The Lone Voice

By LT Brett Matzenbacher

BAGHDAD – Baghdad is the geographical, cultural, and economic heart of Iraq, and as such, many efforts have been centered on the capital. However, the focus is now shifting 30km south, to the smaller, yet equally critical city of Mahmoudiyah.

This city, with a population of maybe 76,000 people, and its surrounding area is the tip of the spear in the War on Terror. It is in this region that Anti Iraqi Forces have gathered their strength, whether they be foreign fighters or local insurgents, in order to stage their attacks on Baghdad and other nearby cities. Just a few short months ago these insurgent forces held a death grip over this region, virtually paralyzing local economies and essential services. Workers who did attempt to rebuild crumbling infrastructure facilities were murdered or kidnapped, leaving the local citizenry with a feeling of helplessness.

However, the outlook for this area has changed dramatically in the last 6 months. With the arrival of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team/101st Airborne Division in October, 2005, security has been vastly improved, opening the door for many, more far reaching initiatives to be implemented. For example, projects improving essential services and stimulating the local economy are now on par with traditional combat operations as the focus of the “Strike” Brigade. In just 4 months nearly 30 projects totaling almost $3 million have been completed in Mahmoudiyah and its environs, focusing on returning “basic services, such as potable water, school renovation, and electricity distribution, to the people of this region” says Maj Eric McFadden, Project Manager for 2nd BCT/101 ABN. As impressive as these accomplishments are, however, a much more significant event is occurring daily in the streets and outlying villages of this once desolate city.

The local citizens are taking their city back. Now that Coalition Forces, in conjunction with the Iraqi Army, have improved the local security situation, the Iraqis are taking it upon themselves to rebuild their city. Ministries that were incapable of performing their duties are now stepping forward to take the reins. For instance, trash build up had become a major issue, putting the citizens of Mahmoudiyah at considerable risk for serious health problems. Today, though short on assets like compaction trucks and operating on a restricted number of routes, the Ministry of Sanitation is providing daily service to nearly half the city.

Trash pick-up is just one example. Even more significant gains have been made in other essential services. Water has been a major focus for the City Council of Mahmoudiyah and Coalition Forces. With the Ministry of Water taking the lead, running, potable water has been returned to more than two-thirds of the city proper, and to many outlying villages. These efforts included the renovation of two water treatment plants and the replacement of a feeder line which was sabotaged by insurgent forces. “We are very happy about the progress that has been made” one man told Coalition Forces during a recent patrol through the city’s resurging market area. Several more projects are currently being managed by local Iraqi engineers to restore water to the remaining third of the city. “We are very pleased to see the local government stepping forward to work these issues” said Maj. Paul Schmidt, Civil Military Operations Officer for 2nd BCT/101st ABN. In the past, “we had to do identify and fix many of these problem areas”, but the “fact that the Ministries are now resolving some of these issues on their own is a definitely a big step” in the right direction. “Our ultimate goal in essential services parallels our military one” continued Maj. McFadden, “we want to completely turn over responsibilities to the local Ministries” and “assume more of an advisory role.”

This may not be an immediate possibility, but progress has been made, and as the working relationship between Coalition Forces and local Ministries continues to grow, and these ministries gain experience and increase in capacity, “more and more of our current responsibilities will be turned over to them” concludes Maj. Schmidt.

Iraq: Some facts that you wont be told by El Beeb. Some 47 countries have re-established their embassies there. The current Iraq government employs 1.2 million Iraqis. More than 3,100 schools have been renovated and 364 are being rehabilitated, with 263 under construction. Twenty universities and 46 institutes are operating. Some 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary schools by the end of 2005.

The Iraqi police force has more than 55,000 fully trained and equipped officers and there are five police academies producing 3,500 new officers every eight weeks.

There are at least 1,190,000 mobile-phone subscribers. There is a fully independent media network of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations.

And now a couple of Dhimmi awards: Yes the first of todays Jens Byskov Dhimmi Award go's to moonbat actor and all round plot loser Alec Baldwin. But coming in for a long overdue Dhimmi award is PM Tony Blair.