hearts, minds, bombs, hearts...surging in a very small place

In January 2007 CBS news in America reported from the Arab Jabour district, an insurgent stronghold to the southeast of Baghdad. US forces moved into the area in the early part of what’s officially referred to as the surge, with the task of clearing insurgents and winning the loyalty of local people:

"Ninety to 100 percent of the area's residents either actively or passively support the insurgency," estimates Odom, who calls them well-armed and well-trained.

On a scale of one to 10, he gives them the highest mark as worthy opponents.

"Clearly, many of them have been in the military, based on the engagements we have had. Their tactics, their employment of indirect fire systems, indicates something beyond just paramilitary training," Odom says.

Sounds like a tough job. Fast forward to September, and the US has managed to put together a concerned citizens loyalist militia. Interviewed here is General Mustaffa, called by his public affairs handlers the “Lion of Arab Jabour” and the leader of the group.

December 27, mission accomplished. A video here of the opening of the Arab Jubour Governance Centre ("Scenes include Iraqi locals singing, dancing and eating"). Missing Links posts a translation of an extract of an interview with a US officer carried on pan-Arabic Radio Sawa about progress in the area:

Joseph Inge, fourth brigade, third American infantry division, said his forces with the aid of the Awakening forces had been able to clear out the last strongholds of Al Qaeda in the regions of Arab Jabour and Al-Buaitha south of Baghdad. He told Radio Sawa: "We have secured the area by freeing it from the threat of AlQaeda, with the assistance of local citizens". And Captain Inge called on the families that had fled to return to their homes in those areas, promising every type of support and assistance to those families.

On January 10, the US air force unloaded northwards of 40,000 lb of bombs on 40 targets in Arab Jubour, “allowing American soldiers to push into areas where they have not been in years.” A spokeswoman for the Multinational forces described the raid as one of the largest since the war in Iraq began. A local sheikh says that 20 people were killed in the bombing and described all of them as al Qaeda operatives.

The bombings took place in conjunction with ongoing ground combat operations by US forces. As well as targeting insurgents, US forces are also offering microloans and water purification facilities to win the loyalty of local farmers.