REMEMBER TAL AFAR?

Back in March 2006, Pres. Fredo said it was an example of a great success story in Iraq. That wasn't at all true then and it still isn't true.

US drawdown raises security fears in Iraqi city
Aug 17 01:36 PM US/Eastern
By PHILLIP ROBERTSON
For The Associated Press

TAL AFAR, Iraq (AP) - A series of bombings in this small but strategic northwestern Iraqi city is stoking fears of a return to sectarian conflict here and raising questions about a strategy of handing urban security to Iraqi police.

The city's mayor, Najim Abdullah, fears that the removal of American troops from his city and the deployment of Iraqi army soldiers to nearby Mosul have left his overwhelmingly Turkoman community vulnerable.

"Frankly, we don't trust the (Iraqi police) one hundred percent," said an officer of the Iraqi army's 3rd Division, who gave his name only as Maj. Mowfaq. "When the (Aug. 8) bomb went off in Tal Afar, the police joined with the civilians to attack Sunnis. When we didn't join the fight, they called us terrorists."