Back to Fallujah
Ardolino is headed back. Vid and a roundup from last time here. Observe tip jar, which finances great work like this:
INDC: So why are local Fallujans fighting other Fallujans?
Mohammed: “Because the al Qaeda organization came to this city and controlled it so hard by killing. And some people here actually like killing and they liked Saddam Hussein as well, and I think the al Qaeda organization and Saddam Hussein are the same face.”
INDC: What do you mean by “the same face,” because Saddam was secular, he was not religious and al Qaeda is …
Mohammed: “Because the language they use is killing. And the same people who used to be with Saddam, now they participate with the insurgency.”
INDC: So their motivation for killing is what?
Mohammed: “Money and to be famous. And I think the first reason is to fight the American troops. They say, ‘we can start from here and cross all the way to America to fight them.’”
INDC: What would happen if America left Iraq and Fallujah right now? What would happen?
Mohammed: “It’s going to be a disaster.”
INDC: How so?
Mohammed: “There will be revenge from everybody. And now they are trying to (form the) Islamic Emirate right here.”
INDC: What do you think can be done to stop the insurgents?
Mohammed: “By fighting them back and killing them. Or reporting them to the troops.”
…
INDC: What are your personal plans for the next few years? What do you see yourself doing?
Mohammed: “I think if the situation keeps going the same way, (with vigilantes) killing the insurgents the same way, it (the insurgency) will finish.”
“Not to mention the operation that took place yesterday, by the Iraqi Army and the police (Special Missions Group). It actually shook (the insurgents) so much. If we do another 5 or so, I think we’ll finish them.”
INDC: How many insurgents do you think are operating in Fallujah?
Mohammed: “A little more than 500. Maybe more than that.”
“Actually I need to go, because I don’t want to stay a long time.”
INDC: Ok. One last, quick question: what do you think of Americans, and has that opinion changed over time?
Mohammed: “I think we need the Americans. If they go out right now it’s gonna be a disaster. And believe me, even if they get out of Fallujah, Washington itself will be a target.”
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 4:51 pm on Friday, August 10, 2007
2 Responses to “Back to Fallujah”
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August 11th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Unfortunately, there’s a certain demographic that’s not going to pay any attention to Mohammed. After all, he’s only an Iraqi.
August 11th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
This country is beholden to those bloggers who put life and limb on the line in order to do the job that the so-called pros have failed to do. They deserve every tip in their jars–as much as we can spare.
Give till it hurts, guys. And pass it along to others who care about the truth.
End of lecture. ;^)