http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23709U.S. Losing Ground Through Tribal Allies
Submitted by davidswanson on Sat, 2007-06-16 20:21. Media
By Ali al-Fadhily, Inter Press Service,
http://dahrjamailiraq.comRAMADI, Jun 15 (IPS) - U.S. attempts to win over tribal collaborators
in the al-Anbar province have won it more enemies instead.
The U.S. military has launched one of its biggest operations to date to
regain control of the province, to the west of Baghdad. It had lost
control over the region more than a year back.
The province, which represents a third of the total area of the country
and is inhabited by roughly 2.5 million people, mostly Sunni Muslims,
has stood firm against the U.S. occupation of Iraq since the early days
of occupation that began in March 2003.
Fallujah, the second biggest city in the province after capital Ramadi,
ignited fierce resistance to U.S. forces after they killed 17 unarmed
demonstrators protesting in front of a school occupied by the military
in May 2003.
Resistance then spread to Khalidiya, 80 km west of Baghdad, then Ramadi,
105 km west of Baghdad, and reaching Hit, Haditha and then al-Qa'im on
the Syrian border.
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.
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