Abdul Karim Burjas al-Rawi was the first post-invasion Governor of Iraq's Al Anbar province, serving until July 2004, when he resigned. Shortly after the invasion in 2003, Sunni tribal leaders and former Ba'athists, led by members of the Al-Kharbit (Khalifa) and Al-Gaoud (Nimr) families met to select Karim Burjas, a former General, as their unofficial leader and new Governor of Anbar Province. Burjas's position was later recognized by the coalition. Following his resignation he retired from public service.