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In Haditha, second time around
proves frustrating for Marines

By Antonio Castaneda
Associated Press

HADITHA, Iraq — It didn’t take the Marines long to work out why they were back in this town, squatting in a bullet-pocked building and taking cover from gunfire.

Until it was looted and abandoned, the building was the local police station. The Marines, charging back into Haditha for the second military offensive against local insurgents in three months, are again trying to beat back the rebels so the beleaguered Iraqi police can return.

It’s not clear how effective the operation will be. As with other Sunni-dominated trouble spots in Anbar province, Iraqi police and troops have been ineffective and remain largely absent. In Haditha insurgents assassinated the police chief and devastated his force.

The incessant anti-insurgent operations in Haditha and the tough Euphrates River towns west of Baghdad have grown disheartening for U.S. troops. They seized this city only months ago and now are fighting for it again.

It’s an even bigger problem for Washington, which has long been talking up the capabilities of the Iraqi troops. Until Iraqi forces can handle security in places like Haditha, U.S. troops will have to stay in Iraq to do the job.

“It’s frustrating that we can’t keep more of a presence here,” said Marine Maj. Steve Lawson, a company commander in the 25th Marine Regiment’s 3rd Battalion. “You wish you could spend more time in these areas.” Military officials say more Iraqi forces are on their way, but declined to give figures or an arrival date due to security concerns.

Many of the Marines currently in Haditha went door-to-door through the city in March, searching nearly every building, seizing weapons caches. They met light resistance.

Semper Fi 3/25