Posted on 08/03/2008 5:19:25 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP VICTORY — Coalition forces once named the predominantly Sunni area in central Iraq, consisting of the cities of Yusuifiyah, Mahmudiyah, Iskandariyah and Latifiyah, the “Triangle of Death.”
The troop surge initiated in 2007 neutralized much of the area enabling Iraqi Security Forces to take a leading role in the securing the region. An uprising there in March raised concerns and directed attention to the Iraqi Security Forces operating in that area; Coalition forces feared the ISF would struggle to maintain rule of law in the communities.
“We got word that special group members were going to be coming down from Baghdad into Mahmudiyah, and planning on resupplying criminal groups in our area,” said Staff Sgt. Phillip McGrew, a Police Transition Team squad leader with the 65th Military Police Company.
McGrew conducts daily PTT operations at the Rasheed Local Police Station, the northern-most IP station in the Mahmudiyah District. During the uprising, the IP and MP platoon held their station and did not allow it to fall into enemy hands.
Meanwhile, Iraqi forces and U.S. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division hunted down special groups in the area and eliminated the threat on the stations.
“The most important part of this is that the IP knew their success,” said McGrew. “On the surface, the outside looking in, really not much happened, but the leadership at the station knew it was something they took great pride in.”
Now that the citizens of Mahmudiyah have seen the success of the IPs, they are focusing on not letting further criminal activities take place in their district.
“We are at a very critical time in Mahmudiyah. IP are starting to catch on to things and they are continuing down the right path,” said said Capt. Jessica Donckers, commander, 65th MP Co. Donckers, who oversees PTT operations in the entire Mahmudiyah District, added, “The Iraqi people are now taking ownership in the communities, and not allowing criminals to come back in.”
McGrew says IP leadership is the key to future success in the once volatile area.
“When the IP come in and put on that uniform, they see the leadership is not biased toward any tribe when the case work comes in,” said McGrew, who has been working with the Rasheed IP for eight months.
“One thing that is really working well in Mustafa, is that the whole Mahmudiyah community is coming together,” said McGrew. “IP, IA, different tribes and the Sons of Iraq are meeting on a regular basis to discuss issues in the area.”
The council meetings bring added cohesion to the Mustafa community.
“Now the IP are involved in the community,” said McGrew. “It’s awesome because if there are any issues out in the community the entire town brings it out in the open at the meetings. It makes it so that everyone in the community is on the same page and makes it so that everyone in the community is involved for the better good.”
I am on a Sunday ping.
Whoops. Sorry for the double trouble!
Oh for shizzle...you know you don’t ever have to apologize to me....
One can never have too many pings.
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