Local Iraqi, Task Force leaders discuss election security

Photo By Sgt. George Welcome | Lt. Col. Thomas Kunk, commander 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment speaks with an Iraqi city councilman about future projects to improve the Mahmudiyah area on December 13.  

MAHMUDIYAH, IRAQ

12.17.2005

Courtesy Story

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Spc. George Welcome

2/101st Airborne Division PAO



MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq --Working together to build a better Iraq could have easily been the theme of the meeting of sheiks, city councilmen and a contractor from the Mahmudiyah area and Lt. Col. Thomas Kunk, commander of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. The meeting took place on the morning of December 13, just two days before the first national election held in Iraq since before the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime nearly three years ago, are scheduled to take place.

Among the topics of discussion were security for the upcoming election and the importance of the people's participation in the event.

"I ask you, on behalf of the Iraqi people, please let the people know the importance of this election," Kunk asked the group. "The terrorists may try to interrupt this election, but with all of us working together, I feel in my heart that with your cooperation and through the hard work of the Iraqi army, the Iraqi police and the city council, this is going to be a good election," he told them.

Kunk also said that while his Soldiers would help provide security for the election process to run smoothly, they would in no way be involved in the election itself, nor have any say in its outcome.

"This is an Iraqi election, this is not a coalition forces election," he said. "You won't see my Soldiers in Mahmudiyah, Al Rasheed, Lutifiyah, Mulla Fayyad, Yusufiyah or any of those areas. But you can be assured that my Soldiers will be out looking for the people who are using indirect fire or trying to drive a VBIED into the area."

Another major issue that was discussed was the continuation of engineering projects that are taking place in Mahmudiyah and its outlying areas.

Through the cooperation between the sheiks, city council, the Iraqi police and army and Coalition Forces, projects that only months ago would have been virtually impossible to achieve are being started and completed with great efficiency. The quality of the work is also improved over past projects, as now contractors and their men have fewer concerns about their safety and are able to focus completely on their jobs.

Some of the biggest projects that have recently been completed are the renovation of the Iraqi police station, repair of a water treatment plant and the repair of route Jackson outside of Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah north.

As the meeting came to a close, a presentation of funds was made to the contractor whose company completed the major roadwork on Alternate Supply Route Jackson. Lt. Col. Kunk, and his entourage along with Col. Hussein of the Iraqi army and the group of sheiks and city council men walked out to ASR Jackson, where the repair work had been completed.

The construction company repaired crossover lanes on ASR Jackson and widened emergency shoulders on the sides of the road. This will provide for safe and less congested traffic. The project was expertly completed in a matter of weeks.

"The contractor was paid a total of 36,000 dollars," said Staff. Sgt. Frederick Connor, pay agent for the Commander's Emergency Response Program, or CERP. "Today we made agreements to try and do other projects in other areas, as far as road repairs. Right now we are in the process of trying to renew their contract, because with the last payment today, their contract ended.

"All the groups work hand in hand and they come up with projects that would improve the area," Connor said. "They have a hand in a lot of different projects such as road repair and fixing pipes for the water."

As the relationship between Iraqis and Americans continues to improve, it is hopeful that this newfound trust will lead to a better way of life for not just the people of Mahmudiyah, but for all the people of Iraq.

• Date Taken: 12.17.2005
• Date Posted: 12.17.2005 11:55
• Story ID: 4117
• Location: MAHMUDIYAH, IQ