[Media-watch] Fallujah - history in the making

[David McKnight]

from Helen Williams in Amman

David

Even here in Amman, I can still feel the suffering of the Iraqi's. The 
slaughter of Fallujah is underway. I spent time there during April's 
offensive, I know the place and many of the people. While the 'insurgents' 
defend their positions with AK47's and Rocket Propelled Grenades, the 
Americans attack with Howitzers, Planes, Helicopters, Cluster bombs and 
Hellfire missiles. The weaponry sums up the situation, but one thing is 
certain - these coming days will be marked down in the pages of the history 
books.


Hi                                                         Amman  10 
November 2004
As I sit here in Amman in relative safety, I feel compelled to say something 
about the war crimes being committed against the people of Fallujah.  I went 
to Fallujah during the April seige of the city and felt honoured to have 
been there - amongst the wonderful people and brave fighting men of the 
'City of a Thousand Mosques'. By the time you get this it may all be over - 
America may have won their peace - but this is how things stood with me 
yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

So the final 'assault' (America's word) or massacre (everyone else's word) 
on Fallujah has begun. Dubbed 'Phantom Fury', it is the war the networks 
have been waiting for.  CNN embeds Jane Arraf and Karl Penhaul spout 
propaganda and little else for the war-hungry American public back home. 
Indeed, last night (Monday), Penhaul had decided not to to accompany his 
unit into Fallujah, prefering to remain around a mile from the city limits 
because of the threat of booby trap bombs laid in the city by the 
Mujahadeen.
It is difficult to see what he can report on from there, although 'troop 
morale' - soldiers playing cards and music - seems to be a favourite feature 
on CNN. As it is, Jane Arraf doesn't say much either, paticularly not 
wanting to report on US casualties - as of Tuesday evening more than 10 
soldiers had been killed in Fallujah and there were reports that 36 US 
troops had been captured by the Mujahadeen. To find out any truth, or to see 
any real footage of what's going on, you need to check out the Arabic 
networks such as Al Arabia or Al Jazeera. It is widely believed that these 
stations get much of their news from people inside Fallujah, members of the 
civilian population who make phonecalls, take photos and make videos, in an 
attempt to get some truth out.
Estimates put the number of civilians who have remained in Fallujah at over 
100,000, out of a population of 250,000. CNN dubs them 'human shields'. 
Maybe they are - brave citizens who have decided to stay come what may. They 
have chosen to stay in their homes as a 24 hour curfew is declared for their 
city and they seem determined to make the US military's job more difficult 
as America supposedly tries to avoid causing extensive civilian casualties.
I find it hard to believe this mock concern that the US military tries to 
portray for the civilian population. One of the first things they did during 
the final massacre was to surround and raid the main hospital in the city. 
First they said that this was to keep it open for civilian casualties - as 
if they were trying to say that the Mujahadeen were going to prevent 
civilians from going to hosptial, or indeed close the hospital - not a 
chance - it is only American forces that prevent people attending hospital. 
After the Americans said this, they themselves actually closed the hospital, 
saying that any civilian casualties could be taken to Bagdad on tanks!! Have 
you ever heard anything so unbelievable or stupid? How many spare tanks do 
you suppose the Americans have to be used as ambulances in this way, and 
isn't this just the ultimate in using civilians as human shields? On top of 
this, just how long will it take to get an emergency case to a hospital in 
Bagdad, some 60 km away to the east?
And yesterday, in yet another atrocity committed by America, a clinic was 
bombed from the air. All doctors, medical staff and already injured 
civilians inside were killed. Did you hear about this - probably not.
How can the US military be concerned for the civilian population when they 
have dropped over 500 heavy bombs on Fallujah since Monday? They have also 
been using 500 lb bombs to devastating effect. They are also using the 
'Hellfire' - burning people alive.
CNN has not yet reported any bad news for America, just saying that the 
Resistance does not seem to be as well organised as the US soldiers had 
feared. They have not reported:
1 US helicopter has been shot down.
1 unmanned drone (reconnaisance plane) has been shot down (video footage 
shown).
4 tanks have been blown up.
1 US soldier tells how he saw 2 of his friends die in the city.
Also there is widespread desertion amongst the 2000 or so Iraqi soldiers 
taking part in the massacre. They are either too frightened or unwilling to 
fight their countrymen. 1 high level commander left his post on Sunday - he 
was said to be privy to America's attack plans and it is thought that he may 
have been an infiltrator for the Mujahadeen.

Who knows what the Americans will get up to during their bloody and violent 
onslaught. When I was there in April, American snipers shot a 10 year old 
boy in the head - I watched him die as his brave, innocent parents screamed 
in agony and grief, but insisted we film their dear little son's last 
moments.
I saw 2 middle aged women die - they had gone out of their homes to the 
shops, believing there to be a ceasefire and were shot at by American 
snipers - one died clutching a white flag.
The clinic's only ambulance, already shot at and badly damaged in the 
morning, was rendered unusable and undrivable in the afternoon, again by 
American snipers, as it tried to reach a woman in labour, in an attempt to 
bring her to the clinic. Unfortunately for American propaganda, the 
ambulance was full of internationals and that bit of news got out, even 
reaching the Pentagon. Yes, the American soldiers do attack ambulances.
If you read my reports from Fallujah in April ('Fallujah part 1' and 
'Fallujah continued'), you will also see how US snipers prevented civilians 
reaching Fallujah's main hosptial then and how, during a 'ceasefire', 
cluster bombs were dropped on residential areas.
What crimes will these murderous soldiers commit this time. Because of the 
threat of kidnapping, people like me have left Iraq, instead of going to 
Fallujah again to witness and report the truth.
But one telling moment was aired on CNN during one of their 'troop morale' 
pieces. An American soldier stated how he couldn't wait to get into Fallujah 
and "burn the b**tards".
And many people I know have heards US troops openly brag about how many 
Iraqis they have killed today, saying things like "I got 12" and laughing.

CRITICISMS

Criticism for the onslaught on Fallujah has come from far and wide:
Kofi Annan put his concerns in writing to the American, British and Iraqi 
Interim Governments.
China has stated its concern for civilian casualties in Fallujah.
Turkey has warned America over Iraqi victims and casualties.
Moscow has said the attack should be scaled down, depending on the size of 
the Resistance forces in Fallujah.
(But Japan says the attack is necessary for the future of Iraq).
Jordanian Muslim Scholars have criticised the US onslaught and called for it 
to be halted.
The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq have criticised the US forces, 
saying the attack on Fallujah should be stopped immediately. They hold Prime 
Minister Allawi responsible and say the election, scheduled for January, 
should not now go ahead because it will be an election from the blood of the 
Iraqi people.
The Islamic Party of Iraq have pulled out of the Interim Government over the 
impending massacre. A representative from the party cited the terrible 
living conditions endured by Fallujah's residents who have no water or 
electricity. He told how many of the inhabitants had fled - some to houses 
in Bagdad and around Fallujah, but most of them suffering in tented camps 
around their home city - all becoming refugees in their own country - all 
internally displaced by a war they did not start. And many, if they survive, 
will return to houses of rubble, shatterd homes and shattered lives.
He went on to say (as do all Iraqis) that the 'terrorist' Zakawi did not 
exist, calling him an 'American phantom' and he demanded that the onslaught 
on Fallujah be stopped straight away.
Sadr's Office, closely linked to the mainly Shia Mahdi Army, is criticising 
Prime Minister Allawi, the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi National Guard and is 
calling for the attack on Fallujah to be halted.

Rotana is an Arabic satellite music channel aired all over the Arab world. 
Music videos are played on the station 24 hours a day. On the bottom of the 
screen is a horizontal bar where greetings appear from members of the 
viewing public. They are usually frivolous and friendly messages to pals or 
about the music played. Not so during the last couple of days. The greetings 
bar has been full of messages to Fallujah and Iraq. Here are a selection:
"Greetings to Fallujah people"
"Iraq is still Iraq"
"Allawi, don't stick your nose up at Fallujah people - they are heroes"
"Long live Iraq"
"Hi Hero Fallujah"
"Iraq is the most loved country"
"Hussein here - Greetings to Fallujah".

OTHER NEWS
It is not just brave Fallujah that is resisting in Iraq.
Here are some other things that have happened in the last 24 hours - you may 
or may not have heard:

Ramadi, 45 km west of Fallujah - there has been much Mujahadeen activity 
here, much fighting which has resulted in the Resistance taking control of 
the centre of Ramadi.
However, American forces have surrounded Sofia quarter to the east of the 
city.
Two explosions have occurred in Ramadi's American military base.
Two suicide car bombers attacked and destroyed US tanks in the city.

Hit, 65 km north west of Ramadi - the Resistance control the town as of 
Tuesday evening.

Al Qaim, on the Syrian border north west of Hit - much heavy Resistance 
fighting.

Bakuba, 55 km north of Bagdad - three police stations were hit by car bombs 
which killed over 45, mainly Iraqi Police. Casualties would have been much 
higher, but one of the police stations received information that they were 
about to be attacked and so managed to evacuate many people.

Kirkuk - a car bomb exploded at a police station killing 3 Iraqis.

Samarra - an election candidate was assassinated.

Mosul - Resistance fighting growing - 2 US soldiers killed.

Baigi, north of Tikrit - Resistance fighting.

Kerbala - 1 Iraqi policeman killed, 9 injured.

Lattifya - a car bomb killed 2 British mercenaries and a mortar round killed 
another British soldier, bringing the total to 6 since Black Watch moved 
north.

Abu Gharib (town) - 2 Resistance fighters killed and 8 injured in fighting 
with American soldiers.

Bagdad
Green Zone - 4 mortars hit the Green Zone, smoke was seen in the sky above 
the area.
Haifa Street - heavy Resistance fighting.
Kerrada - the Finance Minister's house was hit by a car bomb injuring one 
security guard.
Karkh - police station manager injured by a road side bomb, his security 
guard was killed.
Daura - police station hit by a bomb and two churches were hit by car bombs, 
five minutes apart. 3 Iraqis were killed and 7 injured. A car with a bomb 
followed the Iraqi Police taking victims to Al Yarmouk Hospital and there 
the bomb was detonated, killing 5 Iraqi Police and damaging the front of the 
hosptial.
Rumours abound that some members of Allawi's family have been kidnapped.
I personally do not see how attacking churches, hospitals or Iraqi civilians 
helps get rid of the hated occupation and I believe that the people doing 
these things are very different from those resisting and fighting in places 
like Fallujah, Ramadi and Hit.
When we heard of the attack on the Daura churches, Hussein, one of our 
friends here in Amman, panicked - his family live just behind one of the 
churches.

Curfew
Bagdad now has a 10.30 pm - 4.30 am curfew imposed on the whole city. This 
is to the detriment of the whole civilian population there. Just take the 
street where I was living in the main shopping area of Kerrada as an 
example. The shops there do not close until almost midnight and clearing up 
from the day often continues after this time. Now, during the curfew, the 
shops and stalls must close much earlier. Not only must they shut and clear 
up by 10.30 pm, but time must be allowed for the journey home - often to 
other areas of Bagdad. Take Sari, for example, in the internet cafe - he 
must get to Al Qanat. Or Safa'a, the 'ice man' must go home to Sadr City and 
Abu Ali must reach Zafarania. The effects of this curfew on men working to 
support their families could be serious as much needed earnings are lost.
The curfew also drives more fear, if that is possible, into the ordinary 
Iraqi, already worn out and stressed by the lack of security, water and 
electricity and fast losing any hope of ever seeing a stable and peaceful 
Iraq.
People who need to go to hospital in the middle of the night, or who have 
work shifts to attend, must now run the gauntlet of the curfew. During the 
summer in the hot waking hours when I could not sleep, I would see many men 
from my neighbourhood leave for work from 3.30 am onwards - what will they 
do now?
And many of the poorest people in Bagdad can be seen wandering the streets 
in the quiet carless hours before dawn collecting drink cans for recycling 
for a few hundred dinar a kilo. Now they will have to go out in the day to 
earn their meagre living amongst the busy shoppers and car filled streets.

So as the American army continue to ravage Fallujah and turn it to rubble, 
we see Resistance kicking off all over Iraq.

The American soldiers have always been scared of Fallujah and most are 
terrified now, just following orders, even more scared to lay down their 
weapons and say "No, this is wrong".
Meanwhile the brave men of the Mujahadeen are fighting for something, for 
something they really believe in - whether it is their city, their home, 
their family, revenge, their way of life or religion - one thing is certain, 
it is not for wages or orders.
CNN and their ilk can call these men what they like - terrorists, Islamic 
fundamentalists, Saddam loyalists or foreign fighters. It doesn't matter 
what they say. The men of the Mujahadeen in Fallujah (and everwhere else in 
Iraq), like the Mahdi Army men I met in Kufa, are amongst the bravest, most 
decent and most honourable men in all Iraq and they deserve to do well and 
survive, to live - maybe to fight somewhere else another day. But most of 
all they deserve our respect, our admiration and our hopes and prayers. One 
thing is certain events of the next few days will be marked down in the 
pages of history.

All for now
Helen Williams
In Amman, Jordan
>From Newport, South Wales.

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