WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT 91 Kurds held demonstrations protesting the allied departure. At Dohuk, the Iraqis and the Kurds engaged in a two-hour gun battle during which at least 17 people died. The British and the Peshmerga got into a firefight near Al Amadiyah. There were scattered incidents between the Kurds and the Turks along the border. These actions forced General Shalikashvili to postpone the allied egress until 15 July. To try to settle things down, General Shalikashvili decided to have a meeting with Kurdish leaders. Colonel Jones, combat artist Colonel Gish, and Sergeant Major Hatcher flew to the 3d Commando Brigade Headquarters. There, they met with General Shalikashvili and the British commander to discuss future options and to anticipate the Kurdish response. From Sirsenk, the group moved to the heavily guarded French compound at Shaladiza where the Kurdish mullahs had gathered for this important meeting. General Shalikashvili met with the Kurdish elders, each one dressed in distinctive ceremonial robes and fancy turban. The Kurds talked of their dreams for a free Kurdistan and told the general they wanted the allied forces to expand the security zone to include Mosul and Kirkuk. After their passionate presentations, General Shalikashvili rose and addressed them. He told them that what he was going to say was sure to be a disappointment to them, but that he had to be honest with ~hem. He said the security zone was not going to be expanded and that the allied security forces were going to leave Iraq. He reassured the Kurds that the United Nations would keep the peace and urged them to settle their differences with Baghdad through negotiations. This did not satisfy the Kurds, who pressed for a continued allied presence.110 Shalikashvili pointed out that Saddam was well aware that any intrusion into the security zone would bring a strong allied response, then closed the meeting by saying that he would convey their concerns about the future to his superiors, but that he could make no promises. The Final Days On 6 July, the Turkish government agreed to allow an international reaction force, called Combined Task Force Poised Hammer, to remain at Silopi. Poised Hammer was comprised of a headquarters, an international infantry battalion, an aviation component, and a service support component. General Jamerson was designated commanding general and General Zinni was made deputy commander. The U.S. Army's 6th Battalion, 6th Cavalry, and 6th Battalion, 5O2d Infantry, were the major American combat units assigned to Poised Hammer. The 6th Battalion of the 502d was actually a provisional rifle battalion that included rifle companies from the United States (Company A, 6th Battalion, 5O2d Infantry), United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, and Turkey. The 6th Cavalry's 6th Battalion included scout, utility, attack, and transport helicopters. Fixed-wing air support was provided by the U.S. Air Force at Incirlik. The only Marine units assigned to Task Force Poised Hamn~r were the firepower control teams from 2d ANGLICO.First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |