PLEASE COME TO FALLUJAH FOR THE WINTERTIME:

U.S. Plans Year-End Drive to Take Iraqi Rebel Areas: U.S. commanders say they are preparing to open up rebel-held areas, especially Falluja, which is under control of insurgents. (DEXTER FILKINS, 9/19/04, NY Times)

[T]he Americans and the Iraqi interim government appear to be giving negotiations to disarm the rebels a final chance. Members of the Mujahedeen Shura, the eight-member council in control of Falluja, said they were planning to come to Baghdad on Sunday to meet with Iraqi officials to talk about disarming the rebels and opening the city to Iraqi government control.

"Although the Americans have lied many times, we are ready to start negotiations with the Iraqi government," said Hajji Qasim Muhammad Abdul Sattar, a member of the shura.

Dr. Ahmed Hardan, a Falluja doctor who will take part in the negotiations, said that at least some members on the council might be willing to strike a deal with the Americans.

Under the proposal to be discussed, Dr. Hardan said, the guerrillas would turn over their heavy weapons and allow a military force gathered from around Al Anbar Province to enter the city. That unit would replace the Falluja Brigade, the local militia set up after the fighting in April and which was composed almost entirely of insurgents and former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. It was routed by the insurgents, and the Iraqi government disbanded it this month.

The Iraqi government will also demand that the insurgents turn over their heavy weapons and that foreign fighters leave the city.

Similar negotiations, also at the threat of force, appear to have borne some fruit in the city of Samarra. American military forces entered the town last week for the first time in months and are hoping they can ultimately restore Iraqi government control there before the elections.

Killing guerillas is the easy part--finding them the hard. That's why an attack like Tet would be so beneficial--the guerillas come to you for killing. But luring them into what they mistakenly perceive as "safe zones" is an attractive alternative and one you control yourself.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 19, 2004 9:21 AM