Soldiers securing Iraq's elections

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Oct. 13, 2005) -- As Iraqi citizens vote in the Oct. 15 Constitutional Referendum, they’ll do so with a better sense of security, thanks to 48th Brigade Combat Team Soldiers.

One of the brigade’s top priorities is to assist Iraqi security forces in securing the polling sites in the neighborhoods of southwest Baghdad. Brigade Soldiers have been busy placing concrete barriers around those sites.

The focus of the barrier movement plan is to limit the disruption to daily activities of the local population, so the major effort of emplacing the barriers is done during non-peak hours in the city.

“We don’t want to interfere with commerce,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Edge, commander of the 148th Support Battalion, which is responsible for transporting the concrete barriers to the various polling sites for emplacement. “We want the emplacements to go quickly with the least possible impact on the civilian population.”

The brigade ordered about 1,400 barriers for the effort. The planning began more than 60 days ago as officials ordered the materials from a concrete plant near Baghdad International Airport.

Iraqi soldiers provided security with an outer cordon, while the concrete barriers and concertina wire were put into place by several battalions from 48th BCT.

“No one company or battalion could have accomplished this mission,” said Maj. John Davis, operations officer for the 648th Engineer Bn. “The synchronization and cooperation between all the units allowed the mission to be completed ahead of schedule with a minimum of disruption to the local population.”

With a mostly Sunni population in the 48th’s area of operation, the goal is that everyone will have the opportunity to cast a vote for Iraq’s future.

“If we get something good from the referendum, it will be better for everyone,” said Hassan Abdulah a Sunni farmer who was on hand to watch barriers being placed around an elementary school in his neighborhood.

“We need peace and security,” Abdulah said. “The coalition forces do a good job for us here.”

Within the brigade’s area of operation there are 24 prospective polling sites, which the 48th BCT units have been busy making secure for the referendum vote.

“Our Soldiers recognize that they are not here to influence the election, but they are here to allow the Iraqi people the opportunity to vote,” Edge said.

Damn. Our men and women in uniform and the new Iraqi forces have to be very proud over all they are accomplishing in Iraq. The sad loss and badly injured of all our brave and dedicated military that have fallen in Iraq will not be in vain. As political dialog, give and take, the realization that Islam is not the answer to build a free and stable government, which is beholden to all it's peoples, takes hold, and perhaps they realize THAT SINCE THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA, AND ALL THE WILLING COALITION PARTNERS entered Iraq, more good has been done for more people of Iraq then the whole time the Butcher of Baghdad was in power. And since this is the case, they shall embrace the chance to throw off the terrible yokes they have borne for so long and give a westernized version of democracy and secular central government a chance to bring them out of their long deprived past. And as I write these words, I fully appreciate there are large numbers of Iraqi that have little or no concept of what we in the "western civilization' term collectively democracy, along with our various forms of government, and system of law based on common law etc.. But surely many of their leadership who have studied abroad, do understand and have witnessed what they are on the brink of achieving if ancient fears do not subvert the movement. I have shared some time back on what I am about to say. But I think back one year one month ago, standing at the 2/2 Warlords Headquarter Building at Camp Lejeune. As I waited for my nephew to arrive in the busses that drove them from Cherry Point MCAS to C.L. for their homecoming, I walked to the little courtyard area of the HQ building.
On that building folks, was a very large white sheet nailed to the brick wall. On that sheet where the names of all the WIA Marines from 2/2 and the seven names of those KIAed. I stood very silent and just looked at the names, and gave payed tribute to their sacrifice. In my little way I payed my honor to them, and to all their un-fallen brothers in arms.
It was a very sober few minutes for me. The image sticks in my mind as I write. I know some of the names of those KIAed, one was running next to my nephew in MEK (one of the Fallujah FOB's), when a mortar ended his live. God spared my nephew to go yet again to Iraq and do his best to protect his fellow Marines, accomplish the mission, and help bring a truly lasting peace to Iraq, and a new form of government by the people and for the people.
I pray those Marines and all their fellow military bros and sis's will not have died in vain. Let Iraq see a new begining that most of their citizens hardly know how glorious is over the long run.

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