Posted on 05/20/2008 1:00:05 AM PDT by USMCWriter
RAMADI, IRAQ (May 17, 2008) – Step after step, combat boots hit the pavement. It’s been a few hours for the Marine squad walking the Ramadi streets. Fatigued yet steady, the young men push forward on their routine foot patrol despite the mid-day desert heat; each squad member maintaining a constant alertness with eyes scanning the environment in every direction. The squad leader passes by a familiar face; a local vender who he sees almost every day. Instantly, the look of exhaustion washes away, and a smile is brought to his face. Lifting his hand, he warmly greets the vender with, “Al salaam a’alaykum.”
Every day, Marine infantrymen like those with Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, patrol neighborhoods and actively engage the community of al-Anbar Province. But the Marines are not alone on these patrols; they are walking side-by-side with Iraqi policemen, mentoring and providing guidance as they take responsibility for the safety of their own community.
According to Lance Cpl. Jonathan R. Chapman, rifleman with Company A, the Iraqi police are doing a remarkable job in the lead role.
“The Iraqi Police are doing very well,” Chapman said. “They are excellent policemen. They’re all very tactically sound.”
The Iraqi Police have taken giant steps over the past year in becoming more independent. This can mostly be attributed to the “al-Anbar Awakening” where tribal leaders supported the Coalition forces’ efforts, and took a stand against al-Qaeda in Iraq last year. Sheiks throughout the province encouraged tribal members to join the Iraqi Police ranks and protect their streets, resulting in Ramadi’s Iraqi Police recruitment to sky-rocket. Today, they are more than 9,000 Iraqi police serving in the province capital.
“The Iraqi policemen lead the patrols since we’re in an advisory, we just guide and assist them,” said 2nd Lt. Derek J. Herrera, a platoon commander with Company A. “Either their sergeant or lieutenant lead the patrols.”
Units throughout the city routinely conduct daily joint patrols, focusing on the community’s safety and the citizens concerns; a stark contrast from the kinetic activity and violence a year ago.
“We try to do joint patrols as often as we can, usually every day,” Herrera said; a different circumstance compared to past units in the city. “I’ve heard from friends and other cohorts, you couldn’t go on patrol in Ta’meem for more than five to 10 minutes without receiving fire. The way the Iraqi policemen describe it, Ta’meem used to be at the forefront of the insurgency. It was once referred to as “ambush alley.”
Today shows a more peaceful environment, where Iraqis and Marines patrol the neighborhoods, and receive positive response from the citizens.
“The locals are very friendly towards coalition forces and the (policemen) as well,” Herrera said. “They really appreciate what we do. We’ve never really had a negative reaction from anyone in Ta’meem. The kids run to us and beg for chocolate and the adults really appreciate our help.”
With the positive changes in the Ta’meem area and the progressive steps made by the Iraqi police officers, the station, like many others, is looking towards taking community safety to the next level and bring the city of Ramadi closer to a state of normalcy.
“Our push now, is to make it more police oriented,” Herrera said. “Instead of having ten policemen walk down the street, now we’re trying to make it about only two. That way they can just sit on the corner, talk to the people, and walk the beat around the same block all day. We’re not quite there yet, but that’s the next push.”
Thanks! See, this is what we hear when we talk to friends who come back from a tour or when we stop a troop to THANK them for their service and ask them about how things are going over there.
Thanks for pointing out what the MSM will NOT tell us!
Thanks for your service too! (I’m assuming you’re serving by your handle.) Keep em’ coming!
God Bless!
FRegards VH&W
Showed my nephew this web site and explained to him the real happenings from the Troops level, he was amazed at how much was actually being done compared to how the Main Steam News(Democrat Supporters) portrayed Iraq.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=1&id=4&Itemid=21
Thought those of you who’ve supported the troops might like to read this one :o)
Ping to our troop supporters. Good news post :o)
Impossible. Pelosi and the Dems et al have pronounced the “surge” a failure.
excellent report - well written - greatly appreciated here.
Thank you - and to all who serve in our military - and to President Bush.
I want to know about the electrical system - plumbing - etc. Are these basic “infrastructure” systems up and working in most of Iraq now - or not?
(Keep hearing from my antiwar acquaintances that the infrastructure - electricity, running water - is still lacking in most of Iraq - because of the “war”)....would like to know the facts.
God bless!
Good job, Marines!
We have the best military that has ever been. The world has never seen anything like them.
We are grateful beyond words.
THANKS for the ping!! What a GREAT story!!
More news ABDNC will censor about their Vietnam.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Nice to read info like this that gets by our enemies in the press.
Slowly, the truth outs. Coincidentally, NPR had a relatively positive piece this morning. If those libs report it, it must be of consequence. BTW, welcome to FreeRepublic...
Very good news, indeed! Thanks, VHandW.
God bless our military and the GREAT job they are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan!
Thanks, USMCWriter. For this encouraging post and for your service.
God bless all who serve past & present!
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