More From Rusafa

by Dave Price

Bill Ardolino continues his series on the Baghdad neighborhood where he’s embedded:

The neighborhood watch program in Rusafa is a “real success story,” according to Captain John Thornburg, the commander of the 3-89 Cavalry’s Bravo Troop. The Sons of Iraq man checkpoints, patrol the area, detain militants, and are given the majority of credit for improved security by American personnel and some Iraqi Police officials. “They’ve turned one of the most violent areas of Baghdad into one of the most quiet,” said Thornburg.
…
Support for the Mahdi Army in Rusafa is diminishing as the populace grows tired of the militia’s criminal activity and as the Mahdi operatives clash with government forces. Faris and his men hate the Mahdi Army and consider them on par with al Qaeda.

“They were all corrupted,” said Dhia, Faris’s executive officer. “They have history in crime, robberies, murders, rapes, and all kinds of bad things.”

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