This week was the one-year anniversary of Sheikh Abdul Sattar’s martyrdom. The Iraqi Awakening’s web site provided history, music, and videos of Sheikh Abdul Sattar and the rise of the Awakening. The Awakening also reported a trip by Sheikh Ahmad Bezia to Baghdad, where he had private meetings with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Sayed Ammar al-Hakim, and National Security Adviser Muafaq Rubaie. On national issues, the Awakening published a U.N. report on the spread of cholera in Iraqi, a condemnation of the assassination of Iraqi journalists, and an official memo on Iraqi Awakening administrative affairs.

(For articles in Arabic, see http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more119.html, http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more120.html, and http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more122.html)

In three separate articles, the Awakening reported the one-year anniversary of the martyrdom of Sheikh Abdul Sattar Bezia Abu Risha. Commemoration of the event included a eulogy of Sheikh Abdul Sattar, interviews with his brothers Sheikh Ahmad Bezia and Abdul Jabbar Bezia, videos of him, a visit to the site of his assassination by locals and the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Awakening, a ceremony in honor of Sheikh Abdul Sattar and all other victims of terror, and an iftar feast (breaking the Ramadan fast) in their honor. Among the many things mentioned about Sheikh Abdul Sattar’s life and impact on Iraq was the fact that his memory is recorded in Iraq’s national history. His name is mentioned whenever the Iraqi, Arab and Western media talk about the end of terrorism in Iraq, or reconciliation and national unity. In Anbar, his name is honored at every provincial dedication and ceremony. Sheikh Abdul Sattar will be remembered as a national hero.

insider’s perspective: The content’s focus in remembering Sheikh Abdul Sattar was positive: he was an inspiration, and the Awakening will continue his legacy. In an area of the Middle East where it is common to wail and weep in memory of the dead for centuries, this commemoration of Abdul Sattar’s martyrdom is being presented in a way to lift Anbaris and Iraqis to a better future. Abdul Sattar’s brother, Sheikh Abdul Jabbar, gave a speech about national unity saying that only by working together with national government institutions in the spirit of unity would IraqIraq. awake to a better, more secure future. The lack of pessimism and divisiveness in the ceremonies, interviews, and reporting is projecting the Awakening’s goal of an optimistic era for the new

Trip by Sheikh Ahmad to Baghdad to Visit National Leaders

(For article in Arabic, see http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more121.html)

This week Sheikh Ahmad Bezia visited national leaders in Baghdad. Among others, he was a guest of Prime Minister Maliki, Sayed Ammar al-Hakim, and National Security Adviser Muafaq Rubaie. Sheikh Ahmad Bezia and PM Maliki discussed national issues, as well as the recent transfer of security authority in Anbar. Of the meeting, PM Maliki is quoted as saying: “We are moving in the right direction, and every day is getting better.” [Illustrating the report are three photos of Sheikh Ahmad Bezia: one with PM Maliki, one with Sayed Ammar al-Hakim, and one with National Security Adviser Rubaie.]

insider’s perspective: The Iraqi Awakening led by Sheikh Ahmad Bezia has close relations with PM Maliki. Sheikh Ahmad has easy access to the PM’s ear. The Iraqi Awakening wants to be seen as the unifying force of Iraq, uniting Iraqis through traditional values and identity, while at the same time projecting an image of moderation, modernism, and prosperity. The Iraqi Awakening, and Sheikh Ahmad in particular, want to transform the country into an Iraqi version of the United Arab Emirates or Kuwait. As a Sunni minority, Sheikh Ahmad Bezia feels he can do this best by having strong relations with both Baghdad and other Gulf States. The Sunni honor lost with the fall of Saddam was redeemed by the Anbar Awakening, as Sunnis claim ownership of leading Iraq in its fight against al-Qaeda and terrorism.

(For articles in Arabic on the spread of cholera in Iraqi, condemnation of the assassination of Iraqi journalists, and an official memo on Iraqi Awakening administrative affairs, see  http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more118.html, http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more125.html, and http://sahwataliraq.com/sahwataliraq/morepage/more124.html)

Sterling Jensen worked as an Army contract linguist from the spring of 2006 to June 2007, during which time he was heavily involved in the U.S. government’s tribal engagements as the Anbar Awakening took shape. He returned to Anbar in February 2008 as the Marines’ first-ever civilian Foreign Area Officer, tasked with facilitating the First Marine Expeditionary Force’s relations with Awakening leadership, religious leaders, and foreign regime elements. Jensen is currently enrolled in a Master’s program at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.