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| Iraq |
| Sayafiyah celebrates change {B. O. campaigns in Iraq?} |
| 2008-05-22 |
| FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – After nearly three months of reconstruction, Sayafiyah residents celebrated the simultaneous openings of the Sayafiyah Governance Center, Veterinary Clinic and Health Clinic May 20. Like the buildings, the community itself had been in dire straits. Once a safe haven for al-Qaeda in Iraq, the community was held in bondage out of fear, said Lt. Col. R.J. Lillibridge, 1-187th Inf. Regt. commander. The tide turned {change} for the better with the arrival of the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in January. With the support of this unit, the beginnings of a Sons of Iraq program took shape. When the 1-187th Inf. Regt. first arrived, Capt. Johnson said his unit began to strengthen the recently-risen SoI program and assess the area’s needs. Those needs, in addition to the health and vet clinic, included restoring two water pump stations, two water treatment plants and two schools, he said. But most importantly was the need to establish a government structure in the area. Achieving this required the creation of a city council and linking them with higher government organizations, he said. Currently, Sayafiyah has an 11-member city council, with the council head reporting to the Rasheed Nahia council. From there, concerns are sent to the Mahmudiyah Qada and finally to the central government, Lillibridge said. The work has begun to pay off, and the yield is shown by recent Government of Iraq involvement. The GoI rural service committee chairman, Mr. Mashadanni, has visited the area, as well as members of the Ministry of Education, Lillibridge said. Besides instilling confidence in the people about their government, these commitments pave the way for considerable relief to American taxpayer involvement. Originally, projects such as the building of the health clinic, vet clinic and governance center were funded by Commander’s Emergency Relief Program funds, Lillibridge said. More than $3 million was invested into the area. Now that Sayafiyah has a voice in the GoI, Iraqi money is starting to make its way into the rural agriculture-based society. The Sayafiyah Council has already requested funds to restore seven additional area schools. With the GoI finally making an investment into the area, it now works to protect that investment. Because none of the day’s events or other improvements could have happened without security established, GoI officials are sending troops into the area to help maintain security goals and keep al-Qaeda out. |
| Posted by:Glenmore |