Signs Of Hope In Iraq's Hottest Spot

(CBS)  This story was written by CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick, embedded with U.S. forces in Ramadi.

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President Bush announced this week that 4,000 additional troops will stay in Iraq's volatile Anbar province, but some U.S. commanders say it's additional Iraqi boots on the ground they want and need.

"Even more important is the arrival and development of Iraqi forces," Marine Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer told CBS News.

There are some encouraging signs.

"A year ago you could not recruit in Ramadi," Zilmer said of enticing Iraqis into the country's most dangerous profession. "Last March, zero recruits."

Most of the police stations had been destroyed. Only one police chief remained on duty. U.S. soldiers pleaded with him to remain on the job the day after a suicide bomber blew up a vehicle at his station's entrance. Police were regularly kidnapped, tortured and their families threatened.

In June, there were only 25 recruits for all of Ramadi, which, along with Fallujah, are Anbar province's two largest towns, and regular hotspots for coalition forces.

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See Cami McCormick's Report In Pictures
Key Elements Of Bush Plan
Speech Excerpts

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"I think we're making progress now," Zilmer said.

There are six new police stations and more than 2,500 police recruits have stepped up since the summer.

The key to the turnaround was the enlistment of Sunni tribal leaders, like Sheikh Abdel Sittar. He and a dozen others urged local men to sign up for service after two sheiks were attacked by al Qaeda forces that are believed to make up 70 percent of the insurgency here. The other 30 percent is termed "local resistance."

"It's a black and white fight between us and al Qaeda, and when I say 'us', I mean the local people, the Sunnis of al Anbar and us," said Lt. Col. James Lechner, deputy commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army. "They feel like victims of terrorism as well and that's why they joined us."

The sheikhs only asked that any recruits they got to enlist be allowed to return to work in their own neighborhoods.

"When the Iraqi policemen are on the streets now, they know the local tribesmen are looking out for their families," U.S. Army Brigade Operations Officer Maj. Thomas Shoffner said," so it was a win-win situation."

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[feelfree1]

Re: "The key to the turnaround was the enlistment of Sunni tribal leaders..."

Appeasing the Suni resistance is an interesting tactic, but it will never work, just as every other idea they have had, to date, has failed.

The U.S. "trainers" will never be able to unite the people of Iraq against the ficticious "al-CIA'da in Iraq" hoax.

The Iraqi people know that it is the brutal and illegal invasion of their country that poses the greatest threat to them. They are effectively defending themselves against the invaders and their collaborators, and there is no reason to think that will change.

They have every right to defend themselves.

[jackntx]

Ramadi update:

There are now 14 police stations in the city today, compared to three in July of last year, and eight additional stations are planned for construction. Police recruiting in the city has recently surged from only a few dozen as recently as September last year, to more
than one thousand applicants in the first two weeks of Jan.

Progress is moving ahead rapidly in Iraq while politicians in Washington blabber over old news and views.

[feelfree1]

Re: "U.S. Marines Report Progress In Battle To Control An Insurgent Stronghold"

Sure thing, "Cami McCormick, embedded with U.S. forces in Ramadi..."

There backs are almost broken...again!!!

If you are the journalist, then why are the "U.S. Marines" doing the reporting? And why would we possibly choose to believe them?

[miltpan72]

SAMthe TV Man
As far as "not beaing able to to stomach the tough questions" That seems to be a staple of you and your party. Is it a liberal birthrite to go back and forth on issues on a daily basis. Bush is in command and as such must make difficult decisions. Kerry would have come up with a new "winning strategy" on a weekly basis. How did he do in that election anyway? An interesting sidenote.....Most liberal women have more testosterone in their system than their men. I don't agree with everything Bush does, but when given command, he actually commands. Think about that when you crack open that imported beer.

[miltpan72]

SamTheTVCat

You people are the ones not able to openly debate. We as a country at the time of the beginning of the war were united in the fact that we were correct in going to war. They DID have WMD in Iraq and they were moved to Syria and Iran. Do 5 minutes of research and you will find out about it. Now a couple years later, You left wingers who have no idea of how to keep a contry safe call BUSH a "liar". He acted in this countries best interest and removed an unstable murderer (Hussein) who killed thousands of his own people. There were problems with the intelligence that was obtained but given the climate at the time, we had to err on the side of caution. Iraq had WMD's and it has been openly acknowledged that Russian forces were involved in moving them out of Iraq while we were dicking around about invading. It is easier for you people to say he "lied" than to actually do any research or because it fits better into your "politics". I myself am an independant on most things save for National security. That is a pretty big topic in this day and age. It is also the reason your party has lost the last 2 elections and why (if you idiots actually choose Hillary in '08) will lose a third election. A couple things besides adding troops are going to make things better in Iraq in the near future. We are not going to make it harder on Iran and PAkistan to harbor these terrorists.

[trueprogress]

STICK IT IRAN !

After WWII "ended" there was a long period of German and Nazi resistance, and terror groups, but with determination and force, and some of our own brutality...we eliminated them. So here too. So in Somalia. But we need more:
1. Energy independance from these Crazy Oil Countries. We need 21th Century Nuclear, Solar power, and hybrid cars and homes.
2. We need to call the enemy by name. Islamic Fascists, not a nebulous war on terror.
3. We need to build that *** fence along S border, and profile, profile, profile ( which I think we are actually doing.)
4. We need to stick it to Iran and Syria and tell them , just as Ronald R. would have, don;t mess with us.
5. Recognise the threat to Europe, and reclaim the supremacy of Western Civilization.

[jackntx]

tibu987 -

What makes you think this war cannot be won militarily? Name one war that was won through diplomacy.

Seriously, this story is merely a glimmer of the actual kick b___ progress going on in Anbar province right now. In the last few days, 700 police recruits from Fallujah, Habbaniyah, and Ramadi were beginning their 6 week training course. Last month, over 1000 enlisted in Ramadi. See this story: http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8976&Itemid=21

Also, over 1,900 already in training are expected to graduate and return to Iraq in January and February.

[samthetvcat]

WOW....Why so cynical? Is it not right to report on anything good or are you just looking for bad news to get reported for some political agenda you hold?
Posted by miltpan72 at 11:42 PM : Jan 12, 2007

Ahhh . . . a new right-winger has emerged to take up the cause of the last 3 that seem to have disappeared to have never returned after I pointed out that they seem incapable of posting comments that aren't based solely on personal attacks . . . if you're capable of sticking to the issue, then I'm always open to a good debate. If all you have are hollow judgments of me based on asking the tough questions that you don't seem to have the stomach to hear, then I guess that speaks louder than any retort I could possibly make . . .

[miltpan72]

tibu987... you wrote that "the war will not be won militarily" Did you read the actual article? It mentioned the fact that we hold all parts of the Anbar province and they hold none right now. We are also getting the Iraqi's to finally join/enlist in the police to start holding up their end. Did you read that? Or did you just start typing aimlessly?

[miltpan72]

rsoxfan1123 - so true . . . and if this the best story they could come up with - some spinified piece that once again shows how badly the Iraqi's may be using Bush and playing him for all he's worth - then it's just more bad news, not good . . .

WOW....Why so cynical? Is it not right to report on anything good or are you just looking for bad news to get reported for some political agenda you hold?