Photo By Spc. Leith Edgar | Killeen, Texas, native Sgt. Nicholas Anderson, 24, the Estonian liaison for Troop B,...... read more read more
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By Spc. L.B. Edgar,
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGHDAD – The young Iraqi girl looked up to her mother in search of the right answer to the question: "Is this a bad man?" Apprehension shaded her innocent, cherubic face. Hesitantly, she responded with a meek, "Laa." No.
Immediately, a seasoned female interpreter recognized the child's reluctance as fear. The truth: the man in question was certainly suspect, if not criminal. The eyes of a young child seldom lie.
In the girl's neighborhood within Saba Al Bor, mixed signals are common. Residents of the predominantly Shiite area of the town in the northern Baghdad province, live in constant fear of militia extremists.
However, things are better than before. Sectarian violence is down, there is an increased presence on the streets, and most importantly, citizens of Saba Al Bor, located on the outskirts of Iraq's capital, are taking responsibility for their own security, said Swansea, S.C., native, Capt. Brooks Yarborough.
"The biggest help from the citizens of Saba Al Bor is their hospitality and willingness to cooperate with coalition forces. Every door we knock on, every child we see, there is always a smiling face greeting us," said the 25-year-old fire support officer for 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment.
The only child not smiling, as the Soldiers passed on patrol, was living in fear of her neighbor. The Soldiers of Troop B, along with their counterparts from Estonian Platoon 15 and Iraqi army troops did not frighten the girl. It was the thought of what the man next-door would do, if he learned of her complicity, which frightened the youngster.
Already suspected of ties to Jaish Al Mahdi (JAM), a Shiite extremist group operating in Saba Al Bor as well as greater Baghdad, the man was questioned. When his story did not quite add up, neighbors weighed in about why they feared the rotund Iraqi.
"The suspect claimed to merely be a butcher, rather than a member in Mahdi's army," said Killeen, Texas, native Sgt. Nicholas Anderson.
The bulk of the information leading to questioning the man came from a seemingly unlikely source, a concerned citizen of Saba Al Bor, who actively works with coalition forces to secure his town.
Though the concerned citizen's true name is uncertain, he prefers to be called "Colonel Muhammad," saying he was once an officer in Saddam's army. Although a Sunni, he also works with Shia in Saba Al Bor.
"His primary concern is bringing criminals, across sectarian lines, to justice and in the process restoring the once populous town's prosperity," said Anderson, 24, who works with him regularly in Saba Al Bor.
Muhammad's other alias, "volunteer six," denotes his assumed position as the commander of the volunteers, concerned citizens who actively assist coalition and Iraqi security forces root out insurgents and extremists alike by providing useful information.
Col Muhammad spoke with residents who relayed their concerns; sometimes directly and in other cases non-verbally, such as the young girl.
"The people are scared of him," the clean-cut, middle-aged Muhammad told Anderson, a liaison with the Estonian platoon. In turn, Anderson shared the tip with the Estonian soldiers. Other residents were consulted and their responses coupled with the child's reluctance to answer compelled a line of questioning.
When the suspect was uncooperative during questioning he became a visitor of the nearby joint security station, another improvement to security in Saba Al Bor.
"The JSS allows for a greater presence of coalition and Iraqi security forces in the town," said Anderson.
"The people of Saba Al Bor are really pleased with the coalition presence here, to include the Iraqi army and Iraqi police," explained Yarborough.
That presence in Saba Al Bor is the investment that coalition forces are starting to see real returns. Though the Soldiers did confiscate multiple weapons, information from residents was the crowned jewel of the day, Yarborough said.
"The only way you're going to catch these people is to make relationships with the people," Anderson said.
One little girl may not have verbally given coalition forces an honest answer, but her eyes told no lies. She feared her next-door neighbor, who was taken away by the Soldiers who searched and secured her neighborhood.
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2007 11:56 |
| Story ID: | 11783 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 523 |
| Downloads: | 472 |
This work, A Child's Eyes Never Lie, by SPC Leith Edgar, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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