Community relations at a standstill

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Pfc. Robert Sacco, 19, of Boston, and Spc. Jason Silva, 24, of Manteca, Calif., look over a room Wednesday during a search in the Shurta area of Baghdad.


Community relations at a standstill
By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, April 4, 2008

BAGHDAD — The Bradleys thundered unexpectedly into the Shurta neighborhood of Baghdad on Wednesday. They sealed off a couple of streets that had been the source of gunfire during last week’s fighting. Then the vehicles dropped their ramps, and soldiers flooded the city blocks.

The men pounded on the gates, entered when the homeowners beckoned them inside and then searched every room of the house for illegal weapons or details that could help them combat those who attacked checkpoints. The goal: Uncover any insurgents and develop reliable sources who might help them in the future.

Such “cordon and knock” searches are one of two staple operations for the soldiers of Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment. But heavy fighting in the area has caused a temporary halt to their other, softer standby — the humanitarian missions.

The unit’s last humanitarian mission was March 9 when soldiers accompanied Iraqi National Police as they delivered desks and other supplies to local schools. Shiite militants began attacking Iraqi security forces early last week, forcing the U.S. unit to concentrate instead on making sure the area is safe, said company commander Capt. Mike Berriman.

Unlike humanitarian missions, search operations fulfill some functions crucial even after the fighting. They tell the neighborhood that Iraqi and U.S. forces are still in town and that they haven’t run away.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53823