3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. Jerry Saslav

By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq – "It's an opportunity to break bread and spend some time together and know each other, so that we trust each other," said a military transition team advisor.

Approximately forty people gathered at Forward Operating Base War Eagle recently to break the Ramadan fast with a traditional Iftar dinner. There were high ranking U.S. and Iraqi army officers, U.S. State Department officials and local sheiks from the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

"Thank you for coming tonight and for all the great work that you are doing in Sadr City," said Col. John Hort, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. "For all of us here, I want to continue to work closely together to bring peace and progress to Sadr City"

Before the fast was broken, the Iraqi guests went into a specially prepared area for Salat Al Iftar prayers.

In keeping with Muslim custom, a plate of dates was brought out as the Iraqi's, Striker Soldiers and civilians mingled and posed for photographs.

"An Iftar meal is very important in Islam. It keeps us close, it keeps us brothers to do our best for Sadr City," said Col. Farris Khaleel, commander of the Iraqi Army's 44th Brigade, 11th Division. Farris' brigade is responsible for the section of Sadr City north of Al Quds/Jamilla road.

Inviting leaders from this northeastern Baghdad district is seen as a sign of progress and a step toward unifying the country.

"This invitation tells us of the great feeling from the coalition forces in front of the Iraqi people and tells us that the coalition forces want to help the Iraqi people," said Sheik Kadhim Rbo'l Al Qurayshi, a Sadr City sheik.

The group gathered for the meal, sheik's sitting next to civilians, U.S. Soldiers next to Iraqi army Soldiers. The topic many chose to discuss was the future.

"Things are improving in Sadr City day after day. You will notice the IA have control of things over there. There are small cells here and there, but they are not active," said Farris.

The past was also discussed.

"After the last actions in Sadr City that happened in May, we see that a lot of good things have happened in Sadr City. We hope that in the future we will get more social services and jobs," said Sheikh Kadhim Rbo'l Al-Qurayshi.

The sheik would like to see more jobs for the unemployed men as well as the infrastructure being rebuilt.

"The cooperation between us and the coalition forces is continuing. You can start with small things and work up to big things," said Farris.

In the four months since battles between special groups and Iraqi and American forces were at their most intense, Sadr City is being rebuilt.

"Things are improving in Sadr City and we have control over there. You hear about small issues here and there but I'm going to tell you we are controlling in Sadr City.We achieve all of this cooperation of the coalition forces, with the big help from the coalition forces," said Farris. "For example Jamilla Market, JAM was controlling the markets and trying to take bribes from the business owners over there. This situation was decreasing day after day, and now we have control of that area. Jamilla is the heart of trade for not only Jamilla and Thawra, but you can consider all of Iraq. It is a very important market. JAM was collecting millions from that market, now I can tell you it's zero."

The group later posed for more pictures and talked in small groups, with bonds being made that will lead toward prosperity in this emerging district.

"The relationships that we're forming tonight and every day are going to be what helps this country get over the difficult times it's in right now. If the local sheiks trust the Iraqi army, and the Iraqi army trusts us and the sheiks trust us and we trust them, then we'll all pass information. That's how you get after the bad guys," said Lt. Col. Craig Simonsgaard, a native of Williamsburg, Va., and Farris' advisor from the Military Transition Team for 44th Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division.

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