One More glimmer of Hope in Iraq

By Richard S. Lowry

The morning, I received this press release from Baghdad. It is just another piece of good news that you won't see tonight on the nightly news.

Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071213-09
December 13, 2007

Sunni, Shia sheiks say no to violence, yes to reconciliation

By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO

ASSIRIYAH, Iraq - Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks, local government
leaders, senior Iraqi Army officials and local Iraqi Police officials
from throughout the Taji area, met here Dec. 6 at the prayer town hall
to continue reconciliation efforts and celebrate the "awakening," a term
used to describe a turning away from sectarianism and violence.

Richard S. Lowry is the author of Marines in the Garden of Eden and The Gulf War Chronicles.

More than 200 attendees from the villages of Hor Al Bosh, Sheik
Ahmer, Shat Al Taji, Falahat and other areas dined as they discussed
issues affecting their villages and ways in which they can improve the
quality of life for the people living there.

"They decided to have a Sawa, or lunch, to bring both Sunni and
Shia tribal leaders together for solidarity," said Anchorage, Alaska,
native Capt. Martin Wohlgemuth, commander for Troop D, 1st Battalion,
82nd Field Artillery Regiment, which is attached to the 1st Squadron,
7th Cavalry Regiment. "This is a continued extension of the Sunni and
Shia partnership which has truly spread to every corner of North Taji."

"As the security situation continues to improve, Sunnis are able
to travel to mainly Shia areas, and the Shia can go to Sunni areas. In
many cases, these are places they have never been before or never dared
to go before," added Wohlgemuth, whose troops patrol in Assiriyah. "They
are only able to do this because of reconciliation and forgiveness. This
is a continued sign of progress."

Some local villagers also attended the meeting and had the
opportunity to meet with local leaders and area tribal sheiks.

"This is a very good sign, and there's a lot of good
representation here. We will continue to say no to sectarianism and yes
to reconciliation," said Tariq Daee Al Teaa, a local man invited to the
meeting. "The (insurgents) have tried to take our happiness from us by
attempting to kill and kidnap our children, and that's rubbish. We must
try to work toward good things to end violence and by doing this, we can
eventually become the best country in the Arab world."

December 13, 2007 05:55 AM News From Iraq