HUSSEINIYAH, Iraq – A noticeable change has taken place on the streets of Husseiniyah that benefits Soldiers and civilians. Civil service impact projects are changing the city’s appearance, smell and attitude.

Formerly an extremely hostile area, Husseiniyah is an ever-changing front, where Soldiers now meet with Iraqi leaders in the street.

The violence in and around Husseiniyah made world news earlier this summer. What was once a relatively safe and secure area of operations had turned into a hotbed after the bombing of the Golden Dome mosque, a Shiite shrine, in Samarra June 13.

Violence ensued in Husseiniyah shortly after, and Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division suffered casualties from roadside bombs, rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Almost over night, berms arose all around the city, blocking coalition forces from entering on most of the major roads. Attacks on coalition forces increased 300 percent in one month’s time after the bombings in Samarra, according to 2-12 FA.

Negotiations between leaders from 2-12 FA, city officials and tribal sheiks proved fruitless and more casualties were suffered on the roads just outside Husseiniyah.

On July 19, a Soldier was killed when a convoy was hit by a roadside bomb just outside of the city. Later that night, 2-12 FA began Operation Viking Casbah, surrounding Husseiniyah and blocking off all major roads. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass these blocking positions.

“We needed to get back into the town,” said Maj. Harry Wakefield. “Coalition forces and Iraqi government officials were faced with this problem. Our solution of fighting the insurgents back was to block off the city altogether.”

Sectarian officials and tribal leaders including Minister Ahmed Chalabi, the former deputy prime minister of Iraq, talked with city leaders, Wakefield said.

On July 24, coalition forces and Iraqi government officials reached an agreement called “The Settlement of Husseiniyah.” The berms were removed and the people promised not to attack coalition and Iraqi security forces in the city.

“One of our selling points to getting back into the town was essential services and security for the Iraqi people,” Wakefield said.

Peace was restored, and civil service projects needed to be emplaced.

One such project has shown noticeable success.

In an effort to clean Husseiniyah’s streets of litter, coalition forces and the Iraqi government have developed an impact project to pay 500 Iraqis $10 a day to cleanup trash around the city.

“Living conditions were despicable,” said Pfc. Mathew Charles of A Battery, 2-12 FA. “Food, trash and sewage built up into ditches in the middle of the road. It smelled terrible. Kids would play in it and dogs would drink and lay in it.”

With the implementation of the trash pickup program, there has been noticeable improvement throughout the town.

“The canals are definitely looking a lot better now. You don’t see anymore kids swimming through the trash and sewage, and it smells a lot better,” Charles said.

“It’s like a night and day difference,” said Capt. James Sink, A Btry., 2-12 FA commander. “It’s a success to see these guys out there working, making an honest living. You could see improvement after the first day.”

The program provides jobs to put food on people’s tables who might not have any other means of doing so otherwise, Sink said. “A man that might be drawn to insurgent activity can now perform an honest days’ work, eat a family dinner and play with his kids.”

Iraq provides payment to 300 employees and coalition forces pay the other 200. Work is available on a first-come first-served basis to the first 500 workers.

Majeed Muhan Alshwely, city council member in charge of reconstruction, said through an interpreter that, “this project provides those with no work with duties to make the city a better place to live.”

Ayman Adnan Abud, a 22-year-old man from Husseiniyah, said through an interpreter, “I am very grateful for this. I hope the projects continue and I am proud that we are helping in cleaning the city.

“Hopefully they continue to create projects that serve the people here so they feel safer and happier, Abud continued. “The people of Husseiniyah have a duty to help their families bear a better standard of life.”

Last year the city was closed for 20 days and 272 houses were lost to flooding during the rainy season due to the fact that the canals were packed with garbage, according to Alshwely.

The cleanup helps ready the canals for winter rains.

“The city looks great and people are happy,” said Capt. Brian Todd, projects manager for 2-12 FA. “There has been a dramatic reduction in IEDs. This was one of the easiest and most effective ways to get the local nationals employed. The reason we chose this impact project was to show the locals that they can confide in their government for help."

“We have quite a few projects in the works,” Todd concluded. “Refurbishment of the (city council building), open trench systems to reduce the amount of water building up in the city, and school and electrical projects.”

By Spc. John Crosby
4th Styker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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