Hit, Iraq — Nearly five years into the occupation of Iraq the United States is learning what the British, the Turks and even Saddam Hussein knew and practiced before them: Forming alliances with tribal sheikhs is essential to pacifying and governing the country. For tribal identification in Iraq is not just an asterisk in a personal biography, it’s fundamental to identity, even a person’s place in society and livelihood. In western Anbar province, U.S. courting and alliance-building means paying special attention to al-bu Nimr. The influential tribe, which mainly lives on or near the Euphrates between Ramadi, Hit and Haditha, numbers between 300,000 and 400,000 people. It was one of the first Sunni tribes to battle al-Qaida on its own, and one of the first to begin cooperating with coalition forces early in the occupation. “Two groups (tribes) in Anbar went to the coalition forces,” Sheikh Hatim Abdal Razzaq, said. “One was in the west and one in the east of the province. We were both were attacked by terrorists and insurgents for it. “We lost people. We gave blood. But by working with the coalition forces we saw a future … and we agreed to get together, and we’ve cleaned up the bad areas like Hit.” Hatim, just 27, took over the leadership of the tribe two years ago following the death of his father. His uncle, Sheikh Jabair, was the defacto head of the tribe then but stepped aside because of ill health. He acts, however, as Hatim’s chief adviser and confidant. Hatim’s and Jubair’s relationship with U.S. forces is on many levels and complicated, a balancing act between cooperation but also getting something in return for the tribe, whose members form the majority of district police officers and district recruits for the Iraqi army. The U.S. part of the courtship involves keeping the friendship and cooperation of Hatim and Jubair, but at the same time ensuring that other tribes aren’t slighted, that infrastructure projects and governance actions wanted by the two benefit all the people of the Hit district as equitably as possible. It’s a juggling act, pure and simple, on both sides, and one that’s given heavy attention by Marine Lt. Col. Jeffrey Dill, the commander of U.S. forces in the district who has forged a strong personal relationship with the sheikhs. That relationship means frequent and lengthy informal meetings with Sheikh Hatim over endless cups of sweet tea and huge platters of lamb kabob and chicken at the sheikh’s compound, which includes the tribe’s main meeting hall as well as his personal home. Those meetings all start the same: with a handshake, a kiss on the cheek and a bumping of right shoulders. Serious subjects are broached and discussed almost casually, as if in passing, as each side gauges the other’s intent and the seriousness of the issue at hand. “Oblique” rather than “direct” is the operative word. The young sheikh was in a good mood the night a reporter accompanied Dill to the tribal compound. Eyes dancing, and with an amused look on his face, the sheikh wanted to be questioned by the new guest.
Through an interpreter he insisted he, is relatives and other tribal leaders receive no monetary inducement for their cooperation with U.S. forces, a practice followed by previous Iraqi governments and foreign occupiers.
“Feluus (money) he asked rhetorically while rubbing his fingers together and lauging. “Laa, laa – (no, no) feluus. “We get respect from the coalition forces and they trust us, we have security … they make many projects here, and projects mean jobs for the people.” Hatim, voiced concern over tribal and political rivalries in Shiite tribal areas that could further tear Iraq apart but ever the diplomat, said in the end all the political and sectarian factions would realize they were Iraqis and fighting would destroy chances of a better future. But he also cautioned that a strong, central government was years away. “For 35 years Saddam Hussein was president,” Hatim said. “Now his government is gone and the one we have is not yet strong. Now we face the problems his (Saddam’s) government caused or ignored. And it’s not easy, it will take time. “I like the future for the Iraqi people. I like the security for the Iraqi people because without security we will have nothing.” The alliance between Sheikh Hatim and U.S. forces is still a work in progress as are other budding relationships with Sheikhs and tribes around the country. But the importance of the al-bu Nimr connection was highlighted last September when Hatim was one of five sheikhs in the province to meet with President George W. Bush during the president’s visit to Iraq. That meeting – including the news photo published around the world of it – has put the young sheikh high – very high – on al-Qaida’s hit list, a U.S. intelligence source said. At least one of the five has already been assassinated, which may help explain why Hatim and his uncle wear pistols in their homes despite being surrounded by heavily armed bodyguards.
