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    Suffering and triumph in Iraq; a sheikh's story

    Suffering and Triumph in Iraq; a Sheikh's Story

    Photo By Spc. Ry Norris | Task Force Marne Deputy Commanding General Maneuver Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Donahue and...... read more read more

    DIYALA PROVINCE, IRAQ

    03.24.2010

    Story by Spc. Ry Norris 

    3rd Infantry Division

    DIYALA, Iraq — "I am responsible for this area," said Sheikh Habib Khazal Karim, of the Al Gawalba tribe.

    The people of the Al Gawalba tribe in Dojima live along the Diyala River in Diyala province. Since becoming the leader of the Al Gawalba tribe, Sheikh Habib's focus has always been the people.

    "One day, AQI [al Qaida in Iraq] came here. These men were very well equipped, just like the coalition forces. We approached them. They told us, 'Your Shia neighbors are not Muslim. You must fight them.' We told them, 'But we have lived together with Shia as neighbors for a long time. We have no desire to fight them.'"

    Al Qaida extremists responded by burning houses and killing the Shia people of the village and the surrounding area. They controlled the area for the greater part of 2005 and 2006, targeting Iraqi policemen, government of Iraq officials, and coalition forces.

    However, the most unfathomable and unforgivable act was an attack against a bus that mainly transported women and children in Spring 2007.

    Incendiary devices were planted inside the bus and detonated while the bus was in transit. "One mother burned to death while clutching her two children in her arms. The scene was too much to bear," said Habib. The Al Gawalba tribe believes that AQI was responsible.

    The Al Gawalba tribe of Dojima, Iraq, armed themselves to push al Qaida in Iraq out of their village. "We lost fifteen of our people in the first battle in Zorganiyah," said the Sheikh quietly. Among the 15, was Sheikh Jazil Karim, Habib's father. As the firstborn son, Khazal Karim became the next sheikh of the Al Gawalba tribe.

    Sheikh Habib decided that he would no longer tolerate acts of violence against his people. He formed a small militia to fight against AQI. The group comprised of Iraqi volunteers dedicated to pushing AQI out of the area. When USF arrived to help, the role of the militia changed. They patrolled neighborhoods and guarded check points. They became part of an organization called the "Sons of Iraq," a group of militias formed throughout the provinces of Iraq dedicated to pushing AQI out of the area.

    The Al Gawalba tribe lost approximately 300 of its members during battles with AQI and is continuing to recover from the ordeal. "It is important for USF and the GOI to understand and remember what the Sunni tribes of Diyala endured," said Task Force Marne Deputy Commanding General Maneuver Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Donahue.

    As the saying goes, "If you cut the head off a snake, the body will fall." Sheikh Habib believes the turning point of the war was when AQI leader "Mullah Qasser" Ahmed Al-zouri was killed. With the leader gone, the other insurgents fled the area.

    Now that AQI is no longer viewed as an unstoppable threat, Sheikh Habib has turned his focus on the immediate needs of the Al Gawalba tribe of Dojima. "My greatest concerns are schools and health clinics," said the sheikh.

    Habib said that the schools offer a morning and evening session to accommodate the 850 students at the primary school and 1,400 at the secondary school. He meets with 1st Lt. Terrance Nolan, the platoon leader for the 2nd Platoon "Earthpigs," Company Apache, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, bi-weekly to discuss the prospects of renovating the schools and other issues in Dojima.

    The 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment is scheduled to begin renovation of the primary school at the beginning of April. It will be the battalion's third extreme school makeover. U.S. forces are planning to renovate the secondary school through local contractors, creating employment and boosting economic activity in the area.

    As for the health clinic, the closest one is in Khalis, which is 45 minutes from Dojima. The sheikh said that he spoke with the director general of health in Khalis about having a clinic built in the immediate area. The construction of a health clinic in Dojima requires extensive coordination with several ministries. Habib and the Company A Soldiers are working on a solution to have one built as soon as possible.

    "To focus on your children and the health of the people shows that you are concerned about the people and that's the right thing," remarked Donahue to Habib, during a key leadership engagement held with the sheikh last month.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.24.2010
    Date Posted: 03.24.2010 02:18
    Story ID: 47120
    Location: DIYALA PROVINCE, IQ

    Web Views: 408
    Downloads: 276

    PUBLIC DOMAIN