Photo By Sgt. Maj. Jason Stadel | Capt. Greg Curry, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd...... read more read more
Subscribe
Sgt. Jason Stadel
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Hawr Rajab council members met with the Rasheed District chairman, Jan. 16, at the Hawr Rajab Concerned Local Citizen headquarters in a step towards governmental recognition.
Hawr Rajab is part of the Rasheed District. The city has been without an official council for many years; they currently have an interim council that is working towards official recognition at the district level.
Yakoub Yuosif Bekhaty, Rasheed District chairman, sat down with the Hawr Rajab council members to discuss the future of Hawr Rajab.
"He is very eager and very cooperative," said Shaho Hussein, Baghdad embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team 7 bilingual-bicultural advisor. The ePRT works hand in hand with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. "He would like to have the Hawr Rajab representative at the district."
This was the first time Yakoub met with the Hawr Rajab council. Although it was the initial meeting between the two, Hussein said it was a very positive question and answer session.
For the Hawr Rajab council to receive official recognition from the Rasheed District each council member needs to have certain qualifications; Yakoub explained these to the council.
Once recognized, Hawr Rajab will need to have elections between qualified persons, making it official.
The increased security level in the area over the past three months has spawned revitalized commerce and increased reconstruction efforts. Capt. Brian Love, the ePRT governance advisor, said the improved economic development and growing infrastructure are due to the efforts of coalition forces, Iraqi security forces, Iraqi officials and local residents.
Love said integrating Hawr Rajab into the Rasheed District is a grassroots effort that will continue reconstruction progress in the community.
For ground force commanders, strong political ties between the Hawr Rajab council and the Rasheed District will help in their duties. "We need people to drop their arms, get back to their lives and start farming their lands," said Capt. Greg Curry, commander of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. "The kids can go to school and not have to worry about attacks."
An optimistic outlook for the future of Hawr Rajab was seen during the meeting, said Love. Progress will take time but the foundation for Hawr Rajab's representation at the Rasheed district has been laid.
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2008 11:16 |
| Story ID: | 15610 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 319 |
| Downloads: | 292 |
This work, Hawr Rajab council meets with district chairman, by SGM Jason Stadel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT