U.S.: Once-violent Baghdad district was murder-free in September

[unhappycamper]

U.S.: Once-violent Baghdad district was murder-free in September
By Zeke Minaya, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, October 12, 2007

U.S. military officials in Baghdad have reported a “zero monthly murder count” for September in the western capital neighborhood of Amariyah, and declared the former Baathist enclave “a safe and secure neighborhood,” according to a military press release.

While there is no way to fully prove such absolute claims, the release said it was the first time in 20 months that there was a zero murder count in the district.

In the Balkanized Iraqi capital, violence often migrates between districts, leaving an area temporarily for another, often in response to elevated American military presence.

What is clear is that Amariyah — once the location of fierce fighting between Sunnis and al-Qaida insurgents — has seen improved security thanks in part to the deputized groups of community residents.

The trend of organizing and contracting with members of mostly Sunni communities to create armed neighborhood watches by the U.S. military has been credited with stemming violence in Anbar province as well as several districts in Baghdad including Amariyah, Abu Ghraib, Adhamiyah and Yusufiyah.

U.S. military officials have also credited the “surge” of thousands of extra combat troops in Baghdad with stemming the violence in the capital.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49431

[DCKit]

1. They've killed EVERYONE? nt