From May 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004 I worked as a high ranking US official on the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.  My last assignment was in the rebuilding of Iraq higher education, comprised of 20 universities and 48 technical institutes and colleges.  I restarted the Fulbright Program in Iraq that brought the first 25 scholars to American Universities in February 2004 after a 14 years hiatus.  I traveled extensively throughout Iraq visiting the campuses, meeting with administrators, faculty and students.

I lived in Saddam Palace with more than 3000 military and civilian personnel where the Coalition Provisional Authority had set up its offices. 

In my trips to the various cities of Iraq, I did not encounter any significant antagonism towards the US people, US forces or US Government.  Majority of Iraqis were supportive of our liberation policy and were grateful for the sacrifices our men and women in uniforms and civilians were doing to improve their new freedom, civil liberties, quality of life, economic prosperity, and educational opportunities.

Their complaints were centered around basic necessities such as uninterrupted electricity, instant availability of gasoline, job opportunities and above all their personal safety from criminal elements and organized crimes.

Of all the 19 provinces, Anbar was problematic from the start; and of all the Iraqi cities, Fallujah had remained a bastion for Saddam’s loyalists.  Since April 2003 Fallujah has been the floodgate for foreign mercenaries, terrorists, and Baathists insurgents to come and go.  It was the favored escape route for the enemies of Iraq and Iraqis leading to Syria.             

It has always been my belief and perception that Fallujah mirrored the heart and mind of Saddam.  While Saddam, the person, is physically incarcerated, his persona, anima, mind, and heart reverberates till today in Fallujah.

Last April right after the savaged killing and desecration of the bodies of the 5 Americans, I recommended to the Pentagon to lay siege of Fallujah and fight the insurgents until the city turned in those who killed the Americans, turned in all their weapons, and submitted to the rule of law.

For a short while we conducted mopping operations in Fallujah.  We were quite successful in our battle against the insurgents and terrorists.  Regretfully, the UN, French, Germans, Iranians, Russians, Chinese and the Arab opinion labeled our activities as a massacre of innocents.  We caved in to their opinion and stopped our military marches to clean Fallujah of the criminals.  Then came Zarkawi and his band of beheaders.