Market Thriving, Economy Improving in Baghdad Neighborhood

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Spc. Elvyn Nieves

[SandRat]

Fayetteville, NC, native, 1st Lt. Larry Pitts from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, talks with a local vendor at the Fish Market in the Raabi neighborhood of Baghdad's Adhamiyah District. The paratroopers conduct a lot of patrols with the Iraqi Army and Police to show the local nationals they trust in the local security forces. Photo by Spc. Elvyn Nieves, 113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

BAGHDAD — Only seven months ago the Sugasimche (Fish Market) area in the Raabi neighborhood of the Adhamiyah district was filled with a violent, criminal element that struck fear into residents who didn’t feel safe to walk the streets.

But a change for the better occurred thanks to the persistent efforts of paratroopers from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, who have worked with local security forces to restore the market area, making it once again a center of commerce for residents throughout Adhamiyah.

“When we first got to the neighborhood months ago it was a dangerous place to go,” said Clemens, Ore., native, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Burpee. “We focused our efforts in the neighborhood and took out the insurgents living in the area. After that, we enticed people to come. We built and refurbished schools there and provided security through the Iraqi Security Volunteer program. Now safety is a reality in this neighborhood. If you come here during the day or night, you see a lot of people shopping.”

The paratroopers still conduct daily patrols with Iraqi Soldiers and Police to build relationships with residents. Since 319th Soldiers have already built a strong bond with citizens in Raabi, the more residents see Iraqi Security Forces walking the neighborhoods with paratroopers, the more trust they will have toward the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police.

Burpee said that what his team and their Iraqi counterparts are doing is setting an effective security plan in place so the local people can feel safe. He believes that security is the main reason more stores are open and more people in the neighborhoods are showing up to shop. They made the actual market more inviting to improve commerce.

“If we don’t keep businesses opened up, the economy is going to collapse, there’s going to be no money circulating,” said Burpee. “We just got to keep working with our counterparts the Iraqi Army and Police and get them to the level they need to be, so we can transition this place to them and the local nationals still feel safe and willing to shop.”

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.

[Son House]

“We just got to keep working with our counterparts, the Iraqi Army and Police and get them to the level they need to be

.
Loyal to America, Troops continue an honorable mission. While elected Democrats, like Reid and Pelosi, have no loyalty to the American Troops or their mission.

[MinorityRepublican]

At this rate, Iraq will be pacified by 2009.

[tomnbeverly]

Just in time for Hillary to claim that it was the voice of her and her Democrats that made this possible because if they had not pressured Bush into changing course in Iraq we would still be mired down in a quadmire...America voted for change blah blah...

Spinning Crystal Democrats and sadly many American sheep stare blankly and become enthralled....

[Allegra]

"...Now safety is a reality in this neighborhood. If you come here during the day or night, you see a lot of people shopping.”

Government officials are calling it "The New Iraq" now.

It is an amazing thing to behold. I can't describe the feeling here. I wish I could.

[SandRat]

but the LSM will never report it or acknowledge it.

[ArmstedFragg]

The whole key has been giving the people an example of what things could be like, so that they have something to make comparisons to. Every additional day they experience safety and security is another step toward giving them something they’ll fight to keep from losing. The start’s always slow on stuff like that, but when you finally hit ‘critical mass’ the rate of change is amazing. Not there yet, but looking good.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It’s looking very good!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A Great Photo....

[andy58-in-nh]

but the LSM will never report it or acknowledge it.

Nor will the Republicans, who have been cowed into fearful silence.

[Allegra]

What part of the country are you in?

I'm in central Baghdad and it has been very quiet for about three or more months now. I have friends in Ramadi and they say they haven't heard a peep in months.

I also meet regularly with Iraqi government officials and the things they say are incredibly hopeful now.

[Wiseghy]

Liberal press spin has begun, as in CBS radio commentary this morning (item #1.)

1. Victory, but with 1.2 trillion “wasted”; 2x Vietnam.

2. Criminal gangs will move into the vacuum.

3. High oil prices anyway.

4. Everyone hates us more now.

5. etc., etc. ad naseum.

[ArmstedFragg]

I’m watching it from the states. I just want to see that hopeful period continue long enough so that the people see it as the norm. Once that happens, they’ll never let anything take them back to what they had.