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| Iraq |
| Stryker Soldiers, Iraqi National Police improve Sadr City schools |
| 2007-11-07 |
| BAGHDAD – The students in Shala Mikla’s class were supposed to be learning about biology. Instead, they got a lesson in cooperation. That was what was on display when U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi National Police officers visited Mikla’s classroom at the Al-Andalus Girl’s School in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood to view recently completed renovations at the school Oct. 31. It's important for the residents of this neighborhood to see that not shooting Americans results in tangible benefits. This isn't much, but at least it's something. The renovations were part of a joint effort by the Ministry of Education, the local neighborhood councils, school officials, the Iraqi National Police and the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which operates in the Sadr City area of eastern Baghdad as part of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The students got to see that partnership in action as the Soldiers and police officers, led by Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ali Ibrahim Daboun, commander of the 8th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, and Lt. Col. Dan Barnett, commander of the 1-2 SCR, went from classroom to classroom to talk with the children and hand out free backpacks. “Gen. Ali is a great partner. We have a very strong relationship,” said Barnett, a Willard, Ohio native. That relationship has helped the National Police and the 1-2 SCR, whose home station is Vilseck, Germany, complete a project to improve nine schools in the Sadr City area. At the Al-Andalus school, the renovations included a new roof, a new gate, repairs to cracks in the pavement and stairs, and a paint-job, said Glen Allen, Va., native Capt. Alex Carter, a civil affairs team chief who helped oversee the project. All told, contractors put $200,000 worth of work into fixing up the school, Carter said. Let's hope at least 10% of it actually went toward fixing instead of towards corruption. The students in Mikla’s class showed their appreciation by giving Barnett a big “Thank you!” in English when he stopped by the classroom. “We are very grateful,” Mikla said. “For the children, every little bit helps.” |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #2 I missed that, gorb. Kind of confirms what I was afraid of. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-11-07 07:56 |
| #1 “For the children, every little bit helps.” $200,000 is a little bit? Looks like you've got the answer to your question buried in there somewhere, Glenmore. :-( |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-11-07 01:49 |