U.S. Meets 300 Sheiks To Plot Reconciliation And Security Transition
MNF-I:
BAGHDAD — Iraqi governmental officials met with more than 300 sheikhs from the Mada’in Qada in Baghdad to discuss the way ahead for reconciliation in their area, Oct. 4. (A qada is roughly equivalent to a county in the U.S.).
Leaders from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and Multi-National Division Center attended as observers.
“When this many sheiks attend a meeting such as this, it is an indicator that the people are tired of the violence and have a desire to return to normalcy,” said Maj. Dave Fivecoat from Delaware, Ohio, 3rd BCT operations officer.
The sheikhs agreed security in the qada had improved since the arrival of the 3rd BCT in March 2007, and pledged to continue cooperation with U.S. and Iraqi security forces (ISF) to fight terrorism. To that end, they discussed a plan that would lead to the eventual acceptance of concerned local citizens into the Iraqi security forces.
The sheikhs also proposed a plan to increase coordination between tribal leaders and the government.
U.S. commanders hold out the concerned citizens programs as Iraq’s best hope for reconciliation and stabilization from the ground up, but stress that the concerned citizens must, in a timely manner, be folded into the official Iraqi security forces.
According to Maj. Jeremy Moore, 3rd BCT Iraqi security force liaison, the meeting was a positive step toward that transition.
“We are optimistic that their inclusion will ultimately enable the ISF to accurately represent and effectively secure the local populace,” Moore said.
In the meantime, actions and intelligence from the concerned citizens have led to a dramatic turnaround in the security situation.
“We’ve seen a large increase in tips that have led to the seizure of caches in the areas where concerned citizen groups are formed,” said Maj. Rhett Griner, 3rd BCT effects coordinator. “We have received 34 tips that have led to the arrest of 91 insurgents in the last 90 days.”
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division is from Fort Benning, Ga.
(By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Officer)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Damn, how many tribes does Iraq have?! Well this is still a step in the right direction, I suppose.
October 9th, 2007 at 8:14 pmand what the heck is Maliki doing…”Mr. Maliki has shielded relatives from investigation and allowed government ministers to protect implicated employees, said the judge, who left Iraq in August after threats against him. Speaking at a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Judge Radhi said that 31 employees of his agency had been killed.”
Maliki is the major part of the problem, He is a hack and a criminal…and by all means a stupid one at that.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:55 pmThe 3rd ID has thoroughly impressed me throughout the war.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:59 pmAnd yea, how many freaking tribes DOES Iraq have? Somebody should write a book.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:00 pmHi,
They have a lot of different ’sports fans’ in Iraq…but as long as they want to agree to…not shooting each other any more and they will shoot at and kill the terrorist…I am all for it.
____
On another note…check out this search result on Google(2nd from the top, below the move on dot org website listing:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=move on dot org&btnG=Google Search
Gotta Love It!
Peace!
October 9th, 2007 at 10:02 pmDan2
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=move on dot org&btnG=Google Search
I hope this one works.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:03 pmSometimes I wonder if maybe the best solution for effective Iraqi government is a bunch of shieks led by an American Army or Marine Officer emir? So far, that’s been the most effective form of Iraqi government.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:10 am