Back Towards The Locus

IPS is alleging that US and Iraqi forces are preparing another assault against Fallujah. According to the reporters – Ali al-Fadhily and Dahr Jamail:

“Iraqi security forces have established new checkpoints around the city and are forbidding movement of people and traffic. Pick-up trucks are roaming the city warning residents that al-Qaeda has once again infiltrated Fallujah”.

IPS also quote Sufian Ahmed, a lawyer and human rights activist in Fallujah:

“Ruling powers in the city fighting to gain full control seem willing to use the security collapse to accuse each other of either conspiracy (in lawlessness) or incapability of control.”

“They suddenly changed their tone from saying that the city was the safest in Iraq to claiming that al-Qaeda is a serious threat. Fallujah residents know their so-called leaders are using security threats to terrify them for their own political interests.”

Last week, a brief curfew was imposed on the city after a bomb killed up to 25 people at a tribal gathering. This prompted the Police Chief, Abdul Kureem, to state that that he and his forces “aimed at limiting the movements of the armed groups on the outskirts of Fallujah who plan to give support to other armed groups inside“. Those killed, it is alleged, were members of the Awakenings Council, suggesting sectarian fighting or even a struggle for power.

All of these claims are entirely at odds with the reportage of Military Corps News, which, only four days ago, celebrated the establishment of a new KFC in the city, and quoted a soldier as saying:

“I remember when I was here last in July 2004 and things were much different than they are now,” said Sgt. Steve J. Arnoux, a 25-year-old vehicle commander from Browning, Mont. “When we would go out on convoys in the city, the attitude was a lot different. It seemed like we were just waiting to get ambushed. Now we stop at KFC.”