiers say they won't be soon.

Monday, Webb visited the modest home of Wisam "George" Naomi, the man Webb most trusts in town. Naomi speaks perfect English and is a Catholic, one of the few Christians in town.

By meeting with Webb, Naomi and his friends risked their safety and the safety of their families. Some were threatened after a previous meeting, Webb said.

The men sat in Naomi's living room under a painting of the Last Supper. Naomi offered water and a cigarette to Webb. He took pictures of all the Americans in the room.

Naomi's friend, Waleed Ibrahim Dawood, told Webb that U.S. troops should prevent incidents like an explosion that occurred Monday morning. Someone started a fire at an abandoned Iraqi air base, igniting munitions.

"Iraqis are saying they can't trust coalition forces. Didn't they say they were coming to protect us? " Dawood said.

He suggested Webb and his men designate the munition sites off- limits and shoot anyone who goes near them. Webb said soldiers can shoot anyone seen starting fires or even carrying a gun after dark, but there aren't enough forces to stop all the problems.

"The police have to help," Webb said.

The men shook their heads. The police are unprofessional and scared, they said.

Webb left after 15 minutes. He'd heard mostly complaints.

"If they have a plumbing problem, can I get pipes? If there is an electrical problem, can I get a transformer? They are going to have to do this themselves."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0110 or diedrich@gazette.com