NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
April 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-04-195
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CORRECTED RELEASE: 1-3 AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY, SOF, ASSIST TOWN WITH FIRST ELECTION
Note: This release has been revised to reflect correct dates for Special Operations presence in Abu Gharyib and to conform to Army Special Forces Public Affairs guidance with regard to identification of personnel.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The recently elected city council of Abu Gharyib, a town of over a million that lies on the outskirts of Baghdad, met with officials from the town's municipal service and leaders from 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment Wednesday to discuss restoring services and order to the town.
The citizens of the town elected a city council last week in the first free election in recent Iraqi history, said Lt. Col. Mark Garrell, commander, 1-2 ADA. Army Special Forces soldiers have been working with the townspeople since early April to help them with the elections. "This is a very historic day," said an Army Special Forces team leader who has been working with the 3rd Infantry Division on this initiative. "This was the first election like this in the history of Iraq."
The battalion assumed control of Abu Gharyib Apr. 13 and went to work immediately trying to contact officials in charge of the hospital, the police and fire departments, and public utilities, Garrell said. Army Special Forces developed a rapport with the townspeople before being accepted by the town's elders. As the relationship between Iraqis and the Americans developed, the Special Forces team helped them set up an election without American influence.
"We were sent here to help win the hearts and minds of the people," the team leader said. "We were sincere, and they responded to us. As time passed, they realized we were here to help."
He also said at first the heads of the families wanted the soldiers to lead them, but that was not his team's goal.
"We told them if they led, we would support them," he said. "It's all about them, not us. After 36 years under Ba'ath Party leadership, they're scared, and they don't really know how democracy works. But for the first time, they have an assembly elected through a democratic process."
"There are two theories to this kind of work," the team leader said. "You can get things going with the civil leaders or the elected government. We went with the leadership aspect, and 3rd ID did the nuts and bolts."
Garrell said it helped both groups "legitimize" each other, since those running the services weren't selected by the people, and those chosen by the people didn't fully understand all the issues confronting the people of Abu Gharyib.
The main concerns voiced by the council were security and water for the hospital and pay for the policemen, who hadn't been paid in over two months. Garrell told the council he would work fast to address the issues he could and take the issues he couldn't fix up his chain of command.
Garrell told them the Army couldn't solve all of their problems and they would need the Iraqis' help with every task.
"In order for us to help you, you must help yourselves," he told them. "We don't want to lead you; we want you to lead yourselves. The peace starts here, and the peace here will spread to other areas within the city."
The Army Special Forces team leader echoed Garrell's comments, saying the Army needs to support this government because if it's seen as a success, others will follow.
"We hope this is template, but we have to follow through by working with them," he said. "It's got to be a government of the people, for the people and by the people. We can always endorse that, but we can't do it for them. If things go well, it will be a model for how governments can be built in other cities here.
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