Iraq
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR – U.S. military and Iraqi Police leaders here recently met to discuss the safety and security of the Iraqi people during the upcoming Iraqi national elections in March.
Col. Larry Swift, commander, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and his command sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. James Daniels, met with Col. Adnan Hameed Saala, chief of the Adallah Iraqi Police Station.
"When I first came to the area five years ago, there were many cells; Adallah was a terrorist haven," said Saala. "But through hard work from the IP, with assistance from the U.S. forces we are in control of the area."
Even the citizens of Adallah agree that the area is much safer.
During the leaders’ walk-through of Adallah, Swift, Saala and Daniels stopped and talked to people in the market about their views on local security.
One man talked about the area being safe enough for his young son to grow-up in and others told the leaders that they felt better about the upcoming elections and would be participating.
The security of the people in the Kirkuk province during the elections is the main concern of the 1st Brigade "Ready First" Combat Team and Iraqi Security Forces, said Swift.
Because of this concern for the population, the Soldiers of the Ready First Combat Team will be assisting the Iraqi Police in the area by doing more joint patrols and assisting with check-point operations to prevent violence on Election Day.
January 19, 2010: Written by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs, 1st Armored Division
Distributed by www.SupportOurTroops.org
