From better to verse

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BAGHDAD -- Call him Alan of Arabia.

The British empire had T.E. Lawrence, and the American Army has Alan King, a Koran-toting colonel who woos Iraqi sheiks with verses from the Muslim holy book.

Like Sura (chapter) 29, Aya (verse) 46: "'If you're dealing with a believer, you should work to resolve your conflicts peacefully,'" recites Lt. Col. King, a 40-year-old Lutheran from Arlington, Va., with a blond crew cut and a sura for every occasion.

The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has been slow to realize the importance of tribal affiliations in Iraq, earning criticism from political analysts and anger from Iraqis.

But on Dec. 4, the CPA approved Col. King's pet project -- a council of tribal sheiks that will meet regularly and dispense advice to coalition forces.

As deputy director of the newly created Office of Provincial Outreach, under a State Department official, he will be the liaison to Iraq's major tribes.

A reservist who normally works at Fort Bragg, Col. King coordinates political campaigns in peace time.

In 1999, he stumped for Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole in the Democratic stronghold of North Carolina's Cumberland County.

In Iraq, the mother of all swing districts, he's winning over tribal leaders by learning the Koran and studying tribal history.