Photo By Pfc. Christopher McKenna | Iraqi army soldiers of 1st Battalion, 25th Brigade, 17th Iraqi army Division, salute...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – After the transition of six patrol bases to the Iraqi army throughout the Mahmudiyah Qada, security gains have not faltered – a sure sign of progress in the area.
"If anything, there seems to be a feeling of increased security as the Iraqi army has stepped forward to provide the same level of security as before," said Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Jassim Muhammad Hassen Al Frejee, 17th IA Division commander.
"While we transition patrol bases and areas of operation associated with patrol bases, we have set the conditions so that the Iraqi army with an integrated police and Sons of Iraq footprint allow for a stable level of security," said Col. Dominic Caraccilo, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Attacks in the area once part of the former "Triangle of Death" have reduced by 90 percent.
"A year ago, the average weekly attacks were 35, and now we're at two," said Capt. Rachel Sarles, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) intelligence officer.
"Because there are so many security forces in the area – Sons of Iraq, IA, coalition ... threat groups of any flavor can't really mass attacks," said Sarles, who is from Akron, Ohio.
"Security hasn't degraded because the enemy has been neutralized," said Lt. Col. David Jones, 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).
He explained that a series of aggressive, continual operations drove criminal factions out of the Mahmudiyah Qada.
"Mahmudiyah is safe. The people feel safe. People want security. Local Iraqis are tired of the violence," said Jones, a native of South Berwick, Maine.
Caraccilo often says "the population is the prize." It appears in the case of the citizens of Mahmudiyah Qada, the ISF have won the prize.
"I believe the population has chosen peace over violence and wants to proceed with the establishment of normalcy where the government of Iraq will provide essential services, to include employment, to its people," said Caraccilo, a native of Seneca Falls, N.Y. "This attitude, coupled with a professional and capable ISF, allows for a secure situation."
Al Frejee echoed Caraccilo's sentiment, and said his soldiers are now confident in their abilities for a number of reasons. Among them, the soldiers "know the population because they live among them and get good intelligence from the local populace," he said. "I believe the increase in intelligence and cooperation from the locals are due to a desire to end the fighting and build a future."
In late March, when violence and hostility flared in Basra, the then-25th Brigade commanded by Al Frejee took control of the city of Mahmudiyah to prevent a violent uprising in their area.
The IA's actions were "a tell-tale sign they were ready to take the reigns of security in Mahmudiyah themselves," Jones said.
Two days before the Shabaniyah pilgrimage began, a festival held in Karbala to celebrate the birthday of Shiite imam Mohammed al Mahdi, coalition forces transitioned a patrol base in the area to the Iraqi security forces.
"There were numerous threats against pilgrims ... (but) we still transitioned the patrol base despite those threats," Sarles said.
The way the 17th IA Div. handled the Arba'een pilgrimage in February was an indication of what could be expected of them. Sarles said the 17th IA was very effective in securing routes.
The ongoing progress and security are evident but not the result of one single action.
"SoIs were a huge step, the professionalization of the IA is another huge step," Sarles said. "The population would rather choose to work with the IA and SoI than choose to even passively allow ... extremist groups to operate."
As the Rakkasans continue to transition their battle space, the ISF will continue to hone its skills.
"(We will) continue to focus on preventing a resurgence of violence by those who would disrupt what has been built and to treat the local population with respect and dignity by assisting where needed, ... putting an Iraqi face on the responsibility for security and ensuring that everyone is treated equally," Al Frejee said.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2008 02:48 |
| Story ID: | 23427 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 78 |
This work, Security intact through patrol base transitions, by SFC Kerensa Hardy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
