Photo By Robert Timmons | Two neighborhoods in Doura have shown a recent ecomonic revival after years of...... read more read more
By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Timmons
4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Bullet holes attest to the battleground that was this two-block portion of Doura. Just a few months ago, the residents were afraid to step outside leaving their neighborhood riddled with garbage, without power and most of their shops closed.
That was until the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., made a concerted effort to weed out insurgents and put the citizens of the two neighborhoods on Doura's east side on the track to success.
"When we first arrived here there were 10 stores open on the entire street," said Lt. Col. Jim Crider, the squadron commander as he toured the peaceful streets with members of the Iraqi media. "There were several attacks, improvised explosive devices every day and no one wanted to cooperate. Initially we stayed on the street to protect the people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until we became friends with the people."
On Oct. 27 there were 138 stores open, Crider added.
Staying out on the streets and erecting barriers to prevent gunfire from entering the area began to pay off – in more ways than one.
The citizens began to slowly come back outside and a National Police checkpoint was relocated because it was deemed unnecessary to protect that portion of town.
"This is one of the safest places in Doura," said Pvt. David Polasek, a Lawrenceville, Ga., native serving with Troop A, 1-4 Cav. as he watched Iraqis laying new concrete on the street median. "More people are coming out everyday because they feel safer."
Once the citizens began to feel more secure the insurgent threat began to ebb.
"Once we began to trust each other and share information the insurgents could no longer hide," Crider, a native of Hopkinsville, Ky., said. "At the same time we began to work on essential services projects such as trash pick up and street lights. Once they saw they had good power and jobs the area began to look much nicer and the insurgents began to disappear. And things got really good."
Great strides in the past few months with many projects aimed at helping the citizens were being completed.
"We suffered a lack of security and essential services in (this area) until three months ago, when the citizens and local contractors were able to complete 22 projects together," said Dr. Moayaad, who lives in the neighborhood.
Some of the citizens said the area hasn't been as good since before Saddam left power.
"The situation got worse after the fall (of Baghdad) until this moment," said A'alaa Eldien Salim, a butcher, whose shop was one of the few that remained open during the tough times the neighborhoods endured. "The security gradually started to return to the area because of the presence of Coalition Forces in the area. They are rescuing us from the saboteur's elements. The lighting in the area is important for the shops."
Salim said he was able to keep in business because of monetary help.
"I had damages in my shop due to other explosions around my shop," he said. "I received a grant which help me to fix the windows, but I still need to buy some stuff for the shop like freezer."
The streets were once empty but for a few stores, now they are vibrant with the activity of a garbage truck making routine rounds to pick up trash; workers placing multi-colored bricks down as a new sidewalk; men pumping iron at the Arnold Gym; children playing and people visiting the Doura Clinic for all their medical needs.
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.02.2007 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 13576 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 375 |
| Downloads: | 370 |
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