3 posts from 2009

By Capt. Paul L. Greenberg, RCT-5    

JOINTsecure

COMBAT OUTPOST RUTBAH, Iraq — Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces put together what was truly a joint effort to provide a safe venue for the first regional security meeting held in the city of Rutbah, Iraq, Jan. 2.

Despite the frigid temperatures, senior regional Iraqi and Marine Corps leadership from around the Rutbah district attended the meeting to iron out details in preparation for the local and national democratic elections scheduled to be held at the end of the month.

Tango Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, an artillery unit based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., took the lead on providing security for the meeting, which hosted leaders and security elements from the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Highway Patrol, as well as several Coalition units, including Marines from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5.

Although the security situation in western al-Anbar province has improved dramatically over the past two years, the Marines ensured the Iraqis adopted all of the necessary precautionary measures, according to 1st Lt. Steven Mauceri, 24, the officer-in-charge of the Rutbah District Police Transition Team.

“There’s still definitely a threat out there in Rutbah,” said Mauceri, a Brooklyn, N.Y. native.  He mentioned specific isolated incidents of suicide vest and small-arms attacks by insurgents that indicated that potential hazards remain in the Iraqi desert.

As the PTT leader, Mauceri and his small force of seasoned Marines worked with the local Iraqi Police to ensure that they were vigilant in patrolling the streets and taking other actions to thwart possible attempts by the insurgency to attack Iraqi or Coalition leadership surrounding the security meeting.

Mauceri identified vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices as another potential threat, but stated that the Iraqi police officers he has worked with and trained over the past six months are up to the job of protecting their city for the upcoming elections, adding that “they have done some remarkable work and made great progress.”

Known by their unit call sign “Tough Guy,” Tango Battery Marines are tasked with providing overall security for all key leader engagements in Rutbah, which include weekly city council sessions and meetings with the mayor.  The artillerymen of Tango Battery have adapted to their infantry mission here, conducting vehicle and foot patrols throughout the city with Iraqi Police officers around the clock, seven days a week.

Hours before the regional security meeting began, Tango Battery Marines and their Iraqi counterparts secured the area, with Iraqis and Americans standing side-by-side at posts surrounding the meeting venue.  Additionally, Marines and a military police working dog swept the city council building for explosives. 

For several hours, joint roving patrols of Marines, Iraqi Police and soldiers from the Iraqi Provisional Security Forces wound their way throughout the streets and alleyways in Rutbah, stopping frequently to speak with local citizens, the Americans doing so through an interpreter.

“Now the city is back to a state of normalization, to a point where the IP’s are in the lead and we’re in assistance to them,” said Capt. Chris Demetriades, 37, commanding officer of Tango Battery, from Henderson, N.C.  “Right now, the IP’s are weaning themselves off of reliance on us for security of the city.”

Demetriades noted challenges in working with the Iraqis, but explained that through patience, mutual respect, and a clear focus on putting the Iraqis in the forefront of all operations, Tango Battery has achieved an excellent working relationship with the Rutbah-area police.  Together, they have been able to maintain peace for the city’s 20,000 citizens.  This is vital for the success of the upcoming elections.

“As a Marine, you always want to plan ahead, in detail, for every contingency, in the Marine Corps way,” said Demetriades, on his fourth tour in Iraq.  “But the (Iraqi Police) came up with their own security plan for the meeting, and we supported it.  In the end, an Iraqi plan is better than an American plan, because this is their country.”

This was the second of several regional security meetings scheduled prior to the upcoming local and national Iraqi elections at the end of January.   

“I am very happy because we made sure of security at this event,” said Mustafa Adnan Ali, 23, a Rutbah native with 18 months of the local police force.  “The Iraqi forces came from many places and did a good job today.  With Coalition Forces, we all work like brothers and one team.”

During the elections, the Iraqis will have the lead on ensuring the safety of all election sites in the Rutbah district, with the police guarding the patrolling sites and the army and other elements of the Iraqi Security Forces responsible for the nearly 4,000 miles of open desert terrain.

By Lance Cpl. Scott Schmidt, RCT-5    

Detainee

RAWAH, Iraq – Iraqi Police in Rawah assumed responsibility for the parole of nine former Coalition Force detainees Dec. 28.

Marines with 4^th Platoon, Company C, Task Force 1^st Battalion, 2^nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, provided overwatch for this Iraqi Police-run operation and said the Iraqis proved themselves to be capable and professional during the transfer.

“We were tasked with security in order to ensure the safe and proper release of detainees.  Iraqi authorities are here to gather information and see these men off into the community,” explained 1stLt. Robert Paulus, 25, 4^th Plt. commander. “Our time in Iraq is finite and this is their country. With our efforts to develop (Iraqi Security Forces), one of the key indicators is their ability to parole and reintegrate former detainees.”

The release is a priority for the Iraqi government and came days before the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) took effect.  The SOFA establishes legal standing for U.S. troops in Iraq and their departure from the country by December 2011.

“We are completely capable with our security and our judicial system to take on the challenge of these detainees,” said Capt. Fil Amer Abdrazq, an Iraqi Police officer in Rawah. “Like any judicial process, these men have served their sentence and are being processed through our stations before they return to the community and their families.”

As the detainees left the hands of their Marine escorts, they were welcomed by Iraqi Police and government officials.

“As soon as we made the transfer, (Iraqi Police) removed the hand cuffs and blind folds and welcomed the (former) detainees,” said Sgt. Jeffery Rapp, 26, a squad leader with 4^th Platoon. “The police invited families, and compared to other releases, Iraqis welcomed the men back to the community. It is now up to the Iraqi Police to protect and keep an eye on the men.”

“We are sufficiently able to handle investigations, interrogations, intelligence and the judicial process when handling the detainees,” Abdrazq conveyed through an interpreter.

These skills are critical to the community’s security and governance process and help to legitimize the independence Iraqis have assumed from the Coalition Forces in the area.

“It is vital that (Iraqis) develop these skills now while we are still here with all the necessary advice and guidance,” explained Paulus, a Hudson, Ohio native. “We take a back seat to their handling of former detainees, increasing their ability to be self-sufficient.” 

Rawah authorities’ lead role in security of the former detainees demonstrated their control of the judicial and security services in their community.

“The process is working,” said Rapp, a native of Norwood, Mass. “Rawah is secure and peaceful, which results from the efforts of the (Iraqi Police).”

Coalition Forces have confidence in the Iraqi Police in the area, and the Iraqi Police have confidence in themselves.

“We are confident,” commented Abdrazq, “that the release of the detainees is not detrimental to the successes we’ve had over the last couple of years.”

By Capt. Paul Greenberg, RCT-5            

Atmospheric

COMBAT OUTPOST RUTBAH, Iraq — Marines from Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment,

Regimental Combat Team 5, conducted “atmospherics” on a security patrol in Rutbah, Dec. 29, in conjunction with their Iraqi Police counterparts.

The goal of an atmospherics patrol is to assess living

 conditions for the average Iraqi citizen and to show a security presence in the city.

The patrol was led by Sgt. Daniel Giere, 23, a squad leader with 4^th Platoon, Echo Co., from Exton, Pa.  A carpenter in civilian life, this is Giere’s second tour in Iraq as a Reserve Marine, his first being with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment in Fallujah, during more turbulent days in 2006.

The Marines of 4th Plt., Echo Co., are currently attached to Tango Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, an artillery unit which deployed here in October from their home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Giere explained that by finding out about specific unemployment issues and problems with essential services – such as water and electricity – in different parts of the city during the atmospherics patrols, the unit can gain important information which they can pass to the Rutbah City Council to address.

In this way, the Marines can mentor and empower the local Iraqi government, thereby enhancing the quality of life for the city’s 20,000 residents, while setting the wheels in motion for complete Iraqi governance in the area.

“It’s a presence patrol,” said Giere.  “It is also a ‘meet and greet’ to let the locals know we’re here to establish rapport.”

One of the citizens that Giere interviewed was Abdel Salam Fakaj, 50, a Rutbah resident.

When asked about changes in the population, Fakaj said that many people in Rutbah have been returning to their homes in Fallujah and Ramadi, two of the largest population centers in al-Anbar province, where thousands had fled in 2003-2005 because of heavy fighting between Coalition Forces and insurgents.

Because the security situation throughout western al-Anbar province has improved tremendously over the past year, life for citizens throughout the province is returning to a sense of normalcy.

Fakaj said that although he does have some faith in the local elected leaders, he has more confidence in the Marine units to respond to issues such as electrical outages and water services.

The Marines, however, are working to change this paradigm and improve the credibility of Iraqi leadership.  This is especially important in light of the planned draw-down of U.S. forces in Iraq over the next two years. 

In accordance with the current strategic plan, all Coalition patrols in Rutbah are now done jointly with Iraqi police. 

As the patrol neared the end of its route, the Iraqi police officers were particularly helpful. 

“The IPs, they did very well tonight,” said Giere.  “They showed good judgment, especially with the time of day.  Sunset is always the worst, as visibility is really low.”

The patrol also stopped to talk to an adolescent boy, who had greeted the Marines in English.  The boy showed them his English language textbook, explaining that he had learned his foreign language skills in high school. 

In addition to greeting nearly everyone they passed in rudimentary Arabic, the Marines also gave out candy and kicked around a soccer ball with some of the younger children they encountered.

“I think Rutbah was a really good town long before we got here,” said Giere.  “There was never very much of an insurgency here in comparison to Ramadi, Fallujah and Haditha.  The people here want peace, plain and simple.

“I’ve asked them if they want us here.  You get a generic answer, and people usually say ‘yes,’” Giere continued.  “But every now and then you get a straight shooter why says, ‘thanks for everything you’ve done, but now it’s time for you to go home.’  I don’t see anything wrong with that.  We’ve been here for a long time, and we’ve done a lot of good.”