A Woman vs. Al-Qaeda!

A. Prime Minister

Which one of these three officials do you think Al-Qaeda in Iraq will target the most?
B. Secretary of Defense
C. Secretary of Interior
D. Secretary of the Environment.
You think that the Secretary of the Environment is the least targeted among the top three. The reality check contradicts your analysis.

The Shock!

Al-Qaeda in Iraq went after the Secretary of the Environment, or the Director of the EPA, known here in the U.S.
To make it more interesting, three men occupied the top three positions, while a woman headed the environmental department. Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq named that woman “the leader of the infidels” and vowed to hunt her wherever she goes.
How do I know all this? Because I am that woman. Al-Qaeda left all the “big fish” and came after me. So, what did I do to instigate Al-Qaeda?

Two Types of Leaders in Iraq

I wanted to distinguish myself from the leadership style that was known in Iraq for more than 30 years. The only known styles of leadership in Iraq were:
1) A tough leader who utilizes force and coercion to get things done, otherwise he would inflict pain on those who failed. For example, Hussein Kamil, Saddam’s son in law and the Secretary for Military threatened the employees that would chop off their hands if they couldn’t fix the assembly line in one hour.
2) A visionary leader who is perceived as weak; the vision wasn’t communicated clearly. The leader ended up isolated and later ousted or killed. The constitutional monarchy in Iraq had a great vision for a modern Iraq, unfortunately, the vision wasn’t communicated. A coup d'etat ended their era.
Neither of the above-mentioned styles involved being of service to others. I want to help people, to serve them, and be there for them. I wanted to help vulnerable people. But who and how?

Takeaways From This Section

To come up with your own leadership style:

1.  Identify the group you are serving and commit to them.
2.  Specify the type of service you want to provide.

Provide Relief

Safe drinking water was an issue in Iraq. Many neighborhoods within Baghdad lacked access to safe drinking water. The network is damaged, houses are not hooked. Something needs to be done. Thus, I mobilized the department to provide safe drinking water in these areas regardless of the ethnicity and background of the residents. Despite its limited budget, the department reached out to internally displaced and disenfranchised people. The department received notes of appreciation from community leaders and activities recognizing its efforts to combat thirst.

Takeaways From This Section:

1. Select a group of people that you want to help and take direct action to support them.
2. Be consistent. Provide services or support on a regular basis. Don't do it once and then stop.

What’s the Connection?

Why did Al-Qaeda target me then? I wasn’t involved with any security operations.
In his paper, General Chiarelli explains how insurgents came from areas that lacked access to basic services. The daily struggle over something so basic as safe drinking water creates a wedge between the government and its people. Al-Qaeda capitalizes on the grievance, the anger, and the disappointment to turn people against their government. By allowing people access to safe drinking water, I deprived Al-Qaeda of the chance to recruit. Al-Qaeda went after the female leader who stood between them and their potential recruits.  During the time in which the department provided relief from thirst, civilian casualties dropped from 12,049 in 2003 to 10,751 in 2004 according to the Iraqi Body Count.

Takeaways From This Section 

1. Make the connection between grief and what’s missing from daily life or practice.
2. Take action to deliver what’s missing. Your action can be small or large, but you need to take one action.
3. Protect yourself against attacks. Those who couldn’t or wouldn’t take an action will criticize you or undermine your efforts.