300 Sheikhs Gather to Plan Security Transition

Approximately 300 sheikhs from the Mada’in Qada attend a conference with Iraqi governmental representatives, Iraqi Security Force leaders and Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division to discuss reconciliation in Baghdad Oct. 4. (Photo by 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.)

Iraqi governmental officials met with more than 300 sheikhs from the Mada’in Qada in Baghdad to discuss the way ahead for reconciliation in their area Oct. 4, home to approximately 1 million Iraqis. (A qada is roughly equivalent to a county in the U.S.)

Leaders from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and Multi-National Division - Center attended as observers.

“When this many sheiks attend a meeting such as this, it is an indicator that the people are tired of the violence and have a desire to return to normalcy,” said Maj. Dave Fivecoat from Delaware, Ohio, 3rd HBCT operations officer.

The sheikhs agreed security in the qada had improved since the arrival of the 3rd HBCT in March 2007, and pledged to continue cooperation with U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces to fight terrorism. To that end, they discussed a plan that would lead to the eventual acceptance of concerned local citizens into the Iraqi Security Forces.

The sheikhs also proposed a plan to increase coordination between tribal leaders and the government.

U.S. commanders hold out the Concerned Citizens Programs as Iraq’s best hope for reconciliation and stabilization from the ground up, but stress that the concerned citizens must, in a timely manner, be folded into the official Iraqi security forces.

According to Maj. Jeremy Moore, 3rd HBCT Iraqi Security Force liaison, the meeting was a positive step toward that transition.

“We are optimistic that their inclusion will ultimately enable the ISF to accurately represent and effectively secure the local populace,” Moore said.

In the meantime, actions and intelligence from the concerned citizens have led to a dramatic turnaround in the security situation.

“We’ve seen a large increase in tips that have led to the seizure of caches in the areas where concerned citizen groups are formed,” said Maj. Rhett Griner, 3rd HBCT effects coordinator. “We have received 34 tips that have led to the arrest of 91 insurgents in the last 90 days.”

The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division is from Fort Benning, Ga.