Sheik Kassem Yassen Al Misoudy, chairman of the the Concerned Local Citizens program, speaks with Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, during a meeting held, Jan. 4, at the new CLC headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Smith, from Houston, 789th Ordnance Company, inspects explosives, Jan. 4, at the new Concerned Local Citizens program headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq. The explosives were part of a cache found by the CLCs.
Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, talks with Sheik Kassem Yassen Al Misoudy, chairman of the Concerned Local Citizens program, during a meeting, Jan. 4, at the new CLCs headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.
Community and government leaders and leaders of the1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery attend a meeting, Jan. 4, at the new Concerned Local Citizens program headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.
Sheik Kassem Yassen Al Misoudy, chairman of the Concerned Local Citizens program, speaks during a meeting, Jan. 4, at the new CLCs headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.
Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, from Aberdeen, Md., commander of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, speaks during a meeting, Jan. 4, at the new Concerned Local Citizens program headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.
Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, from Aberdeen, Md., commander of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, eats a traditional Iraqi meal after the meeting, Jan. 4, at a new Concerned Local Citizens program headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.
First Sgt. Michael Parker, from Gary, Ind., of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, eats a traditional Iraqi meal after a meeting, Jan. 4, at the new Concerned Local Citizens program headquarters building in Sabbah Nissan, Iraq.Story by Sgt. Natalie Rostek
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Leaders of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, attended a meeting with community and government leaders and enjoyed a traditional Iraqi meal, Jan. 4, to open the new Concerned Local Citizens program headquarters in Sabbah Nissan.
Sabbah Nissan was plagued with security problems in the past, according to Sheik Kassem Yassen Al Misoudy, chairman of the CLCs. Approximately six months ago, the Coalition Forces program and Iraqi security forces held a meeting with Kassem to discuss needs for the area.
“Security was a problem. I told them I would do anything I need to do if they would help me,” he said through a translator. “They helped me and now, with the CLCs, we have not only security, but also money and jobs. The Coalition Forces program and the Iraqi government are still helping and the people of Sabbah Nissan are very happy because of that.”
Kassem said the CLCs are instrumental in the security of the area and since the group began conducting missions he has seen a tremendous increase in the safety of his community.
“Before the CLCs, insurgents would come into the area and kill people and rob them,” he explained through a translator. “Now, there are no insurgents. The CLCs make up about 95 percent of the security here and they are doing very well.”
Abu Said Al Misoudy, chairman of the sheik council in Sabbah Nissan, said sectarian differences between the Sunni and Shia CLCs is not a problem and relationships between members are good.
“They all have a common goal and that is to provide security for the people,” Abu Said said through a translator. “They are here to stop terrorists and criminal acts. That is their duty.”
Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, from Aberdeen, Md., commander of the 1-10th FA, said both Kassem and Abu Said are doing an outstanding job in keeping the CLCs functional and providing leadership to their citizens.
“Everything in this country begins with security. Once security is in place you can focus on the government and the economy,” Sullivan said. “Sheiks are responsible for protecting the people. Six months ago Iraqis here said ‘enough is enough’. We need cooperation between the CLCs, the ISF and the coalition forces. With one hand we accomplish nothing. If we put our hands together, we can accomplish everything.”
According to Capt. Joshua Beard, the 1-10th FA’s civil military operations officer, the building that is now the CLC headquarters was previously a sports training facility that was destroyed.
“For the CLCs, the headquarters is completely functional,” Beard said.
“Eventually, we are going to finish the second story which will be the Sabbah Nissan government center. It should be finished in about 45 days. The building is in a great location; it’s very accessible.”
The 1-10th FA is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.
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