Operation Restore Peace VI offers an alternative to former fighters in Hawijah, Iraq
By Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
HAWIJAH, Iraq – "Be thankful to God and the government of Iraq that you are being offered this opportunity," Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division said, to the sheiks and villagers who attended the reconciliation meeting held at Forward Operating Base McHenry, May 18.
The sixth meeting under Operation Restore Peace affords a pathway towards reconciliation to combatants who have been linked to attacks against Iraqi security forces and the coalition force. Under strict screening and monitoring by both, the program, locals call Musalaha, has been credited along with the Sons of Iraq program, with over a 90 percent decrease in violent attacks against both forces and civilians in the Hawijah District, located around 60 miles southwest of Kirkuk City in the Kirkuk province. Since January, over 200 in this region have reconciled during this operation.
"We came today of our own freewill," said Sheik Atta Muhammad Hussein. "I tell my children and villagers that we need to cooperate with our government and our security forces. That is the only way our lives will improve and that Iraq will prosper as a country." Sheik Hussein is of the Obedi tribe in the district of Riyadh.
They came from as far away as the village of Al-Quodas, approximately 20 miles northeast of Hawijah to as close as Riyadh some five miles up the road. Khalif Khudi Muhammid, of the Abassi tribe found out about the meeting from a villager in a neighboring village. "He told me that I needed to go to Musahala here," Muhammid said. "This person told me I had a choice. Reconcile or be prepared to be detained."
More and more Iraqis here are becoming motivated to join the reconciliation program as joint targeting efforts between the ISF and CF with information supplied by Sons of Iraq members and citizens. The information obtained in the past two weeks has led to the capture of 13 known criminals.
"Spread the word. Tell your friends, family - everyone you know. The opportunity still exists to reconcile. But, time is running out," Vanek said. "You either come to peace or we will force you to peace."