Turning away from extremism to local councils

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Turning away from extremism to local councils
By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, February 4, 2008

FALLUJAH, Iraq — Make no mistake, Sheik Salam Farhan Salih is disturbed by, and fearful of, the recent targeting of sheiks by extremists looking to send a message to those who cooperate with U.S. forces in Anbar province.

But in this former hotbed of al-Qaida and Sunni militancy, a pensive peace has taken hold, and Salam, of the Jumaily tribe, said he doesn’t think those recent attacks will affect the population’s loyalties.

People want to see progress and are sick of the violence, Salam said.

“The principles of al-Qaida have been refuted here in Fallujah,” he said. “They named themselves as the resistance, but they killed the doctors, the professors and the community leaders.”

Iraqis interviewed here said the population turned away from extremists of all types last year due to exhaustion from the violence and intimidation tactics, along with the lure of U.S. reconstruction dollars.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52181