I have provided below the MNF-W official press release from 14 January, an article from Mr. Christian Lowe of Military.Com who covered our first sword presentation, and a collection of photographs documenting the sword presentations that have been conducted to date.

During each of the sword presentation ceremonies the tribal sheikhs have been visibly moved by the gesture of being presented a sword, for an Arab sheikh the ultimate symbol of the warrior ethos. In each case, the sheikhs have committed themselves to working more closely with coalition forces to continue to forge a path of peace and economic prosperity within Al Anbar. Spirit of America can stand proud to have been such a vital partner in these presentations.

Semper Fidelis and Very Respectfully,

Walt Gaskin

And here is The Marines official write up of the sword presentation.

Multi-National Force-West
Public Affairs Office

Camp Fallujah, Iraq

Jan. 15, 2008

Marine sword gift to honor sheikhs’ friendship, sacrifice

Multi National Force – West

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – The Marine officer’s sword was presented to a number of key sheikhs by Multi National Force - West leadership to honor the relationships developed and the progress made over the last year.

Major Gen.W.E. Gaskin, commanding general of MNF-W, and Maj. Gen. John Allen, the deputy commanding general, presented the first Marine officer swords to Sheikh Amer Abid al Jabbar Ali Sulayman al Assafi of the Dulaimi Tribal Confederation and Sheikh Ahmed Bezia Ftaykhan AlbuRisha, president of Sahwa al Iraq (the Awakening of Iraq). The gift is to honor them for their tribes’ dedication and sacrifice in fighting al Qaeda in Iraq, working with the local government, and beginning the process of rebuilding their areas.

The “Proclamation of Friendship” was read as the sword was presented: “We, the friendly Coalition Forces, along with the great tribes and tribal leaders of Al Anbar, affirm the friendship that binds us, celebrate the alliance that unites us and commemorate the sacrifices of all Anbaris to achieve unity, security and prosperity for all the citizens of Al Anbar and the great nation of Iraq."

The traditional Marine officer’s sword, originally presented to Marine 1st Lt. Presley O’Bannon in 1805 by Prince Hamet of Tripoli as a sign of friendship, will be presented to a number of sheikhs from across Anbar to acknowledge their contributions and as a sign of continued friendship with Coalition Forces.

Anbar province became a model for security and reconstruction in 2007. The Awakening movement, led by local sheikhs, spurred an influx of new Iraqi Police and Army soldiers. Partnered with a surge of Coalition Forces and with the support of their community, Iraqi Security Forces drove terrorists and insurgents out of their cities. Senior tribal leaders who fled the violence returned and the national government is working with the provincial leaders to help Anbaris rebuild their homes and businesses.

-USMC-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE – WEST PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT ce_pao_watch_officer@mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil">ce_pao_watch_officer@mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

 

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Sheikh Amer Abid al Jabbar Ali Sulayman al Assafi of the Dulaimi Tribal Confederation accepts a Marine officer sword from Maj. Gen.W. E. Gaskin, commanding general of MNF-W, in recognition of the sheikh’s support and his tribe’s dedication, sacrifice and continuing friendship with Coalition Forces. The traditional Marine officers’ sword, originally presented to Marine 1st Lt. Pressley O’Bannon by Prince Hamet of Tripoli in 1805 as a token of his appreciation and the friendship they shared, has been the sword of Marine officers since 1825. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Billmair)



CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – Major Gen. John Allen (L), Sheikh Amer Abid al JabbarAli Sulayman al Assafi of the Dulaimi Tribal Confederation, and Maj.Gen.W. E. Gaskin, commanding general of MNF-W, pose with the Marine officer sword presented to Amer in recognition of his support and his tribe’s dedication, sacrifice and continuing friendship with Coalition Forces. The traditional Marine officers’ sword, originally presented to Marine 1st Lt. Pressley O’Bannon by Prince Hamet of Tripoli in 1805 as a token of his appreciation and the friendship they shared, has been the sword of Marine officers since 1825. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Billmair)




CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Sheikh Ahmed Bezia Ftaykhan Albu Risha, president of Sahwa al Iraq (the Awakening of Iraq), accepts the Marine officer sword from Maj. Gen. W.E. Gaskin, commanding general of MNF-W, on behalf of all the members of Sahwa al Iraq who have sacrificed for Al Anbar. The traditional Marine officers’ sword, originally presented to Marine 1st Lt. Pressley O’Bannon by Prince Hamet of Tripoli in 1805 as a token of his appreciation and the friendship they shared, has been the sword of Marine officers since 1825. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Julian Billmair)

 

The Sword of Friendship

www.military.com

January 15, 2008. Christian Lowe

"This history binds the Arabs and the American people in war," said Maj. Gen.John Allen, as he sat next to Sheik Ali Amer, an influential tribal leader in Ramadi.

Just minutes earlier, Allen, the deputy commanding general of Marine forces in Iraq's western alAnbar Province, and his boss, II MEF forward chief Maj. Gen.Walter Gaskin, presented Amer with a prestigious gift, a token of their friendship and a thanks to Amer for his courage in standing up againstal Qaeda terrorists that ran roughshod throughout his provincial capitol city.

In a sincere display of shared camaraderie, Allen and Gaskin presented Amer with a Mameluke sword, the prized emblem of Marine officers and a reminder of the cooperation between Arab forces and expeditionary Marines in the fight against Barbary Pirates in 1805.

But the sword pass held a deeper meaning for these Marines -- and for the Iraqis they had aided.

 

"You have made a lot of sacrifices and we have made a lot of sacrifices," Amer said. "We have accomplished more in one year than I ever thought possible," he said through a translator. "We expected this to take at least 10 years."

The change in security in Ramadi is no more remarkable than the change in attitude among the tribal leaders and the Marines. Less than a year ago, suspicion marked relations between U.S. forces and Iraqi locals, primarily because cooperation with Americans was still seen as a death sentence for Iraqis.

But with a gutsy move from a top Ramadi tribal leader, Sheik Sattar, last summer, the tide began to turn. What started as a trickle turned into a flood and gradually more tribal leaders came on board.

What used to be a city laced with roadside bombs and peppered with sniper fire, is now a bustling town, held down by capable police and a tribal leadership that wants no part of al Qaeda and its violent ways. The relationship between the Marines and their Iraqi counterparts is close and collegial. And it was clear from the sword ceremonies that both sides appreciated the help each provided for a more secure province.

-Christian

PHOTOGRAPHS

All photographs are official USMC Photos courtesy of MNF-W Combat Camera Division, except when noted.