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U.S. honours Iraqi guards on frontline of conflict
Baghdad, Oct 31: In the face of assassinations, suicide bombings, sabotage and looting, Iraq`s American occupiers have established a first line of defence it is composed of men such as Ali Furaydoun.
Baghdad, Oct 31: In the face of assassinations, suicide
bombings, sabotage and looting, Iraq's American occupiers have
established a first line of defence it is composed of men such as
Ali Furaydoun.
Furaydoun is a member of the facilities protection service, an
Iraqi force set up to guard buildings and other important sites. He
was shot in the leg last month in a shootout with gunmen who fatally
wounded a member of Iraq's governing council.
Working for the FPS -- standing guard outside ministries, power plants and police stations -- is far from glamorous. But its members have frequently been in the firing line. They are the people who stand between attackers and their targets.
In recognition of their role, the U.S. military held a ceremony yesterday in Baghdad to honour FPS officers for sacrifices and bravery in the line of duty. Furaydoun, 34, got two medals, hung on little triangles of red and green felt.
''This is my country and I have to protect it,'' he declared.
''These people are terrorists,'' he said of his attackers. ''We need to get rid of them or they'll destroy Iraq.''
The FPS now carries out many duties that were initially done by U.S. soldiers. Furaydoun said it was right that Iraqis take over the dangerous work from the troops sent in by U.S.President George W. Bush. ''President Bush told us that they were not occupiers, that they would pull out,'' he said.
''So sooner or later we Iraqis have to take over.''
Often, FPS guards have stopped attackers in their tracks. Sometimes that has cost them their lives.
FPS members have been killed or wounded in incidents ranging from major attacks such as a car bombing this month outside the Baghdad hotel, used by U.S. officials and Iraqi politicians, to violent attempts to loot government buildings.
The guards say they are motivated by a mix of patriotism and necessity. Iraq's economy is in ruins and the few dozen dollars they get each week is a good wage by local standards -- most Iraqi's scrape by on less than a dollar a day at the moment.
Imad Jabar, a father of three daughters, was an accountant at Baghdad's stock exchange before the war that ousted Saddam Hussein in April. But looters destroyed the building so now he works as an FPS supervisor.
''We must protect our sites and our people. Somebody needs to do that,'' he said.
Despite their readiness to risk so much for their country, some guards are frustrated they have not yet been provided with more equipment. In one district with 244 guards, there are only 40 weapons to go round, one FPS member said.
The officers at Thursday's ceremony -- several using crutches after being wounded in action -- at least got some recognition for their work, although the audience in the large auditorium was small and composed mainly of U.S. soldiers.
The commander of the U.S. army's 1st armored division and the governing council's Iraqi interior minister had been expected. But neither could make it and sent deputies instead.
Working for the FPS -- standing guard outside ministries, power plants and police stations -- is far from glamorous. But its members have frequently been in the firing line. They are the people who stand between attackers and their targets.
In recognition of their role, the U.S. military held a ceremony yesterday in Baghdad to honour FPS officers for sacrifices and bravery in the line of duty. Furaydoun, 34, got two medals, hung on little triangles of red and green felt.
''This is my country and I have to protect it,'' he declared.
''These people are terrorists,'' he said of his attackers. ''We need to get rid of them or they'll destroy Iraq.''
The FPS now carries out many duties that were initially done by U.S. soldiers. Furaydoun said it was right that Iraqis take over the dangerous work from the troops sent in by U.S.President George W. Bush. ''President Bush told us that they were not occupiers, that they would pull out,'' he said.
''So sooner or later we Iraqis have to take over.''
Often, FPS guards have stopped attackers in their tracks. Sometimes that has cost them their lives.
FPS members have been killed or wounded in incidents ranging from major attacks such as a car bombing this month outside the Baghdad hotel, used by U.S. officials and Iraqi politicians, to violent attempts to loot government buildings.
The guards say they are motivated by a mix of patriotism and necessity. Iraq's economy is in ruins and the few dozen dollars they get each week is a good wage by local standards -- most Iraqi's scrape by on less than a dollar a day at the moment.
Imad Jabar, a father of three daughters, was an accountant at Baghdad's stock exchange before the war that ousted Saddam Hussein in April. But looters destroyed the building so now he works as an FPS supervisor.
''We must protect our sites and our people. Somebody needs to do that,'' he said.
Despite their readiness to risk so much for their country, some guards are frustrated they have not yet been provided with more equipment. In one district with 244 guards, there are only 40 weapons to go round, one FPS member said.
The officers at Thursday's ceremony -- several using crutches after being wounded in action -- at least got some recognition for their work, although the audience in the large auditorium was small and composed mainly of U.S. soldiers.
The commander of the U.S. army's 1st armored division and the governing council's Iraqi interior minister had been expected. But neither could make it and sent deputies instead.
But a U.S. military band played in the guards' honour, speeches praised their achievements, the audience applauded and the guards received some cash to go along with their medals.
Hassan Sayeed accepted a medal on behalf of his 22-year-old son Hamza, who was guarding a power plant three months ago when a looter bayoneted him to death with an ak-47 rifle.
''He wanted to protect our country and provide stability and
(the job) was an income for the family,'' said Sayeed, tears in his
eyes and his son's medal on his chest.
''We cry every day for him.''
Bureau Report