Photo By Maj. David Olson | Local community leaders, members of the District Council from East and West Rashid,...... read more read more
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By Maj. Dave Olson
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Senior leaders of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, visited with leaders of the Rashid District Council, Oct. 22, 2008, to congratulate the community's newly elected officials on their continuing success in the beladiyat located in southern Baghdad.
Earlier in the day, local community leaders, members of the District Council from East and West Rashid, voted the reigning DC Chairman Yaqoub Yosif, and Deputy DC Chairman Hashem Mahmood Dahash to another term, another year of service, for the 1.6 million Iraqis in the Rashid District.
Both Yaqoub and Hashem, who competed against other candidates to be re-elected for their second term as heads of the District Council, are responsible for the administration of the neighborhood and district civil self-governance program, working with the government of Iraq and local neighborhood councils to provide the resources, direction and order for the people of Baghdad's Rashid District, said Lt. Col. Paul Hossenlopp, deputy commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B.
Yaqoub, who was first elected to be the Rashid DC chairman, Oct. 24, 2007, said that he witnessed a dramatic change in the security situation since the implementation of the National Security Plan, Fardh al Qua Non, Iraq's Rule of Law.
"At the beginning of my election period as the Chairman for the Rashid District Council, the task was difficult due to the national reconciliation, the displaced families [returning], as well as the Fardh al Qua Non plan, were all at their beginning stages," said Yaqoub.
Serving as the Rashid DC chairman requires a considerable amount of time and effort to provide support for the district's neighborhood councils and visit with local communities and neighborhoods in the Rashid District, said Yaqoub.
The leaders of the DC were able to accomplish its many tasks to help secure and rebuild the Rashid District, because of the support from coalition forces and Iraqi security forces during the past year, explained Yaqoub, who began his tenure as a neighborhood council leader in the Bayaa community of the Rashid District.
"I am proud to serve with you," Yaqoub said to leaders of the 1st "Raider" Brigade. "You have made a big difference in Rashid, and I am much happier that you are supporting us."
The re-election of the current leadership is an important step toward the provincial elections tentatively scheduled to occur early next year, said Tom Lynch, leader of the 1st BCT Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team.
The leaders of the 1st BCT are pleased with the recent security gains in the Rashid District, especially the level of activity in the market place, said Lynch, who hails from Fairfax, Va.
"The people look better than the real estate," Lynch said. "The level of violence has greatly dropped since last year, and this is a lot of momentum for the District Council leaders to take to the next level."
Hashem, deputy chairman of the Rashid DC, took the opportunity to discuss with the 1st BCT leadership the education opportunities, in particular the building of a new library and media resource center for Iraqis in the Rashid District.
"There is no difference than when security was an issue," Hashim said to Hossenlopp and Lynch. "Education is still important. It'll take us one step forward. "The library will be an important step to move education forward," he added.
A community library would be a step forward for the people of the Rashid District, agreed Lynch, who said that he hopes to stand up community classes at the library.
"It's a place people can go to use internet and exchange ideas," said Lynch, who brought examples of a curriculum for a proposed computer class to be taught at the media center.
Yaqoub said that he hopes the government of Iraq will take an active role in the area as a legitimate elected government providing services such as the library for the citizens of Rashid.
Serving the needs of the Iraqi people is a huge responsibility, said Hashem, whose many duties include addressing the needs of the citizens of Rashid.
"We need advanced hospitals," Hashem said. "We need services that will help to improve our environment."
The DC leaders are working several projects through the Iraqi ministry of labor to obtain funding through the Amanat, Baghdad's center for administration of public services under the capital's mayor, explained Yaqoub.
The projects will be approved through the DC and submitted to a committee to push through the ministries for approval and funding, he said.
The 1st BCT leaders departed the Rashid DC Hall after congratulating the civil leaders one more time.
"I congratulate Mr. Yaqoub and Mr. Hashem for victory in today's election," said Hossenlopp, who hails from Cincinnati. "I am proud to serve with you. You have made a big difference in Rashid."
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2008 11:13 |
| Story ID: | 25586 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 108 |
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