Jihad
ABC likes it. Walking around it with Petraeus, sans body armor, that is:
If you’re looking for one measure of the impact of last year’s troop surge in Iraq, look at Gen. David Petraeus as he walks through a Baghdad neighborhood, with no body armor, and no helmet.
It’s been one year since the beginning of what’s known here as Operation Fardh Al Qadnoon. According to the U.S. military, violence is down 60 percent. One key to the success is reconciliation.
“A big part of the effort, over the last year, has been to determine who is reconcilable, who, literally, is willing to put down his rifle and talk, who is willing to shout, instead of shoot.” Petraeus said.
I spent the day with Petraeus, touring Jihad, a predominantly Shiite area in western Baghdad. This place was formerly ravaged by sectarian violence, and militiamen wreaked havoc on the streets. In the last year, U.S. and Iraqi troops moved into the neighborhood, set up joint security stations, earned the trust of local people, and found those men willing to put down their guns and work with them.
The results of the last year can be seen on the streets. A soccer team practices on the local pitch. The stalls in the market buzz with customers. I stop to talk to local residents, and ask if they feel a difference. Overwhelmingly, the answer is a resounding yes.
“The situation in Jihad is certainly better than before,” a mechanic named Ali said. “Work is constant, shops are reopening, and people are coming back to their homes.”
Who says Jihad is all bad? Think globally, secure Jihad locally.
Topics: Iraq, Jihad, media, military
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:41 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2008
3 Responses to “Jihad”
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February 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
And they said it couldn’t be done.
Anyone else notice the dearth of America-bashing trolls lately?
February 20th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
“the dearth of America-bashing trolls lately”
Like Michelle Obama?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Good men and women - no, make that great men and women - died for this.
They’d better appreciate it.
My guess is that they don’t; or can’t. Can’t comprehend it.
I hope the next generation will.