Courtesy Photo | Concerned Local Citizens and the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th National Police...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Raymond Ashworth
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – A promising new year comes to the Khadra neighborhood in Western Baghdad as partnership between Khadra's Concerned Local Citizens and the 1st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division continues to grow.
"We are very pleased with the progress the CLCs have made this past month," said Colonel Ra'ad Isma'il, 1/6/2 NP commander. "I look forward to seeing even more progress from them and the security of Khadra over the next few months."
The Khadra CLCs were hired in December to further involve local citizens with the city's security. The CLCs resemble a neighborhood watch in their organization.
The CLCs first arose in Iraq's Anbar province in rejection of al-Qaida in Iraq and have since spread to nearly every Sunni area in the country. The idea was to train local men and then give them a chance to become part of the Iraqi security forces. Once they graduated from the academies they would return to their own city as an Iraqi policeman and as part of the Iraqi government.
Since their formation in December, the Khadra CLCs have trained as a team on how to clear buildings and search vehicles. They also work alongside the national police on several different traffic control points along Khadra's main roads.
"They have proven to be a valuable asset," said Capt. Daniel Cannon, from Ocala, Fla., Company C, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division commander. "Since we and the national police started working with them, we've arrested six al-Qaida members from intelligence the CLCs provided."
Cannon said because of their success, he and Ra'ad have decided to expand their use into the neighborhoods of Khadra. On Jan. 8, 1/6/2 NP and the Khadra CLCs jointly established a new tactical checkpoint inside of Khadra proper.
"A total of 5 TCPs have been established," Cannon said. "They are manned by three to five 1/6/2 NP Policemen and four CLC members. The TCPs are in a temporary status until they can be reinforced."
The Khadra CLCs program has not only proved successful in security, but as a program. Sixty-one of the 155 Khadra CLC members have already reported to the Iraqi police academy in Yarmuk and should graduate in March.
| Date Taken: | 01.17.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.17.2008 15:48 |
| Story ID: | 15545 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 241 |
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