Security gains in Iraq give boost to new projects

[unhappycamper]

Infantry soldiers assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment provide security outside a meeting Tuesday in Jisr Diyala, Iraq, where U.S. forces are poised to launch a major public works initiative that aims to fire a jolt of energy into the local economy.


Security gains in Iraq give boost to new projects
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 15, 2008

JISR DIYALA, Iraq — The Shiite sheik told the Shiite general that a new Shiite extremist just slipped into town.

A U.S. Army commander, listening to the conversation from a distance, arched an eyebrow and nodded in approval.

"That’s pretty significant," observed Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, whose unit of soldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment spent the past year working toward such a breakthrough.

Just a few months ago, this sort of revelation would be hard to coax from one of Jisr Diyala’s tribal leaders. Particularly in mixed company. But during weekly roundtable Jisr Diyala Security Council meetings with the Iraqi National Police and Army leaders, Shiite and Sunni sheiks have begun to put tribal considerations aside for the sake of security.

In an effort to capitalize on the recent security gains and ethnic reconciliation — achieved in part by the security council meetings, which commenced in January and other similar efforts in the Mada’in Qada — U.S. forces here are poised to launch a major public works initiative. Dubbed "Marne Dauntless," it aims to fire a jolt of energy into the local economy in the coming weeks.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54806

[ixion]

1. to put tribal considerations aside for the sake of security...

there it is in a nutshell, folks. They've taken the bait. They should expect the TSA to be showing up shortly to provide random checks and make them take off their shoes before praying at the mosque.

That's what the 'sake of security' gets you.

Trading anything for the illusion of security is a bad trade, and never fulfills the goal.