More Iraqis accept their US-trained forces

Many security-force members in Fallujah refused to fight insurgents alongside US Marines in early April, a surprise that - after months of training - amounted to the "single most disappointing" breakdown in cooperation, in the words of one senior marine officer.

The Fallujah units of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC), the seed of the new post-Hussein Army, admit that most bowed out of the April fighting after evacuating their families from the city and receiving threats from insurgents.

"Before we suffered with [these threats], now it's good," says Khamiz Mahdi Saleh, an ICDC private in an oversized uniform during an interview at the Fallujah train station, where his unit kept guard alongside a Marine platoon.

"Before, the people of Fallujah did not know our job. All they knew is that we worked with the Americans, so we were bad," says Private Saleh. "Now they know the job - they see us taking over from the Americans, and they look well on us."

Though lightly armed, at best, the ICDC forces here say they are treated with greater respect now, and are even allowed to pray in the mosques. Before, they say, their uniforms alone led to expulsion.

"The people don't have any [negative] business with us," says Majid Kamel Mohamed, a private from Fallujah who joined the unit four months ago. "We do our job, and people wanted this, because they wanted a stop to the fighting. They want peace."

Maj. Ahmed Hamadi Khalaf says threats have been intense, and that "many people" have been pinpointed in cities throughout southern Iraq.

"I told my family that I am going to the new Army, to help save the country," says Major Khalaf, wearing eagles on his epaulets at the Fallujah rail station. "I've had [threats] before, but I don't care. These guys want to cause trouble in Fallujah, so it is not a safe place."

Some proof of the changing attitude is evident in the calm that has blanketed Fallujah, since the pull back of US Marine units. The ICDC has taken to the streets and manned checkpoints, with often little more than a few coils of barbed wire and an Iraqi flag.

Just as laid back, the FPS guards in central Baghdad continue to search Iraqis entering the education building. They were attacked there twice last year, when US forces kept a permanent presence.

US Army units now visit every couple of days - as they did Tuesday morning. They parked three Humvees in the lot and launched foot patrols.

"Things started changing in the last month," says Qassem. "Now people are encouraging me, because they want protection for sewage lines and water plants.

"The change is happening," echoes Jassim Kadhim, another guard. "My mother used to stay awake at night, worried about me. Now my mother is more comfortable, because the Americans left this neighborhood. It's safer."

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