Active Unit News

Published 05/07/2003
U.S. Forces Appoint Governor in Tikrit
22 minutes ago
By DAVID RISING, Associated Press Writer
TIKRIT, Iraq - An Iraqi military officer who fought the United States during the Gulf War (news - web sites) was appointed by the Americans on Wednesday as governor of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s heartland, a tense province still teeming with the deposed dictator's supporters. Brig. Gen. Hosin Jasem Mohamed al-Jbouri, a native of Tikrit, Saddam's hometown, inherits the reins of Salah ad-Din province as an interim chief executive. He serves at the pleasure of the U.S. occupying force that appointed him. "I don't think we can make the assumption that just because someone was in the Baath Party, they are evil," said Maj. Mike Silverman, operations officer for the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade, responsible for Tikrit. Silverman fought briefly in the Gulf War against al-Jbouri's unit. "Soldiers are patriots," Silverman said. "He fought for his country and I fought for my country. There's no blood feud here." Al-Jbouri, whose name was put forward by the Tikrit chief of the U.S.-backed Free Iraqi Forces, said he didn't worry about being perceived as a lackey by pro-Saddam elements in Tikrit. "They are not a majority. They are a minority," he said. "And if we do a good job for the people, they will learn the good side of the Americans. When you see things are going well, you get their trust." He said he wants to get police back to work and make people feel safe by restoring such basic services as schools and hospitals. Tikrit is the birthplace of the 12th century Muslim conqueror Salah ad-Din, known in the West as Saladin. It is also Saddam's stronghold and hometown, and has been the site of some tension in recent weeks between U.S. forces and Baath Party stalwarts. After fighting in the 1991 war, al-Jbouri fell out of favor with Saddam because he became too popular. He was imprisoned briefly in 1993 but later became head of the country's customs agency. Nahad Gaze Ahmed al-Nasere, a former Iraqi air force colonel, was appointed deputy governor. Both men signed statements renouncing any loyalty to the Baath Party and rejecting any claims it might still have on power. "I think this will work out fine," Silverman said. "Soldiers are patriots. He fought for his country and I fought for my country. There's no blood feud here." A second deputy governor and an advisory board will be chosen later, the U.S. military said. Col. Don Campbell, commander of the 1st Brigade and the man who appointed al-Jbouri, expressed optimism to the new appointees at what he called a step forward for Tikrit. "It is my true desire that your government and the people you choose to help you run it are truly in charge," he said. "In due time, we will allow the Iraqi citizens of Tikrit to choose their own government."

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