Iraq developments   length: around 10 min

US Marine Corps soldiers prepare for a night patrol from their base in

Falluja, a city in the Anbar province, about 100 kilometers west of

Baghdad. A few years ago, this was one of the most dangerous places in

Iraq, controlled by Al Qaeda and other resistance groups who carried out

attacks and rigged bombs along the roads. But now, due to increased

security, half of the the US forces have left.

The patrol exits the vehicles, new and built especially to withstand

explosions. They have reached a checkpoint, manned by Iraqis belonging to

"Sons of Iraq", a volunteer corps who turned against the insurgent groups

and instead cooperate with government and US forces, who they earlier saw

as the foremost enemies.

"Sons of Iraq" police chief   Hussein Abid Farhan alJumaili

-When terrorists started coming to us from Afghanistan and neighboring

countries, then we went to the Americans and started cooperation with them

to kick the terrorists out of the country.

The checkpoint is at the entrance to Falluja and all cars entering are

thoroughly searched for weapons or explosives. The people here in Anbar

are mostly Sunni Muslims but after having been intimidated and terrorized

by the insurgents, the sheiks, the leaders of the influential tribes,

urged their members to join the volunteer corps "Sons of Iraq" to expel

the al Qaeda movement, Today it is said to be almost non-existent in the

province.

Sgt Raymond Smith

-The SoI has helped out tremendously. These guys have given us critical

intel when somebody has been coming through that shouldn't be here. They

stop people from doing things.

The different volunteer corps in Iraq numbers more than 100 000 men but

their fighting strength can be questioned. Many are young, previously

unemployed. They have to provide weapons by themselves and after a few

weeks of training, the US military pays a salary of less than a few

hundred dollars a month, not enough to survive upon. The aim is that the

corps shall be disbanded by October this year and that the volunteers will

join the ordinary security forces.

volunteer police man Hamad Jasim Aied

-We want from the Americans to make sure that we will be a part of the

police force against the terrorists.

But only one fifth of the "Sons of Iraq" will receive employment as

military or police. The Iraqi government, now dominated by Shia affiliated

parties, look suspiciously at the Sunni dominated movement who is said to

have ambitions to develop into a political movement in the forthcoming

local elections. The risk of escalating sectarian tensions is high.

Oraib al Rantawi, director,  alQuds Center for political studies

-There is a potential for a conflict between the "official" forces who

remain there. Therefore it is a risk by the US to support a militia

against another militia. They play with the sectarian division, the Shiite

card against the Sunnite card, now they play with the Sunnite card against

the Shiite card.

AlQuds Center is an independent research institute in Amman, Jordan. But

it's director also sees a development towards stronger national unity in

Iraq.

Oraib al Rantawi, director,  alQuds Center for political studies

-In Iraq, the last surveys and polls show that the Iraqi identity is

emerging. People are fed up with religion, tribes, with these conflicts.

At an Iraqi army base in Falluja, the day starts normally with physical

exercise. Increased security, generally all over Iraq, has meant increased

time and possibilities to strengthen Iraqi security forces, who now are in

charge of nine out of Iraq's eighteen provinces.

troops marching, singing      "we don't have any disagreements, we are

united all sunni and shia, we are all the same.."

The forces are to be kept free from sectarian influences and the soldiers

live together, both Sunni and Shia. Today they receive training on the US

M16 automatic gun which later will replace their old Kalashnikovs. The

American instructors keep in the background and just oversees the

training.

General Ali alHashemi

-The army needs equipment, weapons and other things but for the soldiers

and officers they are in a high feeling and they are progressing.

USA has so far been loath to supply better weapons or stronger vehicles

because the Iraqi army is said to be weak and not to be trusted. At

several occasions during fights with militia groups, Iraqi forces have

deserted, as now in February during the fights in south Iraq. Many think

US forces are needed here for a long time to come.

Iraqi soldier Hamed Mounahi (shia)

-The country will collapse, the conditions of the country will get unstable.

In the villages outside Falluja, life goes on like decades ago. Still,

more than five years after the invasion, hardly any improvements have come

here. One major reason for the strength of militia groups and criminals is

the authorities incapacity. There is a lack of electricity, clean water,

cholera outbreaks are not uncommon, health and education are lacking.

farmer Omar alRubaie

-We were happy when they arrived. They talked about democracy. We were

happy but it seems nothing improved.

man village Adel Salam Haadi

-Electricity is zero until now we haven't got anything. Dusty and we have

children weak and ill and there is no electricity.

The situation is similar in the cities even though increased security

has made more shops to reopen. Unemployment is huge and few of the close to

four million displaced Iraqis have returned to their former homes.

Mounaf alObeidi owns a small restaurant in Baghdad and several of his

relatives work here, also his nephew. Education is not a priority when a

whole family is to be supported. The whole restaurant was destroyed and

many of the family killed one year ago during a bomb explosion just

outside. Mounaf thinks that lack of hope for the future and economic

desperation make the terror to continue.

Restaurant owner Mounaf al Obeidi

-Youth get involved and join the terrorists just for small amounts of

money and the country suffers.

Increased prices have made the situation worse but on the other hand, at

the gas stations, there are no more cues.

station clerk

-It is much better than standing (waiting for gas) in this street for four

days. Now fuel is available and thank God for that.

man

-Well, there is fuel, but at what price..?

Public works hardly functions. A leakage in the municipality pipe has

stopped drinking water to the houses. The authorities have no ability to

repair the damage so the people here have to fix it themselves.

man

-Because the service is bad.

Even the political process has been harshly criticized, mostly from the

American side, to be too slow.

Ali al Dabagh, spokesperson for prime minister al Maliki

-I do agree that it is a slow political progress in Iraq but Iraq is in a

transitional period. We have 35 years of tyranny here in Iraq and of a

sudden that was changed so we are in (a state of) transitional democracy

you could say.

Ilkka Uusitalo, Ambassador of the European Union to Iraq

-When we think about this process we have to allow the Iraqi players to

take their role. We can provide assistance, technical assistance, advice

and all that but in the end they will have to make the decisions and take

the process forward.

Compared to it's engagement in other countries, the European Union has

played a minor role in Iraq.

Ali al Dabagh, spokesperson for prime minister al Maliki

-Europe didn't work to the level which we feel in Iraq that this is the

role of the European Union in Iraq.

Ilkka Uusitalo, Ambassador of the European Union to Iraq

-Very clearly, on the Iraqi side, they want to revive the old relations

and ties they have had traditionally with Europe, whether it is economic,

cultural, political or other kinds of ties. This is where they are looking

very much and they want to diversify also their contacts . They see that

in the future they want to deal with everybody, it is not just in one

direction.

For a sustainable development, cooperation with surrounding countries is

needed. But Iran has many times been accused of supporting insurgent

groups inside Iraq with the aim of disrupting the creation of democracy.

Ali al Dabagh, spokesperson for prime minister al Maliki

-We have explained this to the Iranians that "if you need, you should

choose the relation, either through the legitimate government or you should

choose it through the others, but when you choose through the others,

don't expect that it will be a good relation we maintain with you".

In spite of a slow political process and a violence ridden society, there

exists in Iraq, compared to other Arab countries, the possibilities of a

democratic society.

Oraib al Rantawi, director,  alQuds Center for political studies

-If Iraq succeeds in creating a serious democracy, believe me, it will be

a shortcut for many Arab states to follow. If Iraq falls into civil war,

sectarian divisions, it will be a disaster for all countries because Iraq

is a major country in this area.