January 28, 2009
TANGIBLE PROOF OF PEACE IN IRAQ Attitudes and services are much improved By Philip Forgit
Above is Radi Jaffir, the Mudeer of Saab al Bor. At left Iraqi children greet U.S. troops.
as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), small arms fire, car bombs, murders, etc. would have completely covered SAAB AL BOR, Iraq Former Rawls military maps of Saab al Bor in red. Now, just weeks elcome to Saab al Bor! Byrd Elementary before provincial elections, members of a U.S. Army unit Welcome to the City of Peace!” School teacher here see less red, and most of it is attributable to crime, exclaims Radi Jaffir. Philip Forgit is not terrorism. As is the custom, he greets his embedded with Capt. Digati, commander of the Army’s Stryker guest with a firm handshake and kissU.S. troops in Iraq, Brigade Combat Team, B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th es in the air at the sides of each check. filming how the Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division out of Hawaii, war has affected Beaming with civic pride, Jaffir is the explained the formula for success: the Iraqi people. Mudeer of Saab al Bor, a town of “We cleared the city targeting Jaish al Mahdi (Shia) First in a series. about 40,000 about 30 miles north of and al Qaeda (Sunni) cell leaders. We used the Sons of Baghdad. Iraq to maintain checkpoints, keeping trouble out, and we’ve held the city by microgrants, assistance from Iraqi security forces, and the delivery of essential services by the Nahia.” Essential services are notably improved from a year ago. The city’s new electric substation has power on nearly 21 hours a day. A year ago power was available just four hours a day. Water flows regularly and cleanly throughout the city. Colorful yellow trash cans are being distributed as trash pickup is established. Bombed out vacant lots of trash and rubble are being cleared, giving way to new construction. Schools have reopened, Philip Forgit and micro grants of up to An Iraqi family warms by a fire in the town of Saab al Bor, a former hotbed of insur- $2,000 given to businesses gency that has become a peaceful oasis. have improved the stores and shops of the market areas. Like Williamsburg’s mayor, the Mudeer is elected to Success in Saab al Bor is borne out by the number of his office by his colleagues on an elected city council people who have returned or moved here from other areas known as the Nahia. He also performs the function of a less secure. The Iraqi government offers a payment of one city manager. He is a gracious host, as Iraqi culture million dinar (about $900) to return, and in the last four demands, offering his guests a round of sweet, hot tea months 830 families have moved back. As recently as known as chai before business begins. December 2007, Saab al Bor could best be described as a On the day of my visit, this Jeanne Zeidler/Jack Tuttle ghost town, reduced by terror and coalition bombing to of Saab al Bor takes a meeting of the Essential Services about 4,000 residents. Today, it is a thriving town of Authority. Replete with indoor fountain, colorfully tiled 40,000. floors, velvet covered chairs and Persian rugs, the governAs the city moves forward, Jaffir is as concerned about ment center was recently renovated by coalition forces. corruption as he is terrorism. Representatives of the gas, water and electric utilities, “The people who are corrupted are the same as the terreligious and health sections, police and security forces rorists. Both are doing something bad for my country.” are gathered for a meeting that the Mudeer directs. For the most part, the Mudeer is confident that those Taking reports from the various sections and moderating working in the local government have good intentions and disputes, the meeting is rancorous by Williamsburg stanare working hard to move the city forward. Next door, a dards. Raised voices and fingers and arms animate points shopping mall is being constructed and a hospital, to be of discussion, all the cultural norm. The Jaiysh Iraq (Iraqi the largest in the area, is in the planning stages. Army) representative sits bored, chain-smoking to occupy Jaffir concedes he is a shameless promoter of his town, himself as the authority discusses reconstruction projects, a one-man chamber of commerce. But the evidence of water and returning refugees. He has little to report when success is in the streets of Saab al Bor and in the discushis turn comes, and with reason. sions of projects, plans and problems by the Essential Saab al Bor was once a hotbed of insurgent activity Services Authority. Two hours after it started, the meeting and criminal violence. Today it has become an oasis of concludes — when the power goes out and the room goes relative calm. dark. Fifteen months ago, red points marking incidents such Next — Sons of Iraq.
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