Posted on 12/14/2005 5:30:20 PM PST by SandRat
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (Nov. 28, 2005) -- Nearly three years ago, many soldiers from the former Iraqi military of Saddam Hussein’s era fought against coalition forces during the initial invasion of Iraq. Today, many of these same soldiers, now assigned with 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the reconstituted Iraqi Army, are taking on a new responsibility in re-establishing security in their native country, clearly witnessed in recent offensives near the Syrian border.
“I fought against the Americans when they invaded Iraq in the south,” said Pvt. Hussein Ali, 23, of Basra, Iraq, an infantryman carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher assigned to a quick reaction team with the Iraqi Army’s 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division. “I was forced to fight by [Saddam Hussein’s government], but no one forced me to fight insurgents.”
The 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, is regarded as one of the first standing units of the new military. Its ranks include troops who were not high ranking Ba’athist party members within the old army, but those with a good understanding in military tactics and weapons from their previous military experience.
The Iraqi soldiers come from varied and diverse backgrounds. Several of them, working alongside Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, with Regimental Combat Team 2 during recent combat operations, spoke with pride about Iraq’s ethnic and religious diversity within their ranks. The soldiers are mostly Arab Shia, Sunni Muslims and Kurds, but smaller groups of Turkomans, Assyrians, Chaldean Christians, Yezidis, and Sabaean Mandeans are represented as well.
Before Operation Steel Curtain took place near the Syrian border, the Iraqis had engaged insurgents in hotspots like Ar Ramadi, Mosul, Sadr City and in the battle of Fallujah late last year.
“The fight in Fallujah was incredible,” said Pvt. Fadhli Talal, 22, of Basra and an infantryman with the unit of the battle for control of the insurgent infested city. “We didn’t have all the weapons we needed [at the time], but despite that we were winning.”
During recent offensives through the towns of Husaybah, Karabilah, and Ubaydi on the lower Euphrates river valley, the native soldiers fought alongside U.S. Marines and Army soldiers in efforts to stem insurgent activity in the area.
“The Iraqi troops are motivated,” said 2nd Lt. Erik R. Sallee, 24, of Oklahoma City, and platoon commander for 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. “They are eager to get up towards our front [lines] and do their job clearing houses.”
Usually armed with a greater knowledge of the Arabic language and local customs than coalition troops, Iraqi soldiers played an invaluable role in house clearing missions, detaining dozens of suspected insurgents and searching for weapons and insurgents in culturally sensitive targets.
“When we come up to a mosque, we turn to the Iraqi’s for help because as Marines we’re not supposed to go into a mosque unless we had probable cause,” said Sgt. Charles W. Steck, 26, of San Antonio and squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Company E, who was also involved in Steel Curtain. “It’s a real benefit to have the Iraqis sent into the mosques to clear them.”
With continued support from Marines, soldiers and from others within the coalition forces, Iraq, and its native sons serving in their new military will continue taking on a greater security role for their own country.
“Iraqis are trying to take more control for their own security instead of relying on us,” said Steck. “It benefits both sides [for future operations] and it gives them greater confidence for themselves in assuming more responsibility.”
Ya Just Gotta Luv those Marines.
Well, if we had kept the proper English 'mid', along with the Norse 'with', we wouldn't have these problems.
Why is this sentnce so darned funny?
Why is this sentnce so darned funny?
Cause it's missing an "a"?
BTTT
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