Photo By Staff Sgt. Tiffany Evans | Spc. Andrew Roberts, a native of Round Rock, Texas, radio telephone operator, acts as...... read more read more
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Somber-looking men gathered in a sitting room prepared to discuss matters in their village with a representative of the U.S. Army, Feb 21. A toddler lightened the mood when he entered the room and headed straight for a distinguished man seated in the room with an air of authority.
Sheik Fadil Youssef broke into a brilliant smile and in clear English told the guests at his house that the boy is his grandson. Youssef went on to explain his children and grandchildren give him reasons to improve the village of Jurf as Sahkr.
"My children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews represent the future of Iraq. We must, here and now, work to improve their future," said Youssef, sheik and Sons of Iraq contract holder for Jurf as Sahkr. "We have a few problems and need help from the coalition to fix them. I have worked with the coalition forces throughout Iraq since 2004, and I am proud to call them friends and brothers."
During Youssef's three-hour meeting with Capt. Brian Weightman, commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, he continually focused on the people of Jurf as Sahkr and their welfare.
"U.S. forces are working on leaving Iraq and changing their strategy on how to help the people of Iraq until forces leave," Weightman, a native of Eden Mills, Vt., said. "Even though we will not be funding as many projects as we have in the past, we will work with the villages and towns in our area of operation to receive the necessary funding and help from the Government of Iraq."
Weightman explained how projects already approved are going to be finished before coalition forces leave Iraq.
Youssef donated a parcel of land to the GOI, for a high school, which the coalition agreed to build.
"At this time I can tell you the money for the high school has been approved and now we are searching for a contractor," Weightman said.
Weightman told Youssef and the other guest that he understood their concerns and would pass them on.
Youssef voiced a few concerns about the SOI. Many are still waiting to hear about being hired by the GOI or if the government will help to find them other jobs.
The sheik, who holds bachelor degrees in engineering, communications and education, told Weightman that 95 percent of his SOI's are able to read and write. He went on to say how the people of Jurf as Sahkr are also highly educated.
Youssef discussed the recent provincial elections following lunch. No Sunni won a seat in Babil province, and Jurf as Sahkr is mainly a Sunni village.
"We are disappointed that the Sunnis who ran for election did not band together, but we are pleased with the results. The elected officials are the right people to help secure Iraq and keep the sectarian violence away," Youssef said. "Above all else, we want to be secure and stand on our own two feet. We will do our best to always do the honorable thing for our children."
Weightman asked Youssef and his visitors what else he could do to help them. The captain listened to comments about a man's house destroyed by a bomb, a military vehicle involved in a crash with a local vehicle and all the men wanted Weightman to look into the arrest of a man accused of violence against many citizens of Jurf as Sahkr.
"I cannot promise you that we can fix these problems quickly, but I will look into all of them," Weightman said. "I will also talk to the military police and Iraqi police to see where the accused man is and if he is being put on trial."
Youssef and Weightman left the meeting looking forward to working with each other soon, said Youssef and Weightman. Hope and cooperation fueled the process of healing in 1st Bn., 2nd Inf., Regt., area of operations.
"There is an old saying, that we may not accomplish all we set out to do, but if we work together and hold tight to hope things will be fine," Youssef said. "I have to agree, when things get bad it's hope and faith that carries me and my people through those tough times. Added to our hope and faith is that of the American people and their fighting forces who continue to help stabilize and secure our country."
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2009 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 30603 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 136 |
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