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Iraqi leaders thank Vt. soldiers for service

By Wilson Ring
The Associated Press

November 9, 2007
COLCHESTER -- Three Iraqi political leaders from the once-dangerous Anbar province visited the Vermont National Guard headquarters on Thursday to thank soldiers for helping them combat al-Qaida forces in the provincial capital of Ramadi.

The three men are among the growing number of Iraqi Sunni Muslim leaders who are working with American troops to rid their country of al-Qaida forces, they said.

As a result of those efforts, in the past year Ramadi and Anbar Province have turned into a model where peace is being restored and civil government is reappearing that some feel could be used as a way to restore peace to all of Iraq, the men said.

"We have achieved great victories against them," said Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha, the chairman of the Awakening Movement, a coalition of tribal sheiks that expelled al-Qaida. He spoke through a translator. "I specifically express our appreciation to the state of Vermont as well as the families of the victims in the two towers on September 11th."

The Iraqis met with Vermont National Guard Col. Mark Lovejoy, who commanded Task Force Saber, the Vermont group that was in Ramadi from July 2005 until June 2006. During that time six Vermont soldiers were killed.

"From the very beginning when we first arrived there, I was introduced to one sheik, and that was Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha and his brother," Lovejoy said. "Those were the only people we were dealing with at that time because everyone else, through intimidation from insurgents and al-Qaida would not deal with U.S. forces."

During the 11 months Lovejoy stayed in Ramadi, Abu Risha introduced him to four other sheiks.

"Since we have left Al Anbar, it's amazing the progress that has been made in the last 18 months," Lovejoy said. "The difference of Ramadi today versus what it was when we were there ... you'd think it was another city."

James Soriano, a U.S. Foreign Service officer who leads the provincial reconstruction team in Ramadi and who was escorting the Iraqis on their two-week visit to the United States, said life in Ramadi was returning to normal.

"The fact that this delegation is here today in the United States is evidence that the province, Anbar, is exiting the long night of battle and entering into the post-conflict period," Soriano said.

During their visit, the Iraqis met with President Bush and other officials in Washington. They also visited Texas and will spend time in New York before returning to Iraq.

While in Vermont, the Iraqis met with Gov. Jim Douglas.

The entire eight-member delegation then traveled to Northfield and toured Norwich University, the nation's oldest private military academy. A number of Norwich students and graduates served in Ramadi with Lovejoy's Task Force Saber.

"It's kind of cool to see them come over here," said senior Richard Sugai, 23, of Fayetteville, N.C., who took two years off from Norwich to serve as an Army sergeant in the streets of Ramadi. After graduation he's planning to go into federal law enforcement.

"It was really bad when we were over there," Sugai said. "From what I hear about it now, it's toned down a lot."