By Pfc. Evan Loyd
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – A Sheik Support Council meeting brought sheiks and leaders of the Mada'in Qada together with their coalition counterparts at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Aug. 27, 2008.
Col. Pat White, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, started the meeting by thanking those present for attending and saying that facilitating such meetings was a very important part of the Iron Brigade's mission.
White also discussed the redeployment of the Georgian soldiers and how the Iraqi security forces assumed the role of securing Wahida, the town where the Georgians once operated.
"The Mada'in is going to set the example in how Iraq can move forward in the Iraqi security forces conducting operations and coalition forces pulling back and assisting them," said White, a native of Apple Valley, Calif.
White spoke about the Sons of Iraq and future plans for them.
"We will continue to work (to) transition those Sons of Iraq who want to move into a job outside the Sons of Iraq," said White. "We have no time set for when the Sons of Iraq will be disbanded."
Brig. Gen. Emad, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st national police Division briefly discussed the ISF presence in the Mada'in Qada and their eventual transition to Combat Outpost Salie near Narhrwahn, Iraq.
Sheik Kaies Shether Guwd al-Jabalawei, president of the Support Council of the Mada'in Qada, also spoke on the importance of people of the Mada'in Qada getting back to work.
"Since the problem of the insurgents is down, let us continue to work on projects to improve the quality of life in the Mada'in," said Kaies. "Let us also hope that the Iraqi security forces are up to the challenge of filling the vacuum left by the Georgian forces in their withdrawal."
These meetings allow the sheiks, who serve as spokesmen for the citizens, to bring the problems of the Mada'in Qada to the attention of the Qada mayor, ISF leaders and coalition forces leaders.
"The sheiks actually meet once a week to solve many of their own problems," said Lt. Col. Matthew Mckenna, from Pittsburgh, the deputy commander of the 2nd BCT, 1st Arm. Div. "It's great to see them taking the lead on many issues."
These meetings provide a forum for reconciliation between feuding tribes. Recently, the Iron Brigade created a patrol base in an area between two tribes in an effort to facilitate reconciliation, an idea generated during a Sheik Support Council meeting.
"Once we established the patrol base, we gave the tribes a place to meet, talk about their differences and solve their problems," said Mckenna. "Because of that, more than 150 displaced families where able to return to their houses in the area."