Insurgency in Fallujah expected to worsen: US commander

Mon Aug 1, 4:28 PM ET


FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) - Insurgent attacks in the Iraqi city of Fallujah are expected to rise over the next few months, a US commander said, but vowed that rebels will not be allowed to regain control of their former bastion.
There is no doubt that the insurgency will rise in and around Fallujah over the next few months as a lot of political developments take place," Colonel Mark Gurganus, the commanding officer of US marines in Fallujah, told AFP.

The Sunni Arab town, 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, was recaptured by US forces following a massive military incursion in November.

Most of Fallujah's 300,000 inhabitants fled at the time and about half have since returned.

With reconstruction of the city underway, more are now expected to return home. But the US military believes rebels are bound to come back with them.

"Now more and more people are returning to their homes and want to continue their livelihood which is what makes the city again sensitive to rebel attacks," Gurganus said.

With a referendum on the constitution set for October 15 and general elections due by December 15, insurgents are expected to renew their attacks in the city to disrupt the political process.

"With the referendum coming in the next two months and then the national elections, attacks will increase in Fallujah even as we try to check each and every person entering the city," Gurganus said.

"We have entry control points, but one can never guarantee that no bad guy can enter the city."
But he expressed confidence that insurgents will be unable to carry out "spectacular" attacks on coalition forces.

"There is no way they can try anything spectacular. There is no way they can take control of Fallujah again," he said.

Accepting that the city remained dangerous, Gurganus said the combined security force of marines, Iraqi army and a newly-established police force was ready to tackle any kind of fresh rebellion.

"I accept that the city is still dangerous... I still have to wear my helmet and body armour when I walk on the streets, but it is not what it was earlier," the marine officer said.

"Today we have three forces working together, though the Iraqi army and the police are still not completely professional as the cohesive unit of the marines."

Gurganus said residents were also becoming "pro-active" and informing the security forces about rebel movements.

"A lot of information we get is coming from concerned citizens who offer tip-offs on possible IEDs (improvised explosive devices) or on unknown people entering the town and so on," the officer said.

Gurganus expressed confidence that strong voter participation in the coming polls will help break the insurgency in this former flashpoint city of Al-Anbar province.

"We have a city council now for Fallujah, very soon we plan to have a proper judicial system and once the elections take place a lot will change and insurgents will not find shelter here," he added.

Dozens of Sunni tribal chiefs last week met senior US embassy and military officials, expressing willingness to take part in the constitutional referendum, though many spoke against federalist proposals in any draft charter.

Gurganus also felt that reconstruction of the war-damaged city will go a long way to instill a sense of security among residents.

"The rebuilding work is on, though not at a pace one would like it to be, but we are making progress each day, brick by brick and that will make people feel safe," he said.

US officials said more than 250 million dollars have been spent to date on infrastructure projects in Fallujah.

Of these funds, 125 million dollars came from US coffers, while the rest came from the Iraqi government.

"I am optimistic that Fallujah will be safe completely soon and we are not going out till that job is done," Gurganus added.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050801/wl_mideast_afp/iraqfallujahinsurgency