Falluja Leaders Say City Is Now Safest in Iraq

[Khephra]

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - A month after hundreds were killed in fierce clashes between U.S. Marines and guerrillas, Falluja's leaders said Thursday the city is the safest in Iraq and invited U.S. contractors back to rebuild it.

``Finally we have peace in Falluja. This city is today the safest and the calmest in Iraq,'' Mayor Mahmoud Ibraheem Al-Juraisi told reporters, under the watchful eyes of heavily armed U.S. Marines in Humvees mounted with machine guns.

At a news conference at which confiscated rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and AK-47s were displayed, the Iraqi general entrusted by U.S. forces to control Falluja said the time for fighting was over and Americans and Iraqis should work together.

``Everybody wants peace back,'' said Gen. Mohammed Latif, commander of the Falluja Brigade that includes soldiers from Saddam Hussein's old army.

``The most important thing is that Iraqis and Americans are working together and this is going to be an example for all Iraq,'' said Latif. ``When reconstruction begins, American engineers are welcomed to come.''

more.......

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq-falluja.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. I'll believe this when I see it...

...and even then, I wouldn't send my worst American enemy (read: Bush) into Fallujah.

[Spazito]

2. Anyone see the irony inherent in this paragraph?

``Finally we have peace in Falluja. This city is today the safest and the calmest in Iraq,'' Mayor Mahmoud Ibraheem Al-Juraisi told reporters, under the watchful eyes of heavily armed U.S. Marines in Humvees mounted with machine guns.

[m-jean03]

4. It's quite blatant, yeah. . .

:eyesroll:

[kskiska]

3. Did they let Baghdad Bob out again?

Sounds like him.