universalove’s Neighbors

Educating tomorrow’s leaders

nobody@vox.com(fearless1stmarines) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:04:25 -0700

Story by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones

RAMADI, Iraq– In most parts of the world a school house stands as a symbol—a symbol of education, of growth, of innocence.
But in al-Anbar Province, Iraq, school houses had been used early in the war as a domicile for malicious acts conducted by insurgents against Coalition forces, not for educating the future leaders of tomorrow.
In a November 2006 Washington Post article, Abdul Sattar Jawad, the former dean of the College of Arts at Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, wrote, “The mass (violence in the country) underscores the chilling fact that the most dangerous place in Iraq is not the mosque, the marketplace or the military checkpoint, but the classroom.”
In sharp contrast to Jawad’s dim description of the country, the region is now rebuilding. Restorations and reopening of schools are taking place daily in Iraq, with Ramadi seemingly leading the way.
The Industrial High School in Ramadi was the latest school to open in the city.
“It’s great that the city was able to get this school opened up,” said Khalid Abdul Salam, an assistant to the Director General of Schools. “The school is going to be a wonderful institution not only for the students, but for all of Ramadi. As the youth of the city continue to earn an education, they will assist the city and the province in making their country prosperous.”

The structure required heavy renovations as it was badly damaged during the war.
“The building was just a shell,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Eric Jett, a team leader with Civil Affairs Detachment 2, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1. “All of the bullet holes in the walls from the fighting were patched up along with several other refurbishments. The building required almost floor-to-ceiling reconstruction.”
The combined efforts of Civil Affairs Detachment 2, the International Relief and Development team and the Director General of Schools made the renovations possible.
The project was a high priority for the city as the school will serve as an institution for young males seeking to learn valuable trades. Educators there will teach the students construction and electrical work, along with a variety of other skills.
“Education is the key to any society’s advancement,” Jett said. “This school will allow young people from all across al-Anbar to come and learn a trade. It also has the added benefit of getting the young males off the streets and giving them something productive to do. This school will give them opportunity to become functioning members of society.”
The school opened just in time for the return of fall classes.
“School starts in September here so the timing was right on to prepare the students and staff for the new school season,” Jett said. “Also the security situation in the region is much safer now compared to previous years. This was a great opportunity to complete the project and get another school opened up in the city.”
According to Salam, the school’s faculty and students are thrilled about the reopening.
“Everyone I’ve talked to about this school has expressed tremendous excitement and enthusiasm,” he said. “The parents are excited about the new possibilities their children will have and the students are excited about their future and their increased chances to be successful.”

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Kicking a path to freedom

nobody@vox.com(fearless1stmarines) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:01:32 -0700

Story by Lance Cpl. Casey Jones

RAMADI, Iraq– Throughout modern history, sports have helped recovering regions come together.
One example came shortly after the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001. The attack devastated citizens of New York City, but the Yankee’s success the following year helped to brighten their spirits. That year, the baseball team won the National League pennant for the fourth consecutive season.
About a year after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi, the New Orleans Saints helped citizens take their minds off exhausting rebuilding efforts and relax for a few hours each Sunday during football season. The team broke several franchise records that year, seemingly carrying the entire region on its back, and went to play in the National Football Conference championship game for the first time in its 41-year history.
Communities seem to heal faster when sports are involved.
When 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and Ramadi’s leaders decided to hold a five-day soccer tournament at the city’s newly renovated Mulaab Soccer Stadium, they hoped the event would have the same effect.
The Ramadi Soccer Tournament involved 10 teams from neighborhoods across the city, and was composed of two single elimination-style games played each night until a winner was determined.
“Soccer truly is a world sport,” said Lt. Col. Brett A. Bourne, the battalion commander for 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. “It doesn’t cost money to play; you just need a ball and a field. All of the children in this region can come to this stadium and play a game.”
Col. Hattim Hamid, the Mulaab station Iraqi Police chief, said the citizens of Ramadi were excited about the renovations and the ensuing tournament.
“Hundreds of Ramadi citizens have told me they would dream of seeing the stadium return to its past glory and to be able to play soccer there again,” Hattim said. “They thought that dream would never come true. But, with the help of 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, and other Coalition forces throughout the years, the stadium was rebuilt and their dreams have been fulfilled.”
Extensive renovations went into rebuilding the soccer stadium after intense combat between Coalition forces and insurgents over the last five years left it in ruins. The stadium’s seats, walls and even the grass were destroyed.
The fighting in the city had also torn its citizens apart, forcing them to choose sides and do whatever it took to stay alive. Insurgents had been successful in dividing the city, but the tournament was the perfect way for everyone to reconnect and put aside their differences.
“(The insurgents) made it so that the north couldn’t be with the south and so on, but now with the aid of this tournament the city has come back together,” Hattim said.
Soccer is a very popular sport in the city of more than 500,000 people. The Marines and city officials hope the revitalized stadium will give citizens here, especially the children, a constructive and peaceful pastime.
“This stadium will give the children an alternative to being on the streets,” Bourne said. “It will give the students somewhere positive to channel their energy.”
Events like this are taking place more and more throughout Iraq as it becomes increasingly safer. Iraqi Police took the lead on providing security during the tournament, while 1st Battalion, 9th Marines were on hand as advisors.
“The Iraqi Police did a great job posting security for the tournament,” said 1st Lt. Patrick J. Skehan, the platoon commander for 81mm Mortars Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. “The Iraqi Police have learned that with every new (Marine) battalion that comes to the city, the expectations for the police will increase. I think they’ve met those expectations.”
Thanks to increased security across the city, leaving little chance for an attack during the tournament, the IPs focused their efforts on controlling the crowd.
On the first night of the event, attendance was estimated at about 350 people. The total increased nearly two-fold each night thereafter.
“The turnout was different than expected,” Bourne said. “At first it was mostly Iraqi Police in attendance, but every day the crowd has almost doubled. On the last day, the (stadium) was filled with families and people young and old, male and female.”
Several Marines sat with the locals and watched the competition just as any other fan. A few of the Marines said the event gave them a feel of home.
“The tournament had a couple of concession stands open and a few local vendors sold popsicles and other treats in the stands,” Bourne said. “It was much like a sporting event you would go to in the United States.”
The Marines at the event received a great response from the locals, who would often approach them to say thanks for helping put together the tournament and refurbish their city’s iconic landmark.
“I can’t find a strong enough word to show our thanks for what the Marines have done for not only the Iraqi Police, but all of the citizens of Ramadi,” Hattim said.
After five days of competition, a team from South Ramadi clinched the tournament title. They received trophies, but quickly refocused after accepting a challenge by the Marines to play them in a 60 minute exhibition match.
The Marines were widely viewed by those in attendance as the underdog. As expected, the Iraqi Police won the game in a shut-out with the final score 2-0. But Hattim said the score was irrelevant, as the game had a more momentous, symbolic meaning.
“The game was entertaining but it really didn’t matter who was victorious,” Hattim said. “The only thing that mattered was that the Marines and Iraqi Police came together as brothers and the city of Ramadi came together as one.”

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Update on Lt Col Chessani Case

nobody@vox.com(Humbled Infidel) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:18:48 -0700

Thomas More Law Center Answers Prosecutor’s Appeal in LtCol Chessani Case

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, yesterday filed its answer brief in response to the prosecution’s appeal of the Military Judge’s ruling, dismissing the case against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, USMC based on unlawful command influence.

In its brief, the Law Center responded to the prosecution’s arguments, noting, “Unlawful command influence is ‘the mortal enemy of military justice.’ It is the acid that erodes an accused’s right to receive a fair trial and the public’s confidence in the fairness of the system. The nature of the military makes its system of justice extremely vulnerable to improper influences and pressures; influences and pressures that are systemic in a military command environment.” The Law Center urged the appellate court to affirm the Military Judge’s ruling. [Read the Law Center’s Answer Brief Here]

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Law Center, commented, “This is an important case not only for LtCol Chessani, but for military commanders whose battlefield decisions should not be second-guessed by lawyers and for the military justice system as a whole. Indeed, the Haditha cases have caused a noticeable erosion of public confidence in our military system of justice. Affirming the Military Judge’s ruling will go a long way to restoring the public perception of fairness in the military courts.”

The appeal will be heard by a three-judge panel of the Navy and Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA), consisting of active duty Navy and Marine officers, sitting in Washington, D.C..

Given the importance of the legal issue involved and the intense public interest in the outcome of this case, the Law Center has also requested oral argument. If granted, the panel will likely hear arguments in early part of October 2008. It is anticipated that it will take approximately 4 to 6 months for NMCCA to render a decision.

If either side loses the appeal, they can request that the case be heard by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF), the highest court in the military justice system, consisting of five civilian judges.

Even if prosecutors lose in all the appellate courts, they can re-file the charges against LtCol Chessani.

LtCol Chessani has been under investigation and prosecution since March 2006 for his role as the battalion commander of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during the November 19, 2005 battle of Haditha. On June 17, 2008, the Military Judge dismissed all charges against LtCol Chessani, resulting in this current appeal by the prosecutors.

If you would like to contribute to the LtCol Chessani Defense Fund, please click here.

The Thomas More Law Center fights in our courts to preserve America’s Christian heritage and moral values. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

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In the Words of an Iraqi National Policeman

nobody@vox.com(Humbled Infidel) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:27:01 -0700

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Crossposted from Soldiers Home H/T to Mudville Gazette
Written by David Botti a US Marine

Ali Mahdi. Photo: David Botti

National Police commander Ali Mahdi leads a platoon of his men partnered with American soldiers from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. The two groups of men live at a spartan police headquarters in the Beladiat section of Baghdad, an area that borders Sadr City to the east. Before the Americans came to Iraq, Mahdi was a special forces soldier in Saddam Hussein’s army. After the regime fell, Mahdi joined Iraq’s National Police in 2005 and has worked with American forces ever since. I spoke last week with Mahdi through the aid of an interpreter.

Are there still militia members in the National Police?

A little bit, yes. Not just in the National Police, but in the Iraqi Army too. Iraq is many things: Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish, and Christian. Everyone sticks together and looks out for themselves. The National Police and Iraqi Army are involved in all of the big operations in Iraq, so everyone knows the Iraqi intelligence agencies are watching them. If I'm working for the National Police, and I'm a terrorist, I know these agencies are watching me. So, I quit and go home.

I'm going to give you an example to help you understand: you are militia, I am militia, and he is militia. [Mahdi points to our translator] Two of us are arrested for being in the militia and you stay free—and, nobody knows about you. Iran is supporting you with guns, money, everything. Iran supports the militia too. When you know we've been arrested do you stay in the same place, or do you leave?

You'd leave because we'd tell the police about you and all of these things. Maybe I am [militia] in Sadr City. There the neighbors know I am in the militia. They'd make a call from the tip card the Americans give out and turn me in. So, instead I would move from Sadr City to another neighborhood where no one would know me.

There is militia, there's still a lot of terrorists, bombs, and everything. They're hiding now because they know that the Americans, the National Police, and the Iraqi Army are all looking for them.

Maybe in the future the Americans, together with the National Police, will arrest all of those sons of ***.

How well do you find yourself working with the American soldiers you’re partnered with?

I have 22 National Police [under my command]. We have a bond with the Americans that is sealed with blood. The American soldiers do the right thing. The American soldiers freed us from Saddam. The American soldiers want to free us from the militias that come from Iran. We'll all take this same right road together, and never go back.

The American soldiers come from very far away to give us security, and make [the Iraqis] happy people. So I'm going to give them my soul for that. The Americans leave their children and their wives to make my country secure. I will give my soul to you [as an American]. If someone tried to kill you, I'd be the first one to stand up and protect you.

If National Police and American soldiers are walking together and one of them is injured or killed, it will be a national policeman. Why? Because this is my country.

I want you to give a message for all of the families, and all of the Americans: the National Police are with the Americans together on one road for the freedom of Iraq.

If the National Police are doing something the wrong way, the Americans soldiers tell them how to do it the correct way. The Americans show them how to be on the correct path.

Will there be a time when you won't need the Americans here anymore?

We don't want the American soldiers to leave right now. Not until Iraq has all new buildings, new technology, new cars—until it's rebuilt. Then we'd tell the Americans to go home, and civilians like you can walk in the streets [of Iraq].

In the future we want it so that the American soldiers don't need body armor, or helmets, or humvees. They can throw the gun away and we can walk together in the street—have fun and have beer.

I don't want them to leave Iraq like it is now, it would break my heart.
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Liberty Pen Video: Obama on the Issues

nobody@vox.com(Humbled Infidel) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:26:23 -0700

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Made and Posted on Youtube by LibertyPen

Where Barack Obama stands on domestic surveillance, taxes, withdrawl from Iraq,
the surge, health care, energy policy and more.

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Marine Corps’ top enlisted visits Marines on Camp Baharia

nobody@vox.com(fearless1stmarines) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:26:45 -0700

Story By Pfc. Jerry Murphy

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CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq– With the hot Iraq weather sweltering down on an assembly of Marines gathered on Camp Baharia, Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent delivered a riveting speech about subjects ranging from progress Marines are making in Iraq and Afghanistan to the Marine Corps’ new physical training uniforms.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment; 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines; and 3rd Bn., 6th Marines, all elements of Regimental Combat Team 1, listened attentively as the Kent congratulated them on the job they have done during their current and previous tours in Iraq.

“As we were riding up, there were kids standing out there by the checkpoint waving at the Marines,” Kent said. “You would never have seen that back in 2004 and 2005, and even part of 2006; those kids would have turned their heads back then. Because of the job you all have done out here, that is possible today.”

The Marines enjoyed Kent’s visit, and remarked about him taking time out of his life to address issues concerning the future of the Marine Corps.

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“He came out here to check up on our well-being,” said Sgt. Phil A. Oblak, the company radio operator for Weapons Company, 1st Bn., 3rd Marines. “It really shows us, first hand, that he cares.”

“You know, it means a lot that he’s out here,” said Sgt. Scott Patterson, a section leader with Wpns. Co., 3rd Bn., 6th Marines. “Most of the stuff that he talked about answered questions that Marines had going into the meeting. It took a lot of stuff off people’s minds, which is important, especially out here. He really drilled home the fact that the Marine Corps isn’t (pulling out of Iraq) anytime soon.”

Kent said he is proud of each and every Marine serving here and is proud to be serving next to them in the Marine Corps.

“You all will continue to live the Marines Corps’ legacy and we are extremely proud of what you are doing,” he said. “When I retire in a couple of years, I’m going to retire knowing that the Marine Corps is in good shape for many years to come because of Marines like you. I will tell you all that in my more than 30 years as a Marine, the Marine Corps has never been in better shape than it is right now.”

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A few days prior to his stop in Iraq, the Kent and Commandant of theMarine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, visited with Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 2nd Bn., 7th Marines in Afghanistan.

Kent said he was astonished by the Marines’ morale given their living conditions, and compared their dedication to Marines serving here.

“The Marines were ankle deep in dust, sitting on (Meals Ready to Eat) boxes,” he said. “One platoon is separated by about 60 clicks from their company headquarters, but when the Commandant and I talked to them, they were all happy as hell, just like you.”

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CMC visits Camp Fallujah; speaks about progress

nobody@vox.com(fearless1stmarines) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:22:24 -0700

Story by Cpl. Chris T. Mann

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CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq-General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, visited service members and toured the local battlefield shared by Marine units of Regimental Combat Team 1 Aug. 16.

During his visit, the Commandant spoke with Col. Lewis A. Craparotta, commanding officer, RCT-1, and surveyed progress service members are making in Fallujah and the surrounding regions.

“I don’t think anyone would have predicted that the al-Anbar Province would become a model for elsewhere in the nation,” said Conway, during atown hall meeting aboard the camp.

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In the morning, Conway and Craparotta convoyed with a group of Marines from Camp Fallujah to Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, where he met with several commanders and other staff to discuss joint efforts between service members and Iraqi Police and Army.

Afterwards, they had lunch with members of the Iraqi Army and spoke with several of their senior leadership officials about security throughout the region.

Following the meeting with IA officials, Conway returned to Camp Fallujah for a town hall meeting at the Chapel of Hope. Marines and other service members aboard Camp Fallujah packed tightly into the chapel to listen to what he and Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, had to say.

The Commandant delivered a message to Marines and other service members about developments in the region.

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“What you have today is a very likeable condition in the al-Anbar Province, and again, that is good remarks for the rest of Iraq,” he said.

Conway also spoke to the crowd about repeated deployments to combat environments Marines are currently facing today. He said he is pushing for longer periods of time for Marines to stay in the United States before deploying again to places like Iraq or Afghanistan.

After Conway and Kent addressed the service members, they opened the floor for questions.

Marines in the crowd took the opportunity to inquire about numerous issues ranging from the new Marine Corps physical training uniform and the Combat Fitness Test, to how November’s presidential election result might effect future deployments.

Conway closed by thanking the service members for their continued efforts and service in Iraq, and reminded those present remain vigilant and stay alert.

“This is still a dangerous place; you are still drawing combat pay,” said Conway. “You can still get killed out here if you don’t go about your business in a serious fashion on a day-to-day basis.”

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Test Chat Box

nobody@vox.com(Humbled Infidel) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:24:49 -0700

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Security Platoon Blog

nobody@vox.com(fearless1stmarines) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:21:56 -0700

Blog by Pfc. Jerry Murphy

When I attached to Regimental Combat Team 1 at the beginning of this month from 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, I wasn’t sure exactly what I would be doing while I waited to go on R&R leave at the end of the month.

A couple days into my time here, my officer-in-charge told me that I would be spending the next couple of weeks with RCT-1’s Security Platoon, video taping the Marines’ every move to include everything from conducting missions “outside the wire” to sitting around laughing and passing the time.

At first, I was a little tense about the assignment. I wasn’t sure how I would be treated as an “outsider” coming in with a video camera for just a couple weeks then leaving, not to mention the video I was to shoot would be put packaged as a documentary and released for the world to see.

So as I prepared for our first meeting, I kind of felt like a kid nearing his first day of school. But I tried to remain optimistic because you just never know how things are going to turn out.

When I arrived at their doorstep it seemed as if in the blink of an eye I was one of them, laughing and joking like I had known them for months. Several of the Marines had grasped the whole video concept pretty quickly, and begged me for time on film.

Out of the platoon of about 25 Marines, I have interviewed and spoken to guys from Texas (considering more than half of the Marine Corps seems to be from Texas, that was no surprise), Illinois, California, Florida, Oklahoma and several other places in the U.S. All of them have had very interesting stories to tell. They talked about their hometown, their families and friends, their jobs in the Marine Corps, previous deployments and what they do while on leave.

I found that some of the most interesting conversations came from Marines who, as infantrymen, served during the initial pushes into Iraq and Afghanistan. They had very intriguing stories about their experiences during the early stages of the war.

All Marines have a story to tell, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to spend this time with these Marines, talking to them and allowing them to tell their story in more of an informal state.

In the video documentary I am packaging, I follow the Marines as they conduct convoy missions to the Habbaniyah Tourist Village, into the city of Fallujah and a trip to eat dinner with a local sheikh. The video will also include candid interviews with the Marines as they sit around and joke with one another, a tour of a “can” that the Marines aboard Camp Fallujah reside in and footage of a few of the Marines playing poker to pass the time.

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Back To Iraq - David Bellavia Reports From Diyala Surge

nobody@vox.com(Humbled Infidel) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:07:53 -0700

Cross posted from Vets For Freedom

8/8/2008 5:18:53 PM
Diyala Surge

Baquba, Iraq — Four years ago I was a soldier in the Army’s storied First Infantry Division. Today, I am back standing on that same sun-scorched earth, looking up at the clear Diyala sky. I can once again smell that distinct Diyala fragrance — familiar but never desired — of burning leaves, stale bread, and sewer gas. Blindfolded, I’d know where I was. I battled with every ounce of my spirit on this terrain four years ago, and once you’ve been in that situation, there are few details you forget. But were it not for the familiar odor, I wouldn’t believe I was back.

Iraq’s restive Diyala province was the backwash of the war from 2004 to 2005. Today, it grabs headlines with operations like Arrowhead Ripper and Omens of Prosperity. In June of 2006, Baghdad’s al-Qaeda leader and Osama bin Laden disciple Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike a few kilometers from where I stand. Zarqawi had come to this region to shake American forces off his trail.

Then, Diyala was a microcosm of the troubles of Iraq. Three competing factions — Sunni, Kurd, and Shia — make Diyala one of the most complicated areas to understand to this day. The Sunni here are still reaping what they sowed when they foolishly walked away from the national elections of 2005. It has taken three years for them to begin to work with the provincial government — which is Shia-led, despite the fact that 85 percent of the population here is Sunni. In 2004, Iraqis in this area still had their eyes fixed on the atrocities of an ousted dictator and were hostile to unwanted Western influence.

Those days are over. Although some in Diyala are slow to recognize the new Iraq, they have largely stopped trying to kill it.

I walk through Forward Operating Base (FOB) “Warhorse” located just outside Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala tucked away northeast of Baghdad. I see theatres named after my beloved Command Sergeant Major Steven Faulkenberg, who was killed in action in 2004. Fitness centers are named after fallen comrades. Streets honoring sacrifice and valor. The group securing Diyala today have never met these men. Personally, they know nothing about these men, or why exactly their names are memorialized.

Yet I am touched beyond words that they use these names in daily rotation. They are no longer just American soldiers. They are icons and landmarks. They are as they should be: eternal.

In a few weeks, I’ll return to the comforts and tranquil peace of home — my plane ticket is already booked. But while my present accommodations are fairly Spartan, I don’t really feel like I’m in a war zone. Yesterday, as I slept in my tin can here at Warhorse, I couldn’t help but think how eerily quiet my surroundings were. It was like Kuwait, only with more Americans.

In 2004, my Task Force used to call FOB Warhorse “MortarHorse,” due to the constant and deadly-accurate artillery fire the enemy would lob in from the many dense palm groves outside the wire. A week wouldn’t go without the Infantry gossip mill churning out a story of one of ours losing life or limb while doing little things like laundry or taking a shower. Even though I lived further out at FOB “Normandy,” I always knew Warhorse to be one thing: a target.

Recently, things have changed. Perhaps it is because one artillery unit fired 11,000 155mm rounds in response to a few mortars a few months back. Like a wrench to a leaky faucet, the continuous incoming from the enemy was shut down. Occasionally, an insurgent is brave or ignorant enough to fire a lone ill-aimed round into FOB Warhorse. This does not happen tonight and the word on the street is that it hasn’t happened in months.

A region carpeted with lush vegetation, known by locals for years as the Breadbasket of Iraq, Diyala is great for farming and even better for terrorists to hide from American soldiers. Diyala is the northern corridor from Sadr City leading out of Baghdad and shares a border with Iran. For this reason, the area has been targeted by coalition forces in recent months. The deep palm groves of the Diyala Breadbasket soak up heat and create an incubated environment that is 20 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. I have had many soldiers receive saline intravenous drips after palm-grove firefights. Not fun. The sultry heat makes the task of hunting and killing terrorists all the more wearying.

As in most of Iraq today, the massive reduction in violence and attacks on American forces is jaw-dropping — but fragile. The Iraqi people I meet today outside the wire are understandably leery. Hopeful for the promise of peace and stability from their Shia-led government, but wary of the ever-present danger that a desperate enemy presents.

For example, Diyala province has seen a dramatic increase in female suicide bombers. The culture of Islam makes male searches of females taboo. Al-Qaeda in Iraq has exploited this and across the country the incidence of female suicide bombers has grown. Diyala province has seen the nastiest losses from this new tactic.

To counter this, local Iraqi police have recruited 28 women who are now training to join the Baquba police department, and some 130 women are set to join the Diyala chapter of the “Daughters of Iraq” — an organization with hopes to achieve success similar to that of the “Sons of Iraq.” The 110,000-strong Sons of Iraq has played a major role in keeping Iranian-backed militias and al-Qaeda foreign terrorists out of neighborhoods previously cleared by Americans throughout the country. Soon in places like Buhritz (known to be the Fallujah of Diyala) and Muqdadiyah (my old area of operation), Sons of Iraq will be placed together with Iraqi Army and Police forces at checkpoints. The Daughters of Iraq will undoubtedly be similarly deployed. Just yesterday, three women were arrested in Diyala for planning to blow themselves up there.

Diyala is benefiting from the success of the surge, as is the majority of Iraq today. The obvious improvements here are promising, but the fight against al-Qaeda and its Islamist sympathizers isn’t over. Tonight we will go out and see how much the Iraqi army is actually doing on the ground and how the local population feels about their military, the enemy, and the American presence in Iraq.

— David Bellavia is co-founder of Vets for Freedom and author of House to House: A Soldier’s Memoir.

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