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By Richard Miller
Iraq Dispatch #4

This morning I witnessed something that was both mundane and extraordinary. In one sense, it was only a meeting to discuss security arrangements for a march. City and state authorities were present as were representatives of the marchers; the route was discussed and the role of law enforcement in providing security was planned. Such meetings probably occur weekly in cities like Boston, where peaceful demonstrations and holiday parades are commonplace.

But this wasn't Boston. It was Aldijail, Iraq, the same town that witnessed atrocities for which Saddam Hussein is now being tried. Indeed, representing the marchers at this meeting was a man who recently testified against the former dictator. Also present was the head of Aldijail's city council, as well as Col. Shakir of the Iraqi Security Forces [ISF] and Gen. Mohammad Watif of the Iraqi Police [IP]. And coaching this meeting—to say that he led it would be inaccurate—was Col. Jeffrey Vuono, Battalion Commander of the 3-29 Field Artillery, part of the 4th Infantry Division. Col. Vuono is a trim, alert, professional soldier who was, like many of his men, trained as an artillerist. However, unlike many of his men, Col. Vuono holds a masters degree in international law and diplomacy from Harvard's Kennedy School and has clocked time at Tuft's Fletcher School of Diplomacy. But like the rest of his command, Col. Vuono has adapted to the requirements of this war. This morning, that meant functioning as a ward heeler, diplomat, cop, and city planner. All of this in a city which has never had real political parties, reliable cops, much diplomacy or any planning. The meeting, a regularly scheduled event known as the JCC [Joint Communication Center] is an ongoing opportunity for Coalition forces, the ISF and IP to discuss security issues. This meeting also illustrated the promise and pitfalls of attempting to reorganize Iraq as some version of democracy.

The subject at hand was a religious pilgrimage planned by local Shiites. Tradition calls for the march to begin on foot, through Aldijail's streets and up the heavily traveled Route One, the main road to Baghdad. These days there are other hazards beside convoys of trucks. Insurgents, especially those currently attempting to foment a civil war, would a gathering of Shiites as an ideal opportunity to commit mass murder. The certainly have the will as well as the means—mortars fired from secluded spots, homicide bombers and of course, the killing machine of choice—roadside bombs, known in militarese as IEDs. There are no guarantees against violence in today's Iraq, but the odds can be greatly reduced by close coordination between Coalition forces, the ISF, and the IP. As Col. Vuono made clear during the meeting, whatever the wisdom of conducting a march under these circumstances, it's not the role of the Coalition to deny Iraqis the right to gather peacefully for whatever reason. However, this is Aldijail, a town that dreads reprisals from Saddam loyalists for the role its citizens have played in bringing the former dictator to trial.

Because this isn't Boston, there were problems. Col. Vuono's first task was to gently kick back Iraqi requests that "the Coalition do it" in providing security. He encouraged, where feasible, the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own security.

Other problems proved less tractable. The IP's Gen. Watif walked into the meeting two hours late. Worse, within a few minutes, as Col. Shakir of the ISF was mid-sentence in proposing a joint effort for security with the IP, Watif and his aide rose, and without so much as a fare-thee-well, calmly walked out of the meeting. It was a sign of disrespect to Shakir, and Vuono, a veteran of these meetings, decided he had had enough. He fetched Watif back into the room.

"You were two hours late for this meeting, and this is supposed to be a security meeting," Vuono said. "You're supposed to be working with Col. Shakir, yet you walk out just as he's trying to work with you." Col. Vuono's tone was correct yet extremely unhappy. He reminded Watif that whenever he contributes anything in these meetings, it's always to complain about the Col. Shakir's ISF. "I don't want to know from you what the ISF is doing. Col. Shakir keeps me fully informed about that. What I want to know is what you're doing with your 500 men. Where are they? Can you tell me their positions?" Watif, stung, admits that he doesn't know.

Now the meeting begins to make some progress on security issues. Col Vuono has drawn a line, and at least for now, Watif respects that line. But when the time comes for Vuono to add his closing statement to those made by the Iraqis, he makes sure that it will leave no hard feelings. "It's nothing personal," he assures Gen. Watif. "I just want you and Col. Shakir to make security the best it can be so that your people are safe and secure." Col Vuono pauses and a thoughtful look crosses his face. "You know, as you say, Inshallah—God willing," he finally says. "I believe that here, God is willing—if you are."

This meeting and other things I have witnessed since being in-country convinced me that there exists a growing bond at every level between American soldiers and the ISF. I saw it in the way Col. Vuono dealt with his counterpart, Col. Shakir. Just as importantly, I have seen it in the positive attitudes, genuine handshakes, and friendly, offhand, behind-the-back comments (and trust me, these defy scripting) made by our grunts towards their ISF counterparts. Whether the ISF can rise to meet the troubles of Iraq is unknown, but thus far, it is the most unambiguously, mutually friendly relationship between Americans and Iraqis that I've yet seen.