Iraqi police determined to defend Iraq

TIKRIT, IRAQ

07.25.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Staff Sgt. Raymond Drumsta
42nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, TIKRIT, Iraq -- For some police cadets who graduated from Iraqi Police Services Cohort Training here recently, becoming an Iraqi police officer is an eyes wide-open, life-or-death commitment to the defense of Iraq.

Almost 200 cadets became full-fledged Iraqi police officers in a graduation ceremony July 23 -- the last such class to be trained by Task Force Liberty. The new officers spent over two weeks at the 4th Iraqi Army Training Academy here and learned a variety of things, to include hand-to-hand combat, urban tactics, arrest procedures, search techniques, traffic control points, in addition to rifle and pistol training.

"We learned how to capture criminals and secure buildings," said Cadet Osama Khalil Abraham Alahbabi. "We also learned ways to prevent crimes."

They also learned how to conduct surveillance and be alert for the signs of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he said.

"I hope what I learned here will help me defend myself and the Iraqi people," he said.

"The most important thing I learned was hand-to-hand combat," said Cadet Arami Cardbon Subar Alduri. "That way, I can continue to fight even if I don't have ammunition."

The training emphasized self-defense, a concept Cadet Unis Hamid Salman Almujami didn't quite agree with.

"Here they taught us to defend ourselves first," Salman said. "I think maybe we should defend the people first."

"I want to protect my family," Subar said. "The family unit is important to this nation. By defending it, I am defending all of Iraq."

Subar lost his cousin Fazi in a double car-bomb attack. After the first car-bomb went off, Fazi ran to see if Subar was alright. The second car bomb killed Fazi and injured Subar, who is still nursing wounds - both physical and emotional.

"My cousin came to check on my safety, to take care of me," Subar said. "So, now I will take care of his family."

Like the other officers, Abraham has taken ownership of the fight. Insurgency violence is indiscriminate, he said, adding that "bullets don't know where to go, so Iraqis get shot."

"When the insurgents attack Americans, Iraqis suffer," he said. "I live in Iraq. I have a family. I need security too. I want to help build the security in the new Iraq."

"The most important thing I learned was to be honest and decent while doing my job," said Salman. "When people respect and trust us, they will help us."

He is willing to die on the job, he said, since it is a good cause.

"I want security for Iraq, for my family, my children's family, and even visitors from outside Iraq, because this is a free country," said Salman. "Everyone is welcome here, except for terrorists, because we want to live in peace."

• Date Taken: 07.25.2005
• Date Posted: 07.25.2005 16:20
• Story ID: 2484
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ