The politicians counter that they risked their lives by taking part in 2005 provincial elections boycotted by the tribesmen. "We were the ones who faced all the danger," said Ammar Wajeeh of the Iraqi Islamic Party.
Abu Risha's brother, Sheik Abdul-Sattar abu Risha, is credited with founding the Awakening movement in 2006. Two years earlier, U.S. forces had launched a major offensive against insurgents in the Anbar city of Fallouja, a battle that galvanized Al Qaeda in Iraq and turned Anbar into the deadliest province for U.S. forces from 2004 through 2006.
By September 2007, things had become so peaceful that Bush met Abdul-Sattar in Anbar. Ten days later, the sheik was assassinated, and his brother replaced him at the helm.
The commander of American forces in Anbar, Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly, alluded to the political problems roiling Anbar and warned that security forces had done all they could for the province.
"All we can hope to do is hold what we've achieved against the terrorists," Kelly said of Iraqi and U.S. forces. "There are two things that are desperately needed that security forces cannot provide here: trust and friendship amongst all of you and between the province and the rest of Iraq."
"I pray God you can achieve this," Kelly added. "If you will fail . . . then the agony we will have endured together will have been for nothing."
In Washington, Bush in a statement called the transfer of control "a credit to the courage of our troops, the Iraqi security forces and the brave tribes and other civilians from Anbar."
Anbar is the 11th of Iraq's 18 provinces to take control of its security from U.S. forces. The roughly 26,000 American troops there will move into "over-watch" positions, not involved in security operations unless requested by Iraqi security forces or if U.S. officials deem it necessary.
Anbar is the first mainly Sunni province to revert to Iraqi control and it shares a border with Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan, making it prime territory for infiltration by Sunni Muslim insurgents. It was to have been handed over in June, but political turmoil mixed with security breaches delayed the event.
A 5 a.m.-to-5 p.m. vehicular curfew was imposed across Ramadi, the provincial capital, to reinforce security for Monday's ceremony, and the U.S. military did not even announce the event in advance.
Residents said they were optimistic the transfer would lead to the departure of U.S. forces, but some also expressed wariness about the future.
"I hope it will be a chance for our security forces to practice their jobs in a professional way . . . so we can start rebuilding our province," Abdullah Fayad said.
In Baghdad, a U.S. military spokesman, Navy Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, said the Iraqi government had set Oct. 1 as its target date for assuming command and control of the Sons of Iraq in Baghdad and its environs.
It would be the first time the Iraqi government has taken control of the Sons of Iraq. Based on the numbers in Baghdad and their monthly stipends, it means Maliki's government will have to pay about $15 million a month to sustain the program there.
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tina.susman@latimes.com
Times staff writer Saif Hameed in Baghdad and a special correspondent in Ramadi contributed to this report.
