By Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak
11th Public Affairs Detachment
KHARMAR, Iraq – When he speaks, they want to listen. That is how respected Sheik Fares Mohammad Al Taha is to his people of the Al Jehaishi tribe. So when Soldiers of Iraqi army's 10th Brigade, 3rd IA Division stopped by to deliver food and water to his village, Taha delivered an unprecedented speech.
Addressing many of head-of-households, Taha surrounded by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers, publicly declared his support for the Government of Iraq along with the Iraqi security and coalition forces.
"Having this [food] campaign only brings us closer to the Government of Iraq," Taha told the men and women present from his tribe. "We support the security forces and GoI. We know this, because we have never had any activity against the government in our village."
After his speech, Taha helped the IA in distributing more than 100 boxes of food along with bottled drinking water to the poorest households in his tribe.
The food drive comes after Iraqi and U.S. forces led a medical campaign in the village just weeks ago.
One of the villagers at the food drive was 40-year-old Thiab Khalaf Ali, a husband and father who struggles to make ends-meet.
"The boxes of food are important, because there are a lot of poor families who can benefit from them," he said.
This campaign proves the Iraqi government is taking care of its people, Taha said.
By helping with many key concerns of the village, Taha believes the government will continue its support.
The Iraqi and coalition forces have provided medical care, food and water to the Al Jehaishi tribe and hope the village's electricity issues will be taken care of in the near future, he said.
"We thank the Government of Iraq and security forces for the help they continue to provide us," Taha mentioned.
The Iraqi army, by providing security to the village, has gained the trust and respect of the tribe.
"It is very important to see the faces of security forces out here," Ali said. "It makes our village a safer place to live."
Seeing the faces of the IA and CF have become routine in the area due to Taha's proactive partnership with the security forces.
"We touch base with them on a face-to-face basis," Ali said. "We trust them to protect the people in the village."
It is the job of the Iraqi army to provide security to the civilians in the area, said a Soldier with 10th Bde, 3rd IA Div. who wished to remain anonymous.
"We understand the importance of gaining the trust of the people," the Soldier continued. "The more people trust us, the more we can move forward as a country."
| Date Taken: |
09.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
09.20.2008 12:21 |
| Story ID: |
23926 |
| Location: |
IQ |
| Web Views: |
202 |
| Downloads: |
145 |
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