Posted on 02/16/2008 2:07:23 PM PST by SandRat
QAHIRA — ‘Sons of Iraq’ (SoI) in the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Qahira play a large role in securing their backyard through local checkpoints. Lt. Col Michael Pemrick, a Greenwich, N.Y., native, who serves as deputy commander for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division — Baghdad, said these local forces are one of the key elements in the recent reduction of violence in the area.
SoI is a splinter group of the highly successful Concerned Local Citizens program rooted throughout Iraq. Program members have proven themselves invaluable to Coalition and Iraqi security forces, pointing out insurgents and weapon caches, and manning checkpoints.
“Without the Sons of Iraq, I think we would still have more [al-Qaeda in Iraq] and special groups’ activity,” said Pemrick. “There’d be more [improvised explosive devices]; there’d be more Coalition forces being attacked as well as local civilians being killed or hurt due to the activities of these [groups].”
Pemrick stopped to visit with several SoIs at their checkpoints in Qahira during a patrol, Feb. 14.
“The guys were alert,” he said. “They had weapons; they had ammunition; they understood what their purpose was.”
Pemrick also noted the protection level of the checkpoints as a marked improvement.
Mohamad Imad Shehab, a member of the neighborhood SoI working at one of the checkpoints there, appeared confident his efforts were helping his community.
“I do feel that I am contributing to the neighborhood,” Mohamad said through an interpreter. “I am doing my part to keep this place safe.”
While an effective force at present, ideally, the Sons of Iraq will be incorporated into and trained as official members of the Iraqi security forces.
“The idea is that these guys would eventually transition to become Iraqi policemen and work in the local communities where they are from to increase, not only the manpower of the Iraqi police, but also their local presence and credibility since it’ll be local men that are actually policing the communities,” Pemrick said.
Because of the experience he gains as a SoI member, and his prior experience in the Iraqi Army, Mohamad said he is hopeful to be accepted into one of the ISF programs.
Ultimately, the transition of the SoI into Iraqi police is the responsibility of the government of Iraq.
“The Iraqi police and the Iraqi government are the ones who are making this happen,” said Pemrick.
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