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DEL.ICIO.USU.S. officer is sheiks’ kind of guy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mahmudiyah, Iraq — When the local sheiks meet U.S. soldiers here, they travel in large groups. They figure that’s the safest way given the threats they face from insurgents.
Other Iraqi leaders have been killed for cooperating with the military. The sheiks, who essentially are unelected community leaders who wield tremendous influence within their tribes, are no exception.
“The way we deal with this is having them all work with us because they can’t kill all the sheiks,” said Lt. Col. John King, commander of Georgia’s 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment.
King has been meeting the sheiks at least once every two weeks since the battalion arrived in June to gain their cooperation in quelling the insurgency in this Sunni-dominated area known as the Triangle of Death.
The meetings are highly political and often run long. But that is nothing new for King, 41, who learned the art of multicultural politics and diplomacy primarily as Doraville’s police chief, but also through his military training.
Louie Favorite/AJC
Lt. Col. John King, police chief in Doraville, thanks sheiks for their help during his time as commander of U.S. forces in Mahmudiyah.
A police officer in Atlanta and Doraville for about 20 years, King said working with city council members and state legislators helped him learn to deal with tough political issues, a skill that comes in handy in Iraq.
“A policeman’s job is good training for working with people,” said King, a divorced father of two teenage children.
While he is gone on the year-long deployment, King keeps in touch with what’s going on at the Doraville Police Dept. through e-mails every few days and satellite telephone conversations at least once a week.
There are about 35 sheiks in the greater Mahmudiyah area where the battalion was based until recently. When the unit first arrived, the sheiks wouldn’t meet with King. But King started getting their attention by arresting them on charges of cooperating with insurgents.
He gained the respect of the others by treating them well while they were detained and publicly clearing their names when he couldn’t prove they were guilty.
On a recent Sunday, seven Shiite and Sunni sheiks in multicolored keffiyahs and robes filed into an office to meet with King. He began by thanking them for encouraging their tribes to vote in the recent referendum on the national constitution.
He told them he was pleased they were getting involved in Iraq’s budding democracy.
More than 50,000 in the Mahmudiyah area cast ballots on Iraq’s proposed constitution despite the threat of violence from insurgents, King said.
“You have deeply touched me. And you have not only taught me to be a better soldier, but a better man,” he continued. “Mahmudiyah will be a part of me and my soldiers for the rest of our days.”
The meeting with the sheiks was King’s last as the commander of U.S. forces in their area. His battalion is assuming new missions and moving to another base 65 miles south of Baghdad.
“We like your personality and image — very smart and always smiling. You always have jokes. We are very sorry to hear you are leaving,” Sheik Kalid Al-Gouriri told King through an interpreter. “We would like to come and visit you some day.”
Hammering for help
Once the niceties were finished, it didn’t take the sheiks long to start hammering on King for help in getting 23 officers assigned to the local Iraqi Army brigade.
The sheiks endorsed the officers, while complaining many of the soldiers in the brigade are outsiders from southern Iraq. Those outsiders don’t know the local traditions, the sheiks said, and have been raiding homes unnecessarily, mistreating residents and humiliating men in front of their wives.
“Sometimes they commit things without regret because nobody knows them,” said Sheik Sadoon Al-Saidi. “We ask you please to reconsider this request very firmly as a friend.”
King told the sheiks they will likely be successful in their efforts. But he asked them to be patient and let the Iraqi army decide about the appointments.
“I do not want the Iraqi army to be told everything to do by the American officers,” he said. “All good things take time to grow.”
Al-Saidi then complained King’s artillery is knocking out power and killing livestock in the town of Yusufiyah.
Al-Saidi and the other sheiks said later that at least eight Iraqis and 200 cows and sheep have been killed by Iraqi and American soldiers since the U.S. invasion in 2003. They died from either small arms fire or artillery shellings, the sheiks said.
“We would kindly ask you if you would stop the artillery,” Al-Saidi told King. “These shellings are scaring people out of their houses. And it is opening doors for insurgents to move in and take their places. By doing that, you are helping the insurgents.”
‘Catch the insurgents’
King eventually had an opportunity to voice his complaints, encouraging Al-Saidi, to turn in the insurgents who are firing mortars at U.S. soldiers from his tribal lands.
Soldiers said they have also found roadside bombs in Al-Saidi’s tribal area.
“The quickest way to shut down artillery is to help us catch the insurgents who are shooting artillery from your land,” King told Al-Saidi. “We only fire artillery at the places where insurgents are firing. We have to defend ourselves.”
After the meeting, King disputed the numbers of dead. He said he is aware of only one civilian and 10 cows killed by his men.
The civilian, he said, was killed after ignoring six warning shots and rushing toward a U.S. soldier who was preparing to destroy a roadside bomb.
Soldiers said they found what they believe was a destroyed mortar tube in the area where the cows were killed.
“There is a level of exaggeration always with my friend,” King said of Al-Saidi. “They use Mahmudiyah math. One becomes twenty.”
He added: “If I don’t fire back, I will have mortars rain constantly on me.”
As he prepared to leave the meeting, King gave each of the sheiks a coin with the battalion’s insignia on it.
“This is a small token of our appreciation for giving me your friendship and your help,” King told them. “I know it is something that is not very valuable, but it is something close to our hearts.”
King shook the hand of each of the sheiks and then turned to go. His battalion was heading south to its new base.
His howitzers had already fired their last shots.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By John's ex-wife :-)
November 2, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this
Good job John, I am glad you all are going to be in a relatively safer base. Only 8 months more to go hopefully!
By SGT Doug
November 2, 2005 08:12 PM | Link to this
Thats the way to do it “Chico”. Lt Col King is the best commander the 108th Armor has had in a long time. He was a great company commander when he was at Co D. From a former member of the 108th, My hat is off to all of the guys in Iraq.
By Michael Castagna
November 3, 2005 01:11 PM | Link to this
Also as a former member of Company D-108th Armor I served under Col King. He was in my top three best ever list of comanders. In no order, LTC Butch Barnes, COL John King and CPT Frankie Holder. Very prould of you Sir.
Michael Castagna SSG (Ret)
By Michael Castagna
November 3, 2005 01:13 PM | Link to this
Oh forgot Cpt Ralph Mccullough also, great commander.
Michael Castagna
By Jane
November 7, 2005 09:38 AM | Link to this
John, We are are counting the months til ya’ll come home.
You are doing an excellent job; I just wish you were here. Stay safe and healthy.
Jane Barwick
By Al P
November 14, 2005 10:31 AM | Link to this
LTC King Great to see you and the boys are doing well. I spent a few days in Scania and its definitely a step up. Hope the driving range out back is finished. Let me know if you need any clubs.
Al