Photo By Lt. Col. Kirk Luedeke | Col. Ra'ad Eyas Amin, commander of the 1st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division...... read more read more
By Maj. Kirk Luedeke
4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs
BAGHDAD – The Rashid District Council and 1st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Atwan School for boys April 24, despite insurgent efforts to prevent the event from occurring.
Prior to the ceremony, small arms fire had been directed at the school, but after NP and Multi-national Division – Baghdad forces returned fire, the gunmen fled.
"We will not be stopped by the terrorists," Ra'ad said to the crowd of boys ranging from elementary school age all the way up through high school. "We will all live in peace together."
"Education is the future for Iraq," said Sabeeh Al-Ka'abi, the director of the Rashid District Council, who presided over the school opening with Col. Ra'ad Eyas Amin, the 1st NP Battalion commander.
The Atwan School is located in the Mechanix neighborhood of the Rashid District in southern Baghdad. The renovation of the school included improvements to the outer wall, installment of new doors, electrical wiring, fans, plumbing, 100 new desks and 40 blackboards for the 650 students who attend classes there.
After the event, policemen handed out soccer balls to the students.
As those gathered began to disperse, shots rang out once again, as the insurgents returned for one more unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the proceedings.
"This just goes to show how little regard these criminals have for human life," said Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division commander. "They tried to take what was a celebration of a much-improved learning institution and instead put children in harm's way. They did not succeed, and now everyone can see the kinds of tactics they employ."
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2007 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 10148 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 74 |
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