Beseeching the Conqueror for Aid, Protection (washingtonpost.com) The U.S. military has been trying to form a police force by re-training members of the old system. A few Iraqi policemen strode around the checkpoint behind the Marines today, wearing their green uniforms and black berets. But judging from the reaction of Iraqis at the barricade, the new force may face problems. The crowd jeered the Iraqi police and warned the Americans not to trust them.
"We don't want Iraqi police. They are bastards. They are corrupt," declared Nazar Ahmed, 34, an interior decorator.
"Who do you want to be your police?" asked a civil affairs officer, who identified himself only by his last name, Melillo.
"You," Ahmed responded.
"No, because I'm going to go home to my family someday," Melillo said. He explained that the new police force would be supervised by the Marines. "We're going to train them to be honest," he said.
Ahmed's eyebrows shot up. "Train them? To be honest?" he said in disbelief.
At another point, a melee broke out when a man spotted another of the black-bereted Iraqi policemen. "You are a traitor! You do nothing for us! You are an agent of the Americans!" he yelled, grabbing the roll of concertina wire with his bare hands and banging it up and down. Several in the crowd clapped.
One Marine looked nervously at another. "They need to get new uniforms," he said.
For all their frustration, the Marines said they found Iraqis friendly. And many of the Iraqis at the checkpoint appeared fascinated by the Marines.
"I was thinking they could be killers. But now, no. The soldiers respect us," said Mohammad Khaldoon, 23.
Curious young men peppered the Marines with questions: Where were they from? What kind of cigarettes did they smoke? What kind of automatic rifles were they carrying?
Perrotti, a lanky 6 feet 4, had a small crowd mesmerized as he talked about the U.S. military.
"How long do you serve in your country? Is it obligatory? You must?" asked Rafid Hazad Marsen, 27, a college student studying English.
"No. I volunteered. I said I want to go fight. For freedom," said Perrotti.
"Do you choose to go to Gulf?" Marsen asked.
"Yes. I want to help," Perrotti said.
Marsen looked perplexed. "Help who?" he asked.
For their part, the Americans were at times puzzled by the Iraqi men fingering clusters of beads and the people eating flat rounds of strange bread. "It kind of reminds me of Mexico -- the bad water and the corrupt police," Perrotti declared.
"We don't want Iraqi police. They are bastards. They are corrupt," declared Nazar Ahmed, 34, an interior decorator.
"Who do you want to be your police?" asked a civil affairs officer, who identified himself only by his last name, Melillo.
"You," Ahmed responded.
"No, because I'm going to go home to my family someday," Melillo said. He explained that the new police force would be supervised by the Marines. "We're going to train them to be honest," he said.
Ahmed's eyebrows shot up. "Train them? To be honest?" he said in disbelief.
At another point, a melee broke out when a man spotted another of the black-bereted Iraqi policemen. "You are a traitor! You do nothing for us! You are an agent of the Americans!" he yelled, grabbing the roll of concertina wire with his bare hands and banging it up and down. Several in the crowd clapped.
One Marine looked nervously at another. "They need to get new uniforms," he said.
For all their frustration, the Marines said they found Iraqis friendly. And many of the Iraqis at the checkpoint appeared fascinated by the Marines.
"I was thinking they could be killers. But now, no. The soldiers respect us," said Mohammad Khaldoon, 23.
Curious young men peppered the Marines with questions: Where were they from? What kind of cigarettes did they smoke? What kind of automatic rifles were they carrying?
Perrotti, a lanky 6 feet 4, had a small crowd mesmerized as he talked about the U.S. military.
"How long do you serve in your country? Is it obligatory? You must?" asked Rafid Hazad Marsen, 27, a college student studying English.
"No. I volunteered. I said I want to go fight. For freedom," said Perrotti.
"Do you choose to go to Gulf?" Marsen asked.
"Yes. I want to help," Perrotti said.
Marsen looked perplexed. "Help who?" he asked.
For their part, the Americans were at times puzzled by the Iraqi men fingering clusters of beads and the people eating flat rounds of strange bread. "It kind of reminds me of Mexico -- the bad water and the corrupt police," Perrotti declared.
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