By Maj. Dave Olson
1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Long lines of vehicles, Iraqi National Policemen conducting check point operations, and a caravan of donkeys hauling cargo, welcomed senior leaders from Multi-National Division – Baghdad as they observed key areas of the battlefield in southern Baghdad Dec. 20, 2008.
1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Long lines of vehicles, Iraqi National Policemen conducting check point operations, and a caravan of donkeys hauling cargo, welcomed senior leaders from Multi-National Division – Baghdad as they observed key areas of the battlefield in southern Baghdad Dec. 20, 2008.
Col. Ted Martin, commander, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and other senior leaders met Dr. Moayad Hamed in the Abu T’shir community to check on the security situation in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.
Martin, who hails from Jacksonville Beach, Fla., spot checked the policemen from 1st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, as they conducted check point operations along Market Street in Abu T’shir.
Lt. Col. Troy Smith, a Culpepper, Va., native, and commander of 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., met Martin and Moayad in Abu T’shir during the patrol. Smith’s unit is responsible for the security in Abu T’shir and is partnered with the Iraqi Security Forces that work in this southern Baghdad community.
Later during the patrol, Moayad showed Martin and Tom Lynch, the 1st BCT embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team leader, the progress of his vegetable market in the Karb De Gla area of the eastern Rashid district.
Moayad, a cardiologist and business owner from Doura, explained the progress of the construction of the vegetable market.
“I started construction of this project in December 2007,” he said.
The vegetable market is scheduled for completion this month, he added.
“There are 40 big units and 36 small units for vendors” to set-up their produce displays, he continued. The big units have a small office space built for the vendor’s use.
Lynch offered insights into some of the delays.
Moayad experienced several delays this year due to weather and the availability of building materials and labor, said Lynch, who hails from Fairfax, Va. Lynch served for 24 years with the U.S. Foreign Service.
Moayad also encountered delays in securing a building permit for his vegetable market, Lynch explained.
“There are zoning issues here, just like in the (United) States,” he added.
Maj. Kurt Geise, the intelligence officer for the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., explained the security situation in a separate briefing here later in the day.
About 18 months ago, Doura and Rashid experienced some of the worst sectarian violence in Iraq, with 928 attacks during May 2007, which is a daily average of 30 attacks, said Giese, whose hometown is Missoula, Mont.
During November 2008, the Rashid district experienced the lowest attack levels since the war began in 2003, with 24 attacks, which is a daily average of less than one attack per day, he continued. Attacks include small arms fire, indirect fire and roadside bomb events.
Moayad spoke about the importance of the progress in Doura and Rashid during the past 18 months.
Moayad spoke about the importance of the progress in Doura and Rashid during the past 18 months.
There are many positive changes happening due to the improved security in Doura and Rashid, Moayad said. Money is being invested in the marketplaces and life is returning to normal. People are rebuilding and returning to their homes.
Martin.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Col. Ted Martin, a Jacksonville Beach, Fla., native, and commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, chats with a local Iraqi citizen about the traffic situation in the Abu T'shir community of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad Dec. 20, 2008. Martin stopped to assist a motorist after a vehicle collision on Yomamah Road in Abu T'shir.
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Col. Ted Martin, a Jacksonville Beach, Fla., native, and commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, chats with a local Iraqi citizen about the traffic situation in the Abu T'shir community of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad Dec. 20, 2008. Martin stopped to assist a motorist after a vehicle collision on Yomamah Road in Abu T'shir.
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B)
