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June 23, 2008
The “No Slack” Battalion The Screaming Eagle’s, Iraqi Volunteers and Iraqi Forces
Screaming Eagle’s, Iraqi Volunteers and Iraqi Forces Have Al Qaida Reeling
By Sgt. Rick Rzepka
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs Office
Al JAZZERA DESERT, Iraq
“Yesterday some men tried to kill me as I was driving my car,” said the man with a reflective belt draped across his chest. “They say that if I stay with the volunteers they will kill me, but I don’t care about that,” he said as he lit one cigarette with the stub of another.
The man is part of an all volunteer force called the Concerned Local Citizens, or “Sons of Iraq” and he and his compatriots have had enough. The violence, the killing, the overall lawlessness that was a hallmark of Samarra a year ago, left these men to make a decision: apathy or action. They chose the latter.
Today, hundreds of volunteers, spread throughout the greater Samarra area have banded together to secure the once turbulent city and its people from enemy extremists. In doing so, they have allowed coalition forces to focus their attention on dismantling a waning al Qaida in Iraq.
“CLC leaders and IP leaders are taking care of a lot of the footwork in securing the population centers, which lets us take the fight to al Qaeda and their safe-havens,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Martin, Gator Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment.
Martin and his Soldiers are part of the famed “No Slack” battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, which has a reputation for an intense work ethic and exceptional Soldiering.
Since arriving in Iraq in October of 2007, the battalion has seen the security situation in Samarra and its periphery go from fragile to firm due to greater cooperation and effectiveness of Iraqi Security Forces, the volunteers and Coalition forces.
“The last few months have been a huge change,” said Martin. “Between Iraqi police, Iraqi Army and CLCs, we’ve been able to push further, which has led us to more HVIs (high value individuals) and more caches.”
Martin said that in the last month alone, Gator company has unearthed five to six hundred military grade munitions including rockets, mortars and artillery shells, which are commonly used by enemy fighters to make improvised explosive devices.
Often times, villagers will walk Coalition and Iraqi Security forces right on to a cache site without fear, said Martin.
“What’s happening is the CLCs in the area have pushed out the major key leaders of al Qaida in the area out into the desert,” said Martin. “Now the villagers feel safe enough to say, hey look, these guys used to be here and they left this cache and Ill take you to it. They are huge caches, buried deep in the ground,” he said.
By manning checkpoints on the dusty roads outside of Samarra, the CLC volunteers are able to keep enemy fighters from permeating the population. They take pride in their work as protectors and are able to provide for their families as well.
“The CLCs in Samarra are the best CLCs in Iraq,” boasted one volunteer working a checkpoint outside the city. “We do it for our family and country,” he said.
“They are looking at the future. They are talking about schools for their kids and grandkids and they are starting to see the importance of that,” said Martin. “The hope is there and they are looking for results from their own government.”
The presence of CLCs and Iraqi security forces gives people the sense that Iraqis are securing themselves, said Spc. Mathew Gozalkowski, Gator company Soldier. “They know what right looks like,” he said. “They know where the insurgents might hide caches and possible safehavens and they know who belongs in their respective neighborhoods and who doesn’t.”
As the population continues to turn against extremists in the Samarra area, groups like al Qaida are unraveling quickly, said Gozalkowski. “The CLCs in the area have caught on like wildfire,” he said. “The people around the al Jazzera desert are standing up volunteer groups with out any contract,” he said, meaning that they aren’t getting the nominal fee of $300 per month that is typically paid to CLCs across Iraq.
“They are doing it because they are tired of seeing what the insurgents have done to their homes.”
Posted by Wild Thing at June 23, 2008 02:45 AM
Comments
See, dummycraps? It's working! The natives are taking more responsibility for their own country and you said it couldn't and wouldn't happen. You're just mad because what Bush said would happen is happening and you have to eat your words. I hope they're yummy!
Posted by: Lynn at June 23, 2008 04:26 AM
Insurgents? I thought Murtha and Reid and Kennedy said "The occupiers were responsible?" I'm trying to RESPECT the opposition here and give them the dignity that they are due....NOT! NEVER!! HELL NO!!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at June 23, 2008 05:09 AM
I have supported the war but had my doubts that we were doing it right. Now, thanks to the Surge of extra troops, this war is being won. A lot of credit needs to go to Gen Petraeus, Pres. Bush and Sec of Defense Gates.
We have given the local population hope and reduced their fears so they can support us in what is essentially a guerilla war. Al Quaeda and the sectarian militias are losing Mao's fishes(the population) which are so necessary for guerillas to succeed.
Units like the "No Slack" Bn. of the 101st and other US units in Iraq can turn more and more of the fighting and intel gathering over to the Iraqi Army and local neighborhood volunteers.
Posted by: TomR at June 23, 2008 11:58 AM
Lynn, yes the lefties must hate news like this and for sure the media doesn't want to broadcast this kind of good news.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 23, 2008 06:34 PM
Darth, Murtha and Reid should join the insurgents then we could take them prisoner heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 23, 2008 06:37 PM
Tom I felt the same way. I needed to see the people are troops have given so much for with their lives and their injuries and sacrifices over there respond in kind actually. Put their lives on the line for their country and our troops would show them how to fight back. And that is what has been happening.
The dems want a fast war like getting online quickly and this is not what any war is like. And I think this one especially since we are dealing with terrorists coming in from so many other countries into Iraq. I am so proud of our trooops.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 23, 2008 06:41 PM
