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October 04, 2008
Reestablishing ‘rule of Law’ in Al Akad Neighborhood
Iraqi contractors conduct a site survey of the landscape at the Al Akad station build site, Sept. 27, 2008. The station, which is in the process of being rebuilt, was destroyed by criminal attacks in past years. Iraqi police and coalition force Police Transition Teams are in the process of reestablishing law and order in the area to protect the citizens within the Al Akad neighborhood.
Reestablishing ‘rule of Law’ in Al Akad Neighborhood
By Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
18th Military Police
BAGHDAD – A black kite rises to the sky off in the distance as a convoy of military police Soldiers travel down one of the most dangerous routes in Baghdad.
“They know we are here,” said Staff Sgt. Darrell Bamberg, a squad leader with the 340th Military Police Company, 18th Military Police Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, as his eyes scanned through his Gumvee window, Sept. 27, 2008, at the black kites with the assumption criminal groups were signaling the arrival of coalition forces along the route as they entered the Al Akad neighborhood.
“The guys over here don’t like us at all,” said Bamberg, referring to the criminal groups in the area of the proposed building site of a new IP station.
The surveying of a new IP station in the Al Akad neighborhood was the squad’s mission for the day, as well as escorting an Iraqi police general and several contractors to a new station build site in northeast Baghdad to conduct a site survey.
As the squad traveled the route, more black kites popped up parallel to their position and went down as they passed by en route to their destination. The squad is part of the 340th MP Co., and is an Army Reserve unit based out of New York.
“There are a lot of reports of criminal groups in the area,” said Bamberg, a native of the Bronx, N.Y., referring to an area that borders Sadr City where much of the violence that was once contained in Sadr City has crept into.
Upon arriving at the future build site, the Soldiers were met by many children – some asking for water and candy. Soldiers, with comforting smiles, handed out as much as they had available.
As the children smiled and ran away, two more children approached and set sail to a black kite that was within viewing distance of the convoy, which was parked at the remains of a former IP station.
The unit’s plan is to rebuild the Al Akad station to establish an IP force in the area, which will help to reestablish and provide rule of law for the citizens against criminal groups suspected of moving into the area.
“Our goal is to make this area secure for the citizens of Al Akad,” said Maj. Lawrence Clossum, commander, 340th MP Co., who is a native of St. Louis. “We are beginning the process of rebuilding a new station in Al Akad that will provide rule of law for the citizens of Al Akad.”
The Al Akad station existed at one point but was destroyed by criminal group attacks on the station in earlier months.
“We will have to level what’s left of the place and rebuild the station from scratch,” said Clossum, looking at the remains of the perimeter of the former IP station.
The station would be a symbol of perseverance to the criminals in the area, he added, and will demonstrate that the IP forces have the capability to protect its citizens and not back down to anyone as they rebuild their nation.
“We cannot let the criminals think they have won the fight here,” said Clossum. “It will take some time, but we will rebuild this station.”
The construction evaluation crew gathered the needed information at the site and the group loaded back into the humvees and journeyed back from where they came leaving the black kites waving in the sky behind them.
The mission was completed for the day, which signified one of the many opportunities for the Iraqi police and coalition forces as the combined forces strive to reestablish the police forces in the area to help rid the neighborhood of crime.
Wild Thing's comment...........
“We cannot let the criminals think they have won the fight here,” said Clossum. “It will take some time, but we will rebuild this station.”
I agree we cannot let them win or even think they have won.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 4, 2008 04:40 AM
