thedrifter
01-05-07, 11:20 AM
Local Marine commander supports Iraqi police as they secure area
Ventura County native stationed near Iraqi-Syria border
By Michael C. Cifuentes Special to the Acorn
The following is a guest column from a Marine corporal serving in the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, stationed at Al Qaim in Iraq's Al Anbar province. The battalion's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Scott C. Shuster, a Camarillo native, is a graduate of Adolfo Camarillo High School.
In the days following the execution of Iraq's dethroned president, Saddam Hussein, U.S. policymakers continue to search for a strategy to resolve the four-year-old war that has left more than 3,000 American military personnel dead.
The escalation in sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims has led to near civil war. Although Iraq's major cities- Fallujah and Baghdad- are still rife with bombings and attacks, military officials at the western edges of Al Anbar province report that U.S. forces are helping to restore order there.
The Al Qaim region- - a cluster of cities and towns along the Euphrates River just east of the Iraq-Syria border, is currently the "safest place" in Al Anbar province, according to the region's mayor.
Mayor Farhan T. Farhan made the comment during a meeting with Lt. Col. Scott C. Shuster, the top U.S. military commander in this northwestern section of Al Anbar province.
Farhan praised Col. Jamaal Shihab Muhammad, police chief of Al Qaim, as a key figure in making the region safe.
"Colonel Jamaal has a very good reputation in Al Qaim. He represents the safety of this region," said Farhan.
The Marines agree with Farhan, and attribute the increased security to the hard work and sufficient number of Iraqi police who work in the area.
Less than a year ago, there wasn't a single policeman patroling on foot in the western Euphrates River cities in the Al Qaim region. Now, nearly 1,400 uniformed, armed and trained police officers walk the beat, according to the Marines.
The opposition knows "that wellled, welltrained and wellequipped Iraqi police will defeat the insurgency," said Col. W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 7, the Marine Corps unit that operates over more than 30,000 square miles of western Anbar.
Long days and nights of patrols on foot and in Humvees have paid off for the Iraqi Security Forces and Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Calif.based Marines here, officers said. Coalition and Iraqi forces are capturing insurgents, discovering weapons caches and finding roadside bombs before they go off, crucial steps in making the region safe, according to the Marine Corps.
During the meeting with local leaders, Shuster commended Muhammad for leading police toward the success they've had in smothering insurgent activity and keeping the streets safe through daily patrols.
"They [Iraqi police] have been doing a great job [in Husaybah]," said Shuster, whose military unit is responsible for providing security and mentoring Iraqi soldiers and police in this region just east of the Iraq-Syria border. "They are happy to be among the people. They look like they belong."
Shuster said police are running patrols, conducting [vehicle] checkpoints and "rolling up bad guys" on their own.
"They're actually making a difference and steadily improving," he added.
The region is perhaps the top success story in western Anbar province, according to Marine commanders. More than a year ago, the region was a haven for insurgents. That's when U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive, killing or capturing nearly 250 insurgents during an operation dubbed "Steel Curtain."
Immediately afterward, the Marines established more than a dozen battle positions throughout the area in a "clear and hold" tactic. Once the bulk of the insurgents were out, the Marines established battle positions to maintain security.
Shortly thereafter, local men lined up by the dozens to join the newly-formed police forces.
"Al Qaim is full of people who are interested in living their lives in safety, security and hopefulness for their future," said Shuster.
The police force there started with 400 volunteers last year, leading to today's current force, according to Shuster.
By November, the number of fully-equipped and trained local Iraqi officers jumped to 1,400. The Iraqi police are now patrolling more on their own and relying less on U.S. forces, said Shuster.
"This is a sure sign of progress," said Shuster, who also reported to Farhan that the control of a tract of land in the Al Qaim region has been given to Iraqi police, and they are patrolling the area with "coalition overwatch."
However, Muhammad said, the Iraqi police have recently faced problems here- lack of supplies and paychecks.
"Everyone- the Marines, [Iraqi] army and police- - are doing a good job, but the men [police] will only be motivated until we get more supplies and paid," said Muhammad.
Despite pay shortages, lack of cold-weather uniforms and fuel for their vehicles, the Iraqi police continue to work hard day and night, said Muhammad.
Shuster said he believes the officers keep coming to work because they understand the newlyestablished government is 14 months old and working hard to provide stability for all police departments in Iraq.
Shuster recommended a meeting between Muhammad and Anbar's provincial police chief to discuss the needs of the Al Qaim police force.
Just as Shuster, Farhan and Muhammad had hoped, the problem was resolved Dec. 12 when Muhammad returned to Al Qaim from meeting with the provincial governor in Ar Ramadi. He brought paychecks for the police officers.
"We are working as hard as we can, and the Iraqi police are cooperating to the best of their ability," said Shuster.
As long as coalition forces and the Iraqi government work together, Iraqi Security Forces will be able to eventually operate independent of the coalition force's support, said Shuster.
The police are demonstrating their capabilities and "with confidence comes dependability," he added.
"I came to Iraq with modest expectations [of the Iraqi Security Forces here]," said Shuster. "I have been pleasantly surprised to see that the [Iraqi police] are more capable and more dedicated than what I expected."
Ellie
Ventura County native stationed near Iraqi-Syria border
By Michael C. Cifuentes Special to the Acorn
The following is a guest column from a Marine corporal serving in the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, stationed at Al Qaim in Iraq's Al Anbar province. The battalion's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Scott C. Shuster, a Camarillo native, is a graduate of Adolfo Camarillo High School.
In the days following the execution of Iraq's dethroned president, Saddam Hussein, U.S. policymakers continue to search for a strategy to resolve the four-year-old war that has left more than 3,000 American military personnel dead.
The escalation in sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims has led to near civil war. Although Iraq's major cities- Fallujah and Baghdad- are still rife with bombings and attacks, military officials at the western edges of Al Anbar province report that U.S. forces are helping to restore order there.
The Al Qaim region- - a cluster of cities and towns along the Euphrates River just east of the Iraq-Syria border, is currently the "safest place" in Al Anbar province, according to the region's mayor.
Mayor Farhan T. Farhan made the comment during a meeting with Lt. Col. Scott C. Shuster, the top U.S. military commander in this northwestern section of Al Anbar province.
Farhan praised Col. Jamaal Shihab Muhammad, police chief of Al Qaim, as a key figure in making the region safe.
"Colonel Jamaal has a very good reputation in Al Qaim. He represents the safety of this region," said Farhan.
The Marines agree with Farhan, and attribute the increased security to the hard work and sufficient number of Iraqi police who work in the area.
Less than a year ago, there wasn't a single policeman patroling on foot in the western Euphrates River cities in the Al Qaim region. Now, nearly 1,400 uniformed, armed and trained police officers walk the beat, according to the Marines.
The opposition knows "that wellled, welltrained and wellequipped Iraqi police will defeat the insurgency," said Col. W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 7, the Marine Corps unit that operates over more than 30,000 square miles of western Anbar.
Long days and nights of patrols on foot and in Humvees have paid off for the Iraqi Security Forces and Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Calif.based Marines here, officers said. Coalition and Iraqi forces are capturing insurgents, discovering weapons caches and finding roadside bombs before they go off, crucial steps in making the region safe, according to the Marine Corps.
During the meeting with local leaders, Shuster commended Muhammad for leading police toward the success they've had in smothering insurgent activity and keeping the streets safe through daily patrols.
"They [Iraqi police] have been doing a great job [in Husaybah]," said Shuster, whose military unit is responsible for providing security and mentoring Iraqi soldiers and police in this region just east of the Iraq-Syria border. "They are happy to be among the people. They look like they belong."
Shuster said police are running patrols, conducting [vehicle] checkpoints and "rolling up bad guys" on their own.
"They're actually making a difference and steadily improving," he added.
The region is perhaps the top success story in western Anbar province, according to Marine commanders. More than a year ago, the region was a haven for insurgents. That's when U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive, killing or capturing nearly 250 insurgents during an operation dubbed "Steel Curtain."
Immediately afterward, the Marines established more than a dozen battle positions throughout the area in a "clear and hold" tactic. Once the bulk of the insurgents were out, the Marines established battle positions to maintain security.
Shortly thereafter, local men lined up by the dozens to join the newly-formed police forces.
"Al Qaim is full of people who are interested in living their lives in safety, security and hopefulness for their future," said Shuster.
The police force there started with 400 volunteers last year, leading to today's current force, according to Shuster.
By November, the number of fully-equipped and trained local Iraqi officers jumped to 1,400. The Iraqi police are now patrolling more on their own and relying less on U.S. forces, said Shuster.
"This is a sure sign of progress," said Shuster, who also reported to Farhan that the control of a tract of land in the Al Qaim region has been given to Iraqi police, and they are patrolling the area with "coalition overwatch."
However, Muhammad said, the Iraqi police have recently faced problems here- lack of supplies and paychecks.
"Everyone- the Marines, [Iraqi] army and police- - are doing a good job, but the men [police] will only be motivated until we get more supplies and paid," said Muhammad.
Despite pay shortages, lack of cold-weather uniforms and fuel for their vehicles, the Iraqi police continue to work hard day and night, said Muhammad.
Shuster said he believes the officers keep coming to work because they understand the newlyestablished government is 14 months old and working hard to provide stability for all police departments in Iraq.
Shuster recommended a meeting between Muhammad and Anbar's provincial police chief to discuss the needs of the Al Qaim police force.
Just as Shuster, Farhan and Muhammad had hoped, the problem was resolved Dec. 12 when Muhammad returned to Al Qaim from meeting with the provincial governor in Ar Ramadi. He brought paychecks for the police officers.
"We are working as hard as we can, and the Iraqi police are cooperating to the best of their ability," said Shuster.
As long as coalition forces and the Iraqi government work together, Iraqi Security Forces will be able to eventually operate independent of the coalition force's support, said Shuster.
The police are demonstrating their capabilities and "with confidence comes dependability," he added.
"I came to Iraq with modest expectations [of the Iraqi Security Forces here]," said Shuster. "I have been pleasantly surprised to see that the [Iraqi police] are more capable and more dedicated than what I expected."
Ellie