Chapter 32: The Battle of Baghdad Part 3

It all started that day with a call from the Chief, Talat Aziz who informed Toumas, the captain of the Rusafa district police force that they needed to be watchful for any untoward activities and that the curfew that had been imposed earlier that week had to be seriously enforced.

Toumas Salimoon had been on edge ever since he was ordered to oversee the placement of the heavy concrete barricades strategically along the main thoroughfares of the Rusafa district including the wide, open and usually unmanageable Tahrir Square where the youth of the Eastern side of Baghdad congregated.

He hadnt known what was happening or why the security measures were needed but it scared him. It reminded him of a time that he thought Iraqis had put behind them - of constant fear of armed violence. The country was on the road to unity and prosperity, only a foreign enemy would want to disrupt that he had concluded.

At 7 pm, as the sun started to fade he had jumped into the back of a patrolling police jeep to make sure that his men were enforcing the curfew. Loud whistles and in some cases angry, aggressive shouts were enough to shepherd even the most recalcitrant of his civilian flock.

The streets emptied rapidly and the going became much easier for the jeep when a message came across the radio, "This is the Thawra District Police dispatch. All receiving units, be advised that unknown armed assailants have entered the city from the main highway off Thawra. Repeat armed assailants who appear to be soldiers have entered the city and are headed westward to the centre! Be ready to engage!"

The other police officers in the jeep, Salimoons men turned and stared at him in wide eyed fear. Many of these men were boots straight out of training. Police Chief Talat Aziz had forcefully retired most of the city's police veterans to sweep away the culture of corruption and incompetence in one fell swoop. The effect had been profound, with a sharp uptick in police efficiency and relationship with civilians. But now in this unforeseen catastrophe, these were not the men Salimoon wanted to babysit.

"What do we do Captain?" Mahmoud the young driver asked him shakily.

What to do indeed. Salimoons heart was racing. He was experienced but was any experience adequate for this situation? Did he go to Thawra to aid the policemen there or did he stay within his district.

He took a punt. "Loop over to Tahrir. For anyone entering from the East if they plan to head to the Palace or Parliament it's a straight shot from Bur Said street.

Mahmoud nodded and lurched into a sharp turn which pointed them in the direction of the Square.

"Sir are we going to engage them?" Hamid asked in a small voice from his right. He needed to get a handle on his men. He couldn't have them fall apart in a firefight.

"Listen men, we do what we do everyday. Protect the city. This is our city and we are the only ones authorized to carry firearms within it. These assailants whomever they may be are breaking the law. We will impose the law. Am I clear?"

He managed to say it without stuttering and for that he was grateful. He didnt believe a word of what he just said. He was terrified. He hadnt signed up to be a soldier.

They folded into Tahrir Square only to see the telltale headlights of an approaching vehicle from the Eastern Bur Said street.

"Mahmoud quickly quickly block that vehicle off!"

Mahmoud to his credit didnt waste a moment and spun the jeep around headed straight for the oncoming vehicle.

They came to a screeching halt in front of a dark jeep that bore the insignia of the Iraqi Army. Adrenalin rushing, Salimoon jumped out of the car and whipped his pistol out pointing it at the Unsubs.

"This is the Baghdad Police! You are in violation of statutory curfew. Step out of the vehicle with your hands behind your heads!"

The offending jeeps headlights were still on and the beam of light was all encompassing. Salimoon couldn't make out anything but dark shapes in front of him. There were more lights behind the assailant's jeep. God how many of these bastards were there?

"I said step out with your hands behind your heads! Comply this instant!" Working in the police had taught Salimoon that false bravado worked wonders 8 times out of 10.

This wasn't one of those times. One of the dark figures in the jeep rose and then moments later shouted back.

"This is Captain Rashid Abedin of the 14th Infantry Division. By order of Lt. General Faoud Kareem we are here to enforce martial law in the city for an orderly transition of power. Lay down your arms and submit to our authority."

What the fuck? Salimoon couldn't recall who Faoud Kareem was. But he knew that the head of the Army was Saad Hashmi. Why hadnt any orders of martial law come from the Palace and why was this Rashid here on the orders of a Lt. General rather than the General.

"We have received no such orders of martial law either from civilian authority or military high command. Until such time those orders come through you and your men will need to submit to the Baghdad Police Captain!"

There was silence from Rashid. Salimoon couldn't see anything but he sensed that the tension had risen. His instincts told him that Rashids men had their weapons trained on him. In the silence Salimoon felt that his uniform was drenched in a cold sweat.

"What's your name officer?" Rashid enquired in a softer voice.

"Captain Tomas Salimoon of the Rusafa District, Baghdad Police. Again, step out with your hands behind your head!"

Salimoon thought he saw Rashid make some hand gesture and then the jeeps headlights dimmed. Salimoon almost sighed in relief.

He could see more clearly now. Rashid was a tall thin man standing up within the jeep. There were three other men in the jeep with him and all seemed to be armed with rifles. Salimoon also saw at least two more sets of headlights behind Rashids vehicle.

"Captain Salimoon," Rashid began in that same placating tone. "We are here to effect a change in government. To see the old tyrant who consorts with the Americans thrown out. To usher in democracy. Dont stand in the way of progress."

There it was. An admission of intent. Coup detat. Salimoons blood ran cold but his heart firmed up. They talked about progress, could they not see what had happened to the country. The hope imbuing all corners of it.

"Mr. Rashid," Salimoon replied. "Matters of state are above my pay grade. Maybe you succeed in changing the government, maybe you dont. Maybe the laws and rules change, maybe they dont. But today, right now, my men and I know the law we serve and the orders we have and I intend to see our duty done. Lay down your weapons and exit the vehicle with your hands behind your heads!"

Rashid clicked his tongue in irritation and shouted now, "Dont be a fool Captain! We are heavily armed soldiers and we outnumber you and your men. We have tanks on the way! Dont be a fool! We dont want to hurt our countrymen. Step out of the way!"

Salimoon had had enough. He walked forward with purpose, gun still held aloft. He walked straight up to the driver side door of Rashids jeep, reached inside and opened the door.

"Out! Out! Out! You are in violation of the Baghdad curfew and are under arrest!" He grabbed the arm of the driver strongly and yanked him bodily out of the jeep. The other inhabitants of the jeep seemed to wake up finally and started reacting, hollering and raising their own weapons.

"Out! Out!" Salimoon screamed still tugging at the driver whose torso was out of the car but his legs were being yanked by the soldier in the front passenger seat.

A sudden clap of thunder cut off the impromptu tug of war and Salimoon felt a punch to his shoulder and then he was falling backward in a daze.

"Captain!" he heard young Hamid scream and then there were several loud bangs and smoke and sulfur.

He felt himself being dragged by the upper arms towards the police jeep, towards safety.

"Ceasefire! Ceasefire dammit!" Rashid was screaming in the background.

Was that...Hamid laying there on the ground face down. No it couldn't be. He had been behind cover.

Salimoon lost sight of the soldiers as he was dragged behind the police jeep. Mahmoud was weeping from somewhere above him.

"Oh god! Oh god! Captain...what do we do? Captain stay with me. Oh god! They shot Hamid in the head. Oh fuck! Captain!"

They shot Hamid? What? That didnt make any sense. What?

Mahmoud shook him, "Captain what do we do? Please Captain stay with me."

The fog lifted momentarily as the pain started catching up.

"Ca...call," Salimoon said weakly. Mahmoud leaned in close, "What? What?"

"Call...for backup," Salimoon managed to squeeze out before fading out.

(Break)

The Captain was unconscious or dead. There was so much blood! All over Mahmouds uniform. The captian had been shot in the shoulder but there was so much blood!

And Hamid. Oh god Hamid! The foolish boy had jumped out after he saw the captain being shot and the fucking soldiers had shot him to shit. Mahmoud had seen a part of Hamids head blow away. It was all absolutely fucked.

He could hear the soldiers' leader still berating his men. But in the confusion Mahmoud had clambered into the police jeep and radioed for backup. He was patched through to the Chief himself! Chief Aziz promised to send backup and told them to hang in there, help would be coming soon.

Mahmoud sat listlessly with the Captains body in his lap. He dared not look down. His only remaining colleague, Bassam was crouched to his right - also hyperventilating. They were dead, Mahmoud knew it. It was just a matter of time.

"Captain? Captain?" came a voice from the enemy side. "Are you alright?"

Mahmoud didn't reply.

"Captain!" Again that bastard voice.

"Hes dead you motherfucker! You killed him you motherfucking traitor!" Mahmoud screamed.

There was a few moments silence before the bastard spoke again. "I am truly sorry to hear that officer. It is not our intention to hurt honest hardworking Iraqis but the captain forced our hand."

"Go peddle that bullshit somewhere else you treacherous murderer!"

"What's your name officer?" the Bastard asked.

"I'm not telling you shit you goatfucker!"

The Bastard piped down.

The minutes ticked by but no help ever came. Mahmoud could hear the Bastard having a heated discussion over the radio.

" Officer. I'm afraid I've run out of time to be cordial with you. There are two of you left and a whole lot of us. I suggest you and your colleague surrender so that we can be on our way and you can look after your felled comrades. What do you say?"

Bassam and Mahmoud looked at each other.

"This motherfucker," Mahmoud grumbled under his breath as he pushed the captain off his lap and unhooked his service weapon. He cocked the gun and then peered from behind the side of the jeep and shot twice in the Bastards direction. There were shouts of alarm from the criminals and Mahmoud cracked a grin at Bassam.

"Got your answer you goatfucker?" Mahmoud screamed back.

"You bastard tinpot toy soldier!" The Bastard yelled. "I've had it. Were coming through in one minute. If you haven't surrendered by then we're going to fucking blow your heads off!"

Bassam and Mahmoud looked at each other.

"Cant believe my ticket to the FA cup is going to get wasted," Bassam said.

Mahmoud chuckled, "Its been an honour brother."

They clasped hands and readied their weapons for their last stand.

As they were priming themselves to go over the top, they heard a rumbling, rolling sound from behind them.

Mahmoud spared an incredulous glance back and saw a mass of torch bearing, slogan shouting humanity emerge from all corners of Tahrir Square. The Baghdadis had come to defend their city. And they were pissed.

"Long Live Baghdad!"

"Long Live Iraq!"