WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROViDE COMFORT                                  93

on 11July. Colonel Jones and his staff briefed the incoming MEU command
element at Iskenderun, then the 24th MEU (SOC) turned over its duties as
Landing Force Sixth Fleet to the 26th MEU (SOC). The aircraft carrier Roosevelt
had already been relieved on station by the Forrestal (CV 59)."'
   Combined Task Force Provide Comfort had successfully accomplished its
mission. Before the allies departed northern Iraq, however, Saddam Hussein was
given some final terms: No Iraqi aircraft could operate above the 36th parallel.
A coalition force would be located at Silopi, ready to intervene if necessary.
Allied aircraft would continue to patrol the skies of northern Iraq without
interference. The Military Coordination Center would continue to monitor the
security zone and report Iraqi compliance with the stated terms. It was made
clear that only Iraqi acceptance of this understanding would pave the way for the
end of Operation Provide Comfort.
   On 12 July 1991, the Bush administration publicly announced its decision to
pull American forces out of northern Iraq. The next day, thousands of Kurds
lined the road near Habur and blocked an allied convoy for about three hours.
More than 3,000 people carried banners that fl~nked the allies, but also warned
that "the job is only half done."  They were grateful for the help rendered, but
fearful of what would happen after the allies left. General Garner, the senior
American officer on the spot, tried to calm their fears by reminding them that
Iraqi military forces were prohibited from entering the     3,600-square-mile
exclusion zone established in April, and that a multinational rapid reaction force
would remain at Silopi to repel any Iraqi advances. General Garner stated, "We
have told [Saddam] not to come back in here. "   Fadhil Merani, a top official of
the Kurdistan Democratic Party, accompanied Garner when he went to talk to the
Kurds. Merani's words, "Shame on you, these people came here to help us, and
look at the way you treat them," appeased the crowd which silently pulled back
and allowed the movement to continue.'12
   At 1600 on 15 July 1991, a bugler sounded "Colors," and the American flag
was hauled down for the last time in northern Iraq. The convoy carrying the last
Marines and soldiers to Silopi was stopped at the Habur Bridge. A peaceful
crowd of about 500 people gathered to thank them for all they had done. General
Garner accepted emotional well-wishes and reaffirmed coalition support for fl~e
Kurds. As the sky darkened behind the towering mountain peaks in the east,
Colonel Jones and General Garner crossed the border into Turkey. The last
elements of the 24th MEU (SOC) were in Silopi by 15 July. As it turned out,
debarkation was not a problem and the MEU loaded the last of its equipment in
less than 96 hours. The 24th MEU (SOC) sailed for home on 19 July 1991."~
   Provide Comfort, the largest humanitarian relief operation in Marine history
to that time, was over. In early April, everyone had been skeptical about
launching a such an operation. Politicians didn't want to get involved, host
nations refused to help, and a ruthless dictator banked on world-wide apathy to
achieve his goals. After the refugees fled to the mountains, U.N. relief experts
surveyed the situation and said it was hopeless. They predicted it would take at
least seven months for recovery and stated that the Kurds would never return to