Streets Return to Life As Iraqi Market Gears Up

American Forces Press Service ^ | Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA

[SandRat]

ADHAMIYAH, Iraq, March 24, 2008 – Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers here witnessed the changes and progress in the area and its bustling market during a joint dismounted patrol with the Iraqi army on Chem Street.

Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers head toward Chem Street in Adhamiyah, Iraq, during a dismounted patrol, March 20, 2008. Soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, regularly patrol the streets with their Iraqi counterparts from 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The 3rd Infantry Division soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, attached to the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, along with Iraqi army soldiers of 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division, and members of the “Sons of Iraq” citizens security group have been working hand in hand to provide Adhamiyah residents with enough security for them to feel safe walking the streets.

The U.S. soldiers are working with their Iraqi counterparts and putting them in the lead so the people can see their country’s army “is out there to help security as much as we are,” said Army Capt. Erik Kjonnerod, commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment.

“We wanted to show them their Iraqi security forces are out there as much we are. They’re not sitting on checkpoints doing nothing. They go out on patrols, just like the Americans do,” he said.

Security in the area has led to the awakening of the market on Chem Street.

“When we first got here, we could see an average of 15 to 20 shops open,” said Army Staff Sgt. Germaine Seabrook, a cavalry scout in Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. “With the help of Iraqi forces, we helped keep the security tight. Most of the Iraqi people started coming back, opening up shops, and the economy started rolling better. The people from Adhamiyah can see how safe it is now.”

The joint dismounted patrols allow soldiers to talk to people and assure them they are there for security and that they do care about their concerns.

“In the beginning of our work here, the streets were pretty much desolated,” said Army 1st Lt. Matthew Jensen, a platoon leader in Troop A. “We didn’t see many people walking around. People were scared to get out of their homes. Through civil affairs, micro-grants, the Sons of Iraq and our presence, people started coming out. Most of the stores on Chem Street are opened now.”

(Army Spc. Elvyn Nieves serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq

	Army Staff Sgt. Germaine Seabrook gets ready for a dismounted patrol with the Iraqi army on Chem Street in Adhamiyah, Iraq, March 20, 2008. Seabrook is a cavalry scout with 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which is attached to Multinational Division Baghdad’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Army 1st Lt. Matthew Jensen, a platoon leader in 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, which is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multinational Division Baghdad, patrols Chem Street in Adhamiyah, Iraq, during a dismounted patrol with the Iraqi army, March 20, 2008. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi army soldiers talk with people on Chem Street in Adhamiyah, Iraq, March 20, 2008. Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, which is attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, along with their Iraqi counterparts from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division, regularly patrol the streets of Adhamiyah together. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!
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please FReepmail Sandrat.

WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!

[Recovering_Democrat]

Sorry--NOT INTERESTED! We're too busy celebrating 4,000 dead soldiers.
Truly,
ABC, AP, CBS, CNN, NBC

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just watched a great and positive CSPAN report on Iraq from Kagan of the American Enterprise Instiutute....highly recommended watching....Mention was made of a report of some 80+ pages....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Here is some info :

Iraq: The Way Ahead

*******************

THE IRAQ PLANNING GROUP'S PHASE IV REPORT

Start: 

Monday, March 24, 2008  1:30 PM

End: 

Monday, March 24, 2008  3:00 PM

Location: 

Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
Directions to AEI

Online registration for this event is closed. Walk-in registrations will be accepted.

Fourteen months ago, President Bush launched the surge strategy in Iraq. Since then, violence has decreased dramatically: fewer American troops died in December 2007 than in any month since the beginning of the war; civilian casualties in December numbered less than a quarter of those one year prior; and terrorism claimed 178 lives in January 2008, compared to 1,087 in February 2007. Moreover, political progress, fostered by these security gains, has finally manifested itself in the form of amnesty and budgetary measures passed by the Iraqi parliament.

Yet these breakthroughs should not precipitate hasty action. Despite a planned return to pre-surge troop levels by July 2008, many have called for further reductions later this year. Would such drawdowns endanger security and political progress? How will the Sons of Iraq, the often-armed neighborhood watch associations that buttressed the turnaround in Anbar province and other areas, integrate into the Iraq Security Forces? What can be done to deter Iran from continuing to equip, train, and bankroll Shiite factions in Iraq? Is it possible to reorient our Middle East policy to rely on Iraq as a democratic ally instead of on traditional authoritarian allies, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia?

Please join AEI for the release of Iraq: The Way Ahead, the fourth and final report of the Iraq Planning Group. AEI’s Frederick W. Kagan and the Brookings Institution’s Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack will discuss these questions, among others, and the future of U.S. policy toward Iraq.

1:15 p.m.	Registration
1:30	Presenter:	Frederick W. Kagan, AEI
	Discussants:	Michael O’Hanlon, Brookings Institution
		Kenneth M. Pollack, Brookings Institution
3:00	Adjournment

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

CSPAN Info:

U.S. Policy Toward Iraq

***********************

Forum
U.S. Policy Toward Iraq
American Enterprise Institute
Washington, District of Columbia (United States)
ID: 204523 - 03/24/2008 - 1:32 - $29.95

View in Video Library

	O'Hanlon, Michael E.	Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, Foreign Policy Studies
	Pollack, Kenneth M.	Senior Fellow & Research Dir., Brookings Institution, Saban Center for Middle East Policy
	Kagan, Frederick W.	Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute, Defense and Security Policy

Panelists talked about the release of Iraq: The Way Ahead, the fourth and final report of the Iraq Planning Group.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Looks like it is available for viewing:

U.S. Policy Toward Iraq

[jveritas]

We won this war. God bless our brave troops and President Bush.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It’s not over yet, however...but things are moving in a positive direction IF WE HANG IN THERE FOR a Bit LONGER....

[SunkenCiv]

Again, Thanks!

[Allegra]

I saw some stupid woman SMILING as she announced the 4,000 number on CNN last night and I wanted to reach through the screen and slap that stupid smile off of her evil, leftist face.

[Berosus]

Did CNN report on how many terrorists we killed in return? I’m guessing you could only hear crickets when they got to that part.

[Marine_Uncle]

I have to get my car fixed, clutch pedal literally went limp on the way home from work last night. Will review what is contained in this post later today.

[SunkenCiv]

I don’t take cable. And I’m very glad I don’t.