The Attack on Fallujah

After hearing of the attack on the Iraqi police station in Fallujah and of their terrible losses, my first question was, "Where were US forces during this time?" Now, an article in Today's Stars and Stripes answers that question.

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From the article in Stars and Stripes we learn:

Iraq’s civil defense force asked U.S. soldiers not to aid a besieged Fallujah police station Saturday to keep the defenders from losing face with locals, according to the U.S. commander of coalition forces in the area.

Col. Jefforey Smith, commander of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, now based in Fallujah, said U.S. soldiers prepared to head to the police station after hearing gunfire.

However, the troops at Volturno Forward Operating Base, about seven miles from the police station, were held back at the request of the commander of the 506th Iraqi Civil Defense Corps battalion.

“He almost demanded we not put forces into Fallujah at that time because it would damage their credibility with the people there if they could not protect themselves.”

Smith promised not to intervene for two hours and provided the civil defense corps with 20,000 rounds of ammunition for their AK-47 weapons and machine guns.

Fallujah police chief Abud Farhan Jrad Al-Isawi said he would have accepted help from U.S. troops during the attack.

Al-Isawi said before the attack he asked the U.S. troops to stay inside their bases and leave security at Fallujah to his forces.

“We told our American guests to be safe and take their rest at the outskirts of the city and we’ll do the job inside,” he said.

I don't think there can be any doubt that these Iraqi forces are serious about protecting their country. As an American, I find it hard to understand the Arab desire to save face, but it's easy to see the courage these men possess.