Local leaders and city council members attended a meeting Jan. 4 in Shakat. 
Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, enjoy a traditional Iraqi meal during a meeting Jan. 4 in Shakat.
Capt. John Horning from Houston, commander of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, enjoys a traditional Iraqi meal during a meeting Jan. 4 in Shakat.
Capt. John Horning from Houston, commander of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, local leaders and city council members attended a meeting Jan. 4 in ShakatBy Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd HBCT Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Leaders of Shakat, a primarily Sunni village north of Haria, met with leaders of the local nahia government and leaders of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Jan. 4, to discuss reconciliation.
According to Capt. John Horning from Houston, Texas, commander of Company C, the meeting was the first of its kind to reintegrate the Sunni population into the nahia government.
“Sectarian violence prevented the Sunnis from leaving their area and coming to the nahia council meetings,” Horning said.
Horning said the violence and the Sunnis’ inability to travel hindered more than just their seat on the council.
“It was bad for the economy too,” he said. “They couldn’t travel into town. They couldn’t buy or sell anything in the market.”
Council president Juwad al-Shimmari, a Shia representative, sat in on the meeting and listened to concerns from the Sunni citizens who attended.
Horning said some Sunnis believe there are false arrest warrants issued for Sunni leaders. This is one reason they are hesitant in traveling outside of their communities.
Horning said the first meeting was a chance to break the ice. The group agreed to hold similar meetings in the future.
“My hopes are for the Sunnis to eventually be able to take part in the government and the economy,” Horning said. “Also, to re-establish trust and rebuild bridges between the Sunnis and the Shias. Before the war, they weren’t really concerned with who was Sunni and who was Shia.”
The meeting concluded with Juwad and the sheiks thanking each other for their open-mindedness and understanding of each other’s positions.
Company C, 1-15th Inf. Regt. 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.
3rd HBCT Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Leaders of Shakat, a primarily Sunni village north of Haria, met with leaders of the local nahia government and leaders of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Jan. 4, to discuss reconciliation.
According to Capt. John Horning from Houston, Texas, commander of Company C, the meeting was the first of its kind to reintegrate the Sunni population into the nahia government.
“Sectarian violence prevented the Sunnis from leaving their area and coming to the nahia council meetings,” Horning said.
Horning said the violence and the Sunnis’ inability to travel hindered more than just their seat on the council.
“It was bad for the economy too,” he said. “They couldn’t travel into town. They couldn’t buy or sell anything in the market.”
Council president Juwad al-Shimmari, a Shia representative, sat in on the meeting and listened to concerns from the Sunni citizens who attended.
Horning said some Sunnis believe there are false arrest warrants issued for Sunni leaders. This is one reason they are hesitant in traveling outside of their communities.
Horning said the first meeting was a chance to break the ice. The group agreed to hold similar meetings in the future.
“My hopes are for the Sunnis to eventually be able to take part in the government and the economy,” Horning said. “Also, to re-establish trust and rebuild bridges between the Sunnis and the Shias. Before the war, they weren’t really concerned with who was Sunni and who was Shia.”
The meeting concluded with Juwad and the sheiks thanking each other for their open-mindedness and understanding of each other’s positions.
Company C, 1-15th Inf. Regt. 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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