By Spc. Chris McCann
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs
AHMED SUHEL, Iraq — The Sunni men who arrived in the dusty village of Ahmed Suhel hailed from all over the area, tribal leaders and power brokers from all the tribes around Yusufiyah, Iraq. They went into a tent on Patrol Base Al-Taraq that shaded blanketed tables and sat in near-silence, waiting for the meeting to begin.
The meeting was organized by Maj. Robert Griggs, a native of Stockton, Calif., and the operations officer for the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Lt. Col. Iman of the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and Capt. Shane Finn of Clinton, N.Y., commander of Company C, 4-31. The purpose of the meeting was primarily to meet the sheiks and begin building a foundation for security in the area.
"You were not supposed to be here today," said Griggs. "I was told the Sunni sheiks would never sit down with us. I was told you were all terrorists. But you are all here ... and I see that you are not just Sunni, you are Iraqi."
This was met with nods of approval, and the meeting went on from there, discussing some of the major issues the tribes have – from security to public works projects. One of the major points of discussion was the detention of the Zobai tribe's sheik, who was photographed by Iraqi soldiers with his shmagh, or traditional headdress, around his shoulders. The sheiks said that this was a sign of disrespect.
"We don't care what he did, to us it's a sign of being shamed," one of the sheiks said.
Griggs explained that the sheikh was detained in a combined operation with the U.S. and Iraqi security forces. He told his guests that he would personally investigate the incident and determine if there was wrong-doing.
"As for the photo," Griggs said, "We will investigate and write our findings in English and Arabic so you can read it. No one will disrespect another leader while we are here. Even if he is found with an improvised explosive device in his hand, he is still a sheik."
The Zobai sheik's nephew said that he wanted the roads opened, noting that area residents needed to travel to markets and move their herds to other areas.
Iman and Griggs stated that the roads would be opened when they are safe, citing a recent incident in which a man and his five-year-old son were killed by an IED.
Griggs also had some requests of the sheiks.
"I ask you to meet with the Shia sheiks, and to agree to control your tribes. I am here to get your support for the nahia council," he said. "We would also like to be able to take captured terror suspects to you, so you can tell us if he is good or bad."
The sheiks uniformly agreed.
"If you bring them, we will tell you their names and all their information," said one.
Griggs said that the U.S. forces were undeterred by the violence in the area.
"The school here is terrible. It's filthy, there are no supplies. We're working on that. The other day, three of my Soldiers were medically evacuated when eight bombs went off on their vehicle in Carghouli Village," Griggs told the sheiks. "Today, we're there again, fixing the school. We don't blame Iraqis. We keep helping even when terrorists blow us up."
The meeting ended with a large lunch prepared by Iraqi soldiers stationed at Forward Operating Base Yusufiyah.
"The only thing that will hurt our friendship," said Griggs, laughing, "is if you do not eat the lunch we've brought – because I am very, very hungry."
"The meeting went fine," said the sheik from the Sakher Ghazalet tribe. "It depends on the leaders whether the ideas work when we go home, how fast the leaders act."
"I can't tell from just one meeting, but the results will be the proof," said the Zobai sheik's nephew. "It's just the beginning, but I think it will grow. Cooperation will be good; we need to have Iraqi and U.S. forces together. A new army takes time to grow to the American level of competence."
The sheik of the Faraji tribe agreed.
"It's brothers solving problems. This meeting will help, the next will be better. And they'll continue to improve the more we have them," he said.
Griggs said he was pleased with the outcome.
"Just getting them to show up was great," he said, though he said he thinks the meeting will bear fruit as well.
"No matter how much the Iraqi army and the coalition forces want to move ahead, the only ones who can make that happen are the civilian leaders," said Griggs. "And here, the civilian leadership is the sheiks."
| Date Taken: |
01.29.2006 |
| Date Posted: |
01.29.2007 15:59 |
| Story ID: |
8994 |
| Location: |
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| Web Views: |
232 |
| Downloads: |
153 |
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This work, Sheiks attend council meeting at Ahmed Suhel, by Christina McCann, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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