A Meeting with the Generals

BAGHDAD:  Col. Michael Kershaw, Commanding Officer of the 2^nd BCT, 10^th Mtn. Div. is once again boarding a Blackhawk helicopter at BIAP.  This trip is nothing to do with the SURGE in Baghdad, nor with the SEARCH in Yusufiyah for the two men still missing from his unit since the attack near Patrol Base Inchon on May 12^th .  He is to meet with Gen. Ali, commander of 4^th BDE, 6^th Iraqi Army Division located at FOB Falcon.  

They will discuss the transfer of an area along Tampa Highway which includes the interchange that exits for Yusufiyah and Mahmudiyah which is presently under the US command controlled by Col. Kershaw.  This piece of Iraq real estate will be transferred to the Iraqi Army which in this area, is under the command of Gen. Ali and will henceforth be under his control. 

Weapons that are being used against US and Iraqi Gov. Forces.

“Gen. Ali is an extraordinarily  professional army officer,” said Col. Kershaw, as his chopper approached the BDE LZ on the western edge of BIAP.   “He’s the kind of guy we need on our side.”

Brigadier General Ali Jassim Mohammed Hassen Al-Frejee  was first in his class at the staff officer college.  He’s non-secular and is married to a Sunni. He will tolerate no religious bias.   He demands perfection from his men, and is incorruptible. He was also an officer in the army of Saddam Hussein. 

Success will eventually be measured  in Iraq by having 100% of the area  presently  controlled by the US military transferred to the authority of the Iraqi Army.

 

Iraqi Army soldiers that are replacing US Army forces.

According to Maj. Webster Wright, public affairs officer of 2^nd BCT, great progress is being made.  “So far in this Brigade’s AO,  between 40 and 45% of the land mass area has been turned over to the Iraqi Army.  We‘re making good progress.”

Brigadier General Faisel Qasim al Kezalee, a battalion commander in the 4^th Brigade was on hand to greet Col. Kershaw.  Numerous soldiers from the IA formed an honor guard as Col. Kershaw’s contingent was greeted by the General, who then walked with them into the compound. A long conversation ensued between them; but initially Brig. Gen. Faisel spoke for some time.  Two contract interpreters from the US Army were on hand to assist.

Col. Kershaw listened, and listened; with the translation being squeezed in quietly before beginning “I know General.  I know…. but we will continue to work together to straighten out our differences and to move forward successfully with the transition.”

On this compound, FOB Falcon, the IA regulars feel that they have been shortchanged all around.  Whether it be electricity, water, food, vehicles, you name it; they feel neglected.

General Faisel is also Sheik Faisel and he continued talking as Col. Kershaw conferred with his staff.   This general officer did not attend the staff officer school.  The Iran-Iraq war was his military training ground, where he was a warrant officer for two years.

 

l. to r. Col. Michael Kershaw, myself and General Faisel.

He was however, able to raise more than a hundred men from his tribe as recruits for the Iraqi Army.  These men of the al Khassah tribe, are from  Mesan Provence. “What was initially a 45 day period of service, has grown into four years,” said Zaya M. Youkhana, one of the US contract interpreters present. 

Faisel continued his rapid conversation.  He told of how the British came to the boundaries of Mesan during the invasion of 2003, where he met them. The British were asked to remain where they were, and that he would clear Mesan of all opposition.  He would chase them out.  When the British finally entered Mesan to take control, they did so without one casualty to themselves; and without their being one death among the native population of Mesan.

The sheik continued.   He feels that the Shia tribes in the area of Iraq south of Baghdad have a good sense of unity and can work together.  There is a problem however with the Sadr’s Militia in Baghdad, and with the tribes from the area along the southern border with Iran. 

“I believe those can be insignificant  numbers,” said the Shiek. “We do not have a history of secretarian violence in the south, and I believe we have enough supporters in the present government to operate effectively and legitimately.” 

Brig. Gen. Faisel is an elected cabinet member in the present government of Iraq.  He is of the opinion that Iraq’s most serious problem is insecure borders; and that the governments of Iran, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are promoting much of the dissention in Iraq to keep the American military tied up there. 

Democracy will not be able to flourish and spread to these countries if Iraq remains unstable, he feels.  Consequently, if the US Army is fully engaged in Iraq, it will be too occupied and undermanned to ‘spread’ democracy  elsewhere.

Brig. Gen. Ali finally arrives and is greeted by Col. Kershaw. Ali is a tough guy.  Everyone  present in the room, including the civilians, came to attention when he entered.  The two officers took their place at the head of the table and began their conference.  The area to be transferred to the Iraqi Army includes the Tampa Highway interchange for Mahmudiyah and Yusufiyah.  This site is critically important for the security of Baghdad.

A number of phone calls are made to Ali.  It’s obvious he is not happy.  There are numerous, highly vocal,  exchanges.  More general officers of the Iraqi Army stop by the meeting.  Two interpreters are being kept busy at this point.  Eventually a table is spread with a feast and all present are invited to partake.  It appears some IA commanders aren’t getting the job done and they’re blaming the US.  Colonel Kershaw quickly straightens them out. 

 

l. to r. John, the interpreter, Col. Michael Kershaw and General Ali.

A good meal, a few cans of soda, numerous sweet teas, and candy for desert allow the IA officers to forget about their issues; and settle in for a visit.  Col. Kershaw reminds them that he has to go.  The helicopters have been waiting. They’re scheduled for more missions after dark, as the search continues for the two men who still remain missing from the incident near Patrol Base Inchon on May 12^th.  Officers of both armies make their farewells.  The Americans climb aboard their flying machines and disappear into the evening sky.

“The smaller issues those IA officers have are not my responsibility” said Col. Kershaw as he was walking from the choppers back to his office at Camp Striker.  “I can make a few calls, and I will.  That army should be supplied as well as we are if they’re expected to take over.” 

Col. Kershaw continued, “The real battle for Baghdad is being fought out here in the countryside, in the Shakaryah Triangle.  We have to be confident of our progress here, and have confidence in the new Iraqi Army, before we turn it over to them.” 

The larger issue at stake is whether the Iraqi Army has the confidence in its self, and in its men and equipment, to hold back the foreign elements that have learned to use this sector, the ‘Triangle of Death’ as a safe entry point into Baghdad.

*A version of this article was printed in the Watertown Daily Times, May 28, 2007.