Pat Dollard | Young Americans

BAGHDAD – A key figure in the community and a respected local leader for the Iraqi people living in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad arrived at Joint Security Station Doura with a procession of local leaders and family members April 22.

Sheik Jabbar Maaluf Al Jabouri, a Sunni leader, called for a meeting with Col. Ted Martin, the commander of the 1st Brigade Command Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, to offer his gratitude for the ongoing efforts by Iraqi Security Forces and MND-B Soldiers to bring stability and progress to the people of the Doura and Abu T’shir beladiyas.

Jabouri spoke directly to the senior leaders gathered in the room and said that the quality of life that the people of al-Doura enjoy today is due to the hard work and the sacrifices made by both the Iraqi and American people.

“Thank you for helping with all the Iraqi forces and American forces who have made this area safer,” said Al Jabouri, in speaking to Martin. “We’re also happy that people are trying to reduce the military and work on providing community services for the people.”

Ongoing projects to repair roads and recent business endeavors, such as the opening of the Al Rashid Commercial Bank in Doura, signify a much needed improvement for the local community, said Jabouri.

Brig. Gen. Karim Hoseinee, the commander of the 7th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, coordinated and hosted the event that brought the leaders together for the very first time.

“It is always a good indicator of progress and, more important, things to come, when leaders bring issues to the table, look for solutions and act for the common good of their people,” said Martin, a native of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

“We are committed to assisting the people of Rashid in making this community a better place in which the Iraqi people can carry on their work and build upon their futures,” Martin said.

Al Jabouri personally thanked Martin, who attended the meeting as the new MND-B representative for Coalition Forces operations in Rashid. Martin is the commander of more than 3,900 service members deployed to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jabouri, a figurehead in the predominately Sunni-populated Doura community, who has a reputation for standing up against terrorists and criminals, said he believes security has improved enough in the area to bring families back into the neighborhoods, regardless of their differences.

“Doura was once a very bad area and a very dangerous area; so I will tell you, Abu T’shir and Doura are like brothers,” Jabouri said to Martin. “The joining of these two is like reuniting brothers.”

Jabouri also said that he would like to create a support committee that would work with the Government of Iraq to relocate Iraqi citizens displaced by years of violence.

“I have 40 families invited to move back to Doura,” he said. “These families need support financially to help them stand up and get back on their feet. It should not matter that they are Shia.”
The leaders concluded the meeting with a meal and hot chai to affirm their newfound relationship and to further discuss the future of Rashid and Baghdad.

The 1st “Raider” BCT assumed responsibility for the Rashid district and its estimated 1.2 million people in southern Baghdad April 13 as part of MND-B’s mission to provide stability and security for the people of Baghdad.

(MNFI)