Career
After United States forces failed to capture Fallujah, they turned control of the city over to Saleh, and his own private militia in the hope that he could restore order to the city. Saleh agreed to formally report to United States General James T. Conway, who had arranged the transfer without conferring with United States superiors. There was less than a week"s discussion about the deal, after Saleh approached the United States Marines promising that he could bring the city under control.
Upon entering the city as with 200 troops, Saleh was wearing his Republican Guard uniform and waving the Flag of Iraq, which had just been abolished by the Iraqi Governing Council several days earlier.
He also had a large flag placed at the entrance to the city. Saleh drew controversy on May 2, just days after the handover of power, when he stated that there were no foreign fighters in Fallujah.
This, combined with the discovery that Saleh had been involved in atrocities against Kurds during the Iran-Iraq war, led to United States military authorities announcing he would not be allowed to lead his private militia any longer. Two days later it was announced that Muhammed Latif would be given control of the city instead.
