Subscribe
By Staff Sgt. Tony M. Lindback
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of Multi-National Division – Center, and Col. Dominic Caraccilo, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), met with the mayor of Mahmudiyah, Jan. 15, at the civil military operations center at Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah to discuss needed improvements in the area.
Mahmudiyah Mayor Jabbar Farraj Mullah al-Kilabi and Lynch held discussions on the Concerned Local Citizen groups and Iraqi security forces.
"With the help of the coalition forces – the American forces and the Iraqi forces – we have seen that we're almost at the end of dealing with al-Qaida," al-Kilabi said.
Step-by-step, al-Kilabi said, Mahmudiyah is seeing progress as far as security in the area.
"The enemy is still out there," Lynch said.
Lynch told the mayor he's still focused on hunting down and eliminating insurgent activity in the area.
"We continue to take the fight to the enemy...Over the last six months we've taken about 60 (insurgent) leaders away," Lynch said.
Lynch expressed concern over the number of indirect fire attacks in Mahmudiyah recently. He asked the mayor to help identify those responsible.
Al-Kilabi vowed to look into the matter, saying he would help Lynch and Caraccilo in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Another issue brought to the table was prioritizing projects in Mahmudiyah to best aid residents. Al-Kilabi said he had toured the qada's schools and wanted Lynch's help in making renovations to improve the learning environment.
"Security is very good, but as far as the reconstruction effort goes, the most important thing is the schools," al-Kilabi said. "The situation with the schools is very sad...I did not find even one school that had restrooms. Not even one classroom had windows in it. Sir, when I walked to each and every class – you should see the kids. It's very, very cold in the classes ... this is the most important project I could use your help with."
Lynch pledged his support to al-Kilabi and Mahmudiyah. He told al-Kilabi he wanted to help provide what the mayor and citizens need.
Improving Mahmudiyah was the short-term goal among the three leaders in the meeting. Putting the mayor in the forefront of improvements and getting the government of Iraq involved in future projects is the ultimate goal.
Lynch offered to provide "helicopter diplomacy", where air transportation is provided to anyone al-Kilabi needs to work with to jumpstart involvement.
Lynch left al-Kilabi with a pledge of assistance.
"What the Mahmudiyah Qadaa needs, you'll tell me and we'll work it," Lynch said. "That's why this relationship is so important ... I'll never know the needs of the people like you will, but I want to help meet those needs."
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2008 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 15618 |
| Location: | MAHMUDIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 377 |
| Downloads: | 371 |
This work, Maj. Gen. Lynch discusses progress with Mahmudiyah's mayor, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT