 When ISIS famously overran the city of Mosul in one day in June 2014, it was not the first time that this had happened. A little over a decade ago in November 2004, ISIS's previous incarnation, al-Qaeda in Iraq, under the command of Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, also seized control of Mosul in a single day, along with some of its Sunni and Syrian allies. And that opened what became a multi-year battle for control of Mosul and the rest of Nineveh province, a battle that eventually centered on the strategic city of Tlauffer, west of Mosul, which was the most significant waypoint for foreign fighters coming in to Iraq from Syria. At one point in mid-2005, about half of all the violence taking place in Iraq was taking place in Tlauffer, as Zarkawi's men fought very hard to hold on to it. One of yesterday's speakers, General H. R. McMaster, was the commander leading the American part in that battle. But today we'll hear from McMaster's Iraqi partner. From 2005 to 2008, General Najem Djiboury led the Iraqi campaign against al-Qaeda in Nineveh province, first as a police commander and then as a community leader, as the mayor of the city of Tlauffer. And more than probably anyone else in Washington, General Najem has seen the group that now calls itself the Islamic State up close. And I think that's why we're lucky today to be able to hear his thoughts on what it would take to push them out of Mosul and Nineveh province once again. So with that, General Najem. Good afternoon. And thank you for this opportunity to address this future of war conference. I would like to give you my perspective as an Iraqi commander and local leader who fought against al-Qaeda in Iraq in the territory that is now the heartland of ISIS. The cities of Mosul and Tlauffer in Northern Iraq. In 2004, Mosul and the rest of Nineveh province was under the control of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and they were able to prevent the people from voting in the election of January 2005. But from 2005 to 2006, al-Qaeda was defeated in Nineveh province. This was possible for five reasons. The joint operation of the American forces, the Iraqi security forces, and the Kurdish forces who worked closely together. A tribal reconciliation which led to the tribes of Nineveh during Agnes al-Qaeda and supporting the operations of the security forces. The relationship between the people and the security forces, especially the American forces, before 2005, the people of Nineveh had no trust in the Iraqi security forces and also no trust in the American. But in 2005 and 2006, we held many meetings to listen to the people and their complaints about the abuses of the militias and the Iraqi security forces. The Americans worked with the Iraqi forces to restrain the bad behavior of the Iraqi security forces, especially the police, which gained the people's trust. For once the people learned to trust the Americans and the Iraqi forces, they provided good intelligence that helped the security forces target al-Qaeda with the precision, with less damage to the abomination. Finally, the American forces and the Iraqi security forces had to gain control of Tullafur and other towns west of Mosul in order to stop the many foreign fighters who came to Iraq through Syria. By the middle of 2006, al-Qaeda was defeated in Nineveh. But the victory did not last because as time went by, many of the Iraqi leaders forgot these five necessary ways in which the victory had been won. The situation today is different, but the principles are the same. To defeat ISIS in the future, we should remember these things. First, it is still true that Mosul and Tullafur are the heart of ISIS, territory in Iraq. If they are defeated in Mosul and Tullafur, they cannot hold on to Iraq. Second, in summer 2014, ISIS captured a lot of territory and showed that they are a serious threat, but they also made many mistakes that turned the local people against them. They made the mistake of killing many respected Iraqi military officers living near Mosul and they made the mistake of being harsh to the people. Now the people of Nineveh want ISIS to go out, but they are afraid of the militias that might come north to Mosul. And they also don't trust the Bishmarga. This means the forces that come to liberate Mosul and Tullafur must include tribal fighters from the local area. In other words, there must be another tribe awakening in Nineveh. If the military, operations are going to work. Third, the operations against ISIS must be driven by good intelligence so that the operation can target ISIS without harming the people. And this good intelligence will only come once the people trust the security forces enough to provide information. Fourth, if we win the people, if we win the people, we win the battle. We have to listen to them, to their concerns and we cannot hold them guilty for the crimes of ISIS that they did not having anything to do with. I think it will be very difficult to defeat ISIS in Nineveh without American forces. The Iraqi forces will not be ready to win the in Mosul without help. The good thing is that the American forces will be more trusted by people in Mosul today than they were in 2005. The people are desperate for help and they will be glad for American support. In order for a military victory over ISIS in Nineveh to last for the long term, there are two major things that must be done. There must be a rebuilding of Mosul so that there can be an economic recovery and the people will have jobs. But most important, the Sunni people will not choose to fight against ISIS for the long term until there is an end to the debatification law that is used not to exclude the bath but to exclude Sunnis. As long as this law is used against the Sunni people, there will not be true reconciliation in Iraq. And Mosul, Salah al-Din, Ramadi, Diala and every other Sunni area will not be safe from ISIS. As I said before, if we win the people, we win the battle. Thank you so much.