Courtesy Photo | Pvt. Joshua Pinson (right), a Fort Worth, Texas, native, and Pvt. Zackary Grove...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Dan Rullo
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
SHA'AB, Iraq – News of the grand reopening of Aden Street on the Suk Shelal market was greeted with great enthusiasm from the public.
Many shop owners said the increase in vehicular traffic will ultimately be good for their stores since many more individuals will see the marketplace. As a result, there is a renewed sense of vigor and excitement as store owners build new advertising signage on the street for viewing from a vehicular perspective.
Local merchants said they felt the opening of the road will better facilitate commercial travel and transportation of goods and services throughout the Sha'ab neighborhood of northern Baghdad.
Amil Duragi, a candy store owner in the Suk Shelal market, said he was excited at the prospect of potentially thousands of passersby seeing his store front for the first time in several years. He does, however, remember the past as well.
During the past few years, there were two separate car bombings along the market. One was on the north side of the market along the produce section. The second occurred on the south side, adjacent to the Iraqi police station, which is eight doors down from Duragi's store.
Initially, the memory of those incidents brought a bit of hesitation in his voice, but he sees differences in today's climate and said the security that exists across Baghdad and Sha'ab is greatly improved as compared to the way it was as recently as 2007.
Although some local shop owners and residents said they felt the IP are currently working on how to run operations on their own, they have seen vast improvements in how they operate.
Many said that when the Iraqi security forces and coalition forces work together, as they do in Sha'ab, great things can be accomplished as they strive to achieve a thriving yet secure outdoor market such as the Suk Shelal market.
"There is a great desire in both the residents of Sha'ab, the local government, the Iraqi security and coalition forces to return the neighborhood and its market to a sense of normalcy not seen in nearly half a decade," said 1st Lt. Matthew George, a Los Angeles native, who serves as a patrol leader for Company D, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. "The reopening of Aden Street in the Shulal market will send a message to the people of Baghdad that the government of Iraq and the coalition forces have faith in the current security situation and the effectiveness of the Iraqi police."
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2008 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 23371 |
| Location: | SHA'AB, IQ |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 67 |
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