Photo By 1st Sgt. Brent Williams | Iraqi workers, citizens looking to improve their neighborhoods and communities, sweep...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, provided security for Iraqi citizens in Baghdad's eastern Rashid District pitching in to clean up the streets, Jan. 17.
Local Iraqi citizens initiated clean-up efforts in the communities of Abu T'shir, Hadar and Saha, sweeping up trash and debris and making basic repairs to sidewalks in the neighborhoods of southern Baghdad's Rashid District during the month of January.
The current security situation in Baghdad provides Iraqis in Abu T'shir the opportunity to beautify their neighborhoods and communities, said Khalid, an Iraqi citizen employed by local leaders to sweep and paint the curbs.
"There is no pressure," Khalid explained. "I feel totally comfortable serving my people."
The local neighborhood support councils and community leaders made the job opportunity possible, he said, adding that the administration is doing an excellent job in the neighborhoods, even despite their need for basic services such as electricity and sewer.
Khalid said that he will encourage other Iraqis to join the local program, and looks forward to eventually having a job with the government that will pay more and benefit his family.
Local citizens returned to work, Jan. 10, after the community-led initiative was reinstated by Dr. Muayad Hamed, a prominent local community leader in the Doura, Abu T'shir and Hadar communities of southeastern Rashid, said Karim, a supervisor of the clean-up efforts in Abu T'shir.
Muayad, who manages the program for the communities, began the beautification project with financial support from the Rashid District Council and the Government of Iraq.
"The people of Abu T'shir are feeling happy and are comfortable picking up the trash daily," said Karim, who said that community projects such as the clean-up would not have been possible last year before local security improved in the area.
Karim also said that the citizens use the opportunity to look for criminals and thugs, or anything out of the ordinary and will report to the Iraqi security forces, admitting that he is concerned about the large number of unemployed men in Abu T'shir.
The Iraqis are taking charge repairing roads, picking up trash and cleaning up their neighborhoods, said Staff Sgt. Arto Brown, a squad leader, assigned to Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.
"I think it is a good thing for the country, getting the country back up on its feet," Brown said. "The people are generally happy ... and have pride in their community. They want to keep it clean and others will start following suit."
Clean roads and beautiful neighborhoods also contribute to ongoing security efforts preventing criminals and terrorists from emplacing bombs in garbage piles along the road, explained Brown, who hails from Fort Meyers, Fla.
The implementation of the Security Agreement, Jan. 1, impacted the troop's mission to the point that coalition forces gave control to the ISF, who became more involved in providing security for their country, said Brown.
Security is good, and the Iraqi people are doing a good job working together to call in tips, helping ISF and CF to find weapons caches, roadside bombs and criminals, said Brown.
| Date Taken: | 01.17.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2009 11:33 |
| Story ID: | 28995 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 371 |
| Downloads: | 283 |
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