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Posted on 09/07/2007 4:22:38 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Sheiks and other influential men of the western Rashid District met at Forward Operating Base Falcon Sept. 3 to discuss the best way toward peace.
“This is the first time since the fall of Saddam that Jayesh Al-Mahdi (JAM), Coalition forces, Sunni leaders and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) commanders have come together to talk of their differences,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Frank, 1st “Black Lions” Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, commander and host of the meeting.
“Black Lions are proud of our ISF partners and work hard with the National Police, 1-1 and 1-3 Mech., and our Iraqi Army counterparts work with all three to provide excellent security to West Rashid,” he said to the group of prominent Sunni and Shiite Iraqis.
During the meeting, Frank talked about JAM’s beginnings and how it was created to protect the Shiite population from al-Qaida. He also added that if the fighters linked to the organization followed Moqtada Al-Sadr’s call for a six-month cease-fire, the district would be better for the peace-loving citizens.
“We must wrestle with the issues facing West Rashid,” the Cuba, N.Y., native said adding that the Black Lion area of operations contains almost a third of a million people. “A large part of the population of Baghdad falls within the leadership of the people in this room.”
Frank told the group that $23 million has been spent to help West Rashid, but more would come only if the violence in the area ceased.
The chairman of the Rashid District Advisory Council also was in attendance, telling the assembled leaders that they must look to Iraq’s future.
“I am proud to be here, but we cannot build this country if we are fighting. Sheiks, imams and National Police have to come together to build this country,” said Sabeeh Al Ka’abi. “We must be determined to go forward. Iraqis have a lot of courage and all must support (efforts to reconcile). Let’s forget about Sunni and (Shiite), let’s think about Iraq.”
The chairman of the Furat Neighborhood Advisory Council agreed.
“We must step forward as one man,” Ahmed Abu Mustafa said toward the end of the meeting. “Let’s go forward.”
FR WAR NEWS! “Let’s forget about Sunni and (Shiite), let’s think about Iraq.””
Sounds good - as long as it isn’t a ruse to come together against us.
More bad news for Democrats on Capital Hill. What’s this world coming to?
They are deeply saddened!
Ping.
More excellent news.
In case you miss this one. A quite positive sign by all indications.
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