Posted on 09/22/2007 11:20:49 AM PDT by mdittmar
TAJI, Iraq - More than 1,200 Iraqi males from in and around Tarmiyah stood in line for hours to join Iraqi Security Forces, local sheiks and Coalition Forces in the fight against al-Qaeda and other insurgent militias in Tarmiyah Sept. 12.
Local sheiks and CF from 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment reached out to the Iraqi people, asking the citizens of the small town of Tarmiyah to volunteer to defend their homes and neighborhoods against the terrorist insurgency in their town.
This concept of the people standing against al-Qaeda and other insurgents has been dubbed an "awakening," or the mental realization that the terrorists offer nothing but fear and injustice.
"We really see now how this movement, this awakening movement, has really started to take off," said Lt. Col. William Prior, commander, 4-9th IN. "Just a flicker at first, it's turned into a full-fledged flame, not just here in Tarmiyah, but also in other parts of my area."
Iraq's people becoming self-sufficient in providing their own peace and security has been an ongoing strategy for 4-9 IN, said Prior.
"The awakening was the local tribal leadership and the local populace deciding that they were not going to let al-Qaeda operate in their area anymore," said Capt. Jason Pardee, 4-9 IN battle captain. "They took a vested interest in the security of their own city, working closely with Coalition Forces in Tarmiyah."
Some of the volunteers were previously members of the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police, but had stopped working after al-Qaeda moved into their city. Many will work as IA and IP again, and others will become part of the local security neighborhood watch.
Operations in Tarmiyah began Sept. 7 with Operation Headhunter when Company B and Company C of the 4-9 IN, along with Iraqi Army forces, moved in with the objective of clearing the city.
Tarmiyah was cleared by Sept. 9, after 21 objectives in and around the city were searched and cleared. Twenty eight people were detained and two improvised explosive devices were found and one detonated.
Pardee said the people of Tarmiyah were very standoffish when it came to interacting with CF in the area.
"They were cautious about giving us information and would only talk to us behind closed doors, usually only at night," said Pardee.
Pardee said within two days of Operation Headhunter, the locals opened up a little more and appeared to feel more comfortable again. The populace felt safer with the increased security presence.
“You say potato,and I say potato,let’s call it Victory!”;)
I seem to recall the President saying that the desire for freedom is the Almighty’s gift to all mankind. Many liberals and conservatives pooh-pooh’d such a notion. Could it be that GWB has been misunderestimated yet again? Could it be that this flame of freedom might spread throughout Iraq? Hmmm....
“1,200 Tarmiyah citizens vow to fight al-Qaeda”
If these Iraqis are ready to...
STAND AND FIGHT
to liberate/pacifiy their country with the assistance of the Coalition...
I’M ALL FOR THEM!
As contrasted to the CUT-AND-RUN Iraqis that (it makes me ill)
OUR PRESIDENT is now going to bring into the USA!!!
That’s just FREAKIN’ GREAT, Dubya!
Tell the Iraqis if the RUN FROM THE FIGHT FOR THEIR OWN COUNTRY...
They get in front of the line to become US legal residents, then US citizens.
Bush will boost flow of Iraqi refugees
Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau Sep. 23, 2007
RICHARD S. DUNHAM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1900633/posts
Dubya needs to issue an apology and $$$ to those American SUCKERS
that were in “for the duration” in order to save many European
countries from the Nazis.
Those WARRIORS didn’t just decide to sit out the war by “immigrating
to the USA”.
>stood in line for hours to join
I wish potential Iraqi security recruits would STOP STANDING IN LINES!
At least space them 10 feet apart in lines. That way they won’t be such tempting suicide bombing targets.
*hears crickets from the media*
It’s people like these brave Iraqis that make me disgusted with the RATs’ efforts to yank us out of Iraq. These brave people are sacrificing so much...and the RATs’ want us to just abandon them.
This is VICTORY, people. Do not think the Democrats do not know it, either.
They are TERRIFIED of what they face. They are going to be forced to fund Total Victory for GW Bush in Iraq. They are going to be forced to fund victory parades all next year of troops coming home.
They are going to be forced to fund their own destruction.
Excellent news.
Then there is the "delayed victory", the one Demorats fear most, when HISTORY makes it judgement on the actions of President G.W. Bush and his effect on progress in the ME.
No more free passes to the Green Zone.
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