A local vender sells live chickens at a market in Yusufiyah, just south of Baghdad on July 13.
Posted on 07/25/2006 3:52:40 PM PDT by SandRat
YUSUFIYAH – The sounds of car horns honking and chickens squawking were a soundtrack for prosperity at a market just south of Baghdad on July 13, where vendors displayed everything from clothing to ice and vegetables in this once insurgent-infested town.
American, British and Iraqi forces fought pitched battles here in the fall of 2004, during a sweep of insurgents still loyal to Saddam's regime.
Today, the market is full of faces looking forward to peaceful and uneventful days. “Before the American Army came to this area, it was full of insurgents and thieves and killers,” said Ali, who declined to give his full name.
It will take work to make Yusufiyah more stable, but locals said the efforts of Coalition forces and brave Iraqi citizens have had a positive impact on the area.
“They came to this area and made it better and brought some safety, but there (is) still occasional shooting and IEDs (improvised explosive devices),” Ali said.
There have been community improvement projects recently completed here, including a council building and health clinic. Capt. William Perrich, of the 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, said residents were going to expensive private health clinics or to nearby Mahmudiyah’s hospital for treatment, but said the clinic here is now staffed and seeing patients.
Yusufiyah is largely a farming community where its citizens sustain themselves with crops they grow. “The farmer would go to work and his family’s food would come from the work,” Ali said.
While the locals appreciate the effort put into their community - projects for better water, electricity output and schools – they say that certain items are still difficult to get.
Haseena, a woman who runs a small produce stand, said fuel is one of the more important shortages. “We don’t have gas. We need gas to cook and fuel to use in cars. It’s very expensive and hard to get,” she said.
Despite limited supplies, the people said they were confident the Iraqi government will be able to supply their needs.
“If the American government helps our government, then our government will be able to support us,” Ali said.
A local vender sells live chickens at a market in Yusufiyah, just south of Baghdad on July 13.
Progress is happening in Iraq
The MSM NEVER EVER reports this kind of thing. They are enemies of this country.
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