IRAQ- THE SHEIK STRUGGLE
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We're on the way to Western Iraq, past Baghdad and the concrete walls meant to keep ethnicities apart. In the Anbar Province, poverty and chaos rule- a situation already in place under Saddam. On our way lies a notorious landmark - the Abu Ghraib jail. Until two years ago, this place was a hotspot for the Sunni insurgence against US forces. In Ramadi, the region's capital, tribal leaders have been discussing the results of the regional elections. The timid drive towards democracy has been replaced by new tensions in the fight for power and advantage.
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Sheikh Amer Abdul Dschabbar- from supporter of opposition to helper of the Americans
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Amer Abdul Dschabbar - Sunni tribal leaders in Ramadi
We hope that one day the Americans will stand down.
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But we must recognize the reality that we have to live with them for some time.
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Our police force is not yet sufficiently trained
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Our army is good. But unfortunately there are just too few of us.
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The home of Sheikh Amer Abdul Dschabbar- one of the police and army guarded fortresses.
On Ramadi’s dusty, dirty streets: on patrol with local police forces in Iraq’s one-time ‘Wild West’. We pass houses on the badlands. Former warzones. Painstaking reconstruction. And the former al-Qaeda headquarters in Ramadi.
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After the U.S. invasion of 2003, these radical Sunni nationalists and Al Qaeda waged a fierce battle against foreign troops. But this ended in 2006 when influential tribal leaders switched sides after the blind killings of Al Qaeda.
Speaker 3- Tarik al-Jussef police chief of Anbar
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No, absolutely not, never, never, never. I will not allow al Qaeda to come back into our province. This organization has left behind thousands of orphans and widows.
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Nobody will allow us to turn back or allow al Qaeda to be islamisized.
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The fact that our television is banned, the wearing of jewellery, the use of mobile phones, even smoking. If you smoke, they will cut your hand off. And if you say something wrong, your head.
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Sheikh Nuri al Shalan was given the honorary title of ‘the great warrior’
by his followers. He’s a powerful leader and was mobilized as one of the first resistance against al Qaeda in Ramadi.
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Today he’s the warrior politician, using his political capital against Al Qaeda.
Nuri al Schalan of the National Movement for Justice
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Back then, Ramadi was a ghost town. On the 21st of June 2006, we managed to track down an Al Kaida cell. There were three of us. We arrested them and handed them over to the allied forces.
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Among the arrested, there is a man with a pistol named Alaa Rashid. Until his arrest he was a terrorist.
Alaa Raschid, Ex- Terrorist of Al Kaida
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We ate together, because he came with a gun, wanting to talk to us. He left but after a few hours came back. This led to him opening fire and a gun fight.
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Sheikh Schalan spoke to a provincial election official after he sensed a seat-counting fix.
Schalan al Nuri of the National Movement for Justice
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We have here the first step towards democracy.
It was quite difficult. There was quite a mess. But we have improved things.
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God willing, it will get better and better
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Ramadi, 1st September 2008: American over Governor Mamun Sami Rashid of the Islamic Party, the big losers in the provincial election this year, formally move into office.
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A year earlier the U.S. celebrates President Bush’s new Ramadi ally. Sheikh Abdul Sattar - the leader of the vigilante of Anbar. A few days later, Sheikh Sattar is dead. Murdered by al Qaeda.
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Ahmed Abu Risha, Sattar's brother, continues his legacy. He is now leader of the vigilante, known as ‘ the awakening’. He ensured that cars travelling between Baghdad and the Jordanian border were no longer in constant fear of attack.
Abu Ahmed has visions. He dreams of Anbar as a new Dubai.
Achmed Abu Rischa Chief of the vigilante in Anbar
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There are many mineral resources, such as the gas fields of Akkaz. If exploited, this means a big income for our region and others.
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We also have a plan, for 100 000 jobs.
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With his wealth built on American money, the Sheik isn't tight-fisted.
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His large farm is just a part of the image. Protected by guards from Sudan.
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But Abu Rishas property is watched by private militia. Indeed, not all his neighbours share his vision.
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The entourage is celebrating 17 percent of votes, the Rishas alliance, the ‘Awakening’ reached. In the fight against al Qaeda, the tribal leaders are building towards peace.
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The test comes now - after the election.
Tarik al Jussef - police chief of Anbar
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We want democracy. We do not want the sheiks and tribal leaders to govern our country. We do not want them to have their own army or their own laws to protect al Qaeda.
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No, this nation must finally learn rules of democracy. And follow them.
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Bringing democracy to the people, was one of the slogans of the journalistically advocated U.S. invasion. By 2011 the tribal leaders want the Americans out. Especially from Anbar.
Amer Abdul-Dschabbar Sunni tribal leaders in Ramadi
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The truth is, If they had allowed us to become active earlier, then the Americans would have left earlier.
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If we had requested this then we would no longer need help. But there was no trust between us and them in 2004.
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5 years and tens of thousands of deaths later and Anbar still trust the path of revolt over the policy of power-sharing.