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SAMARA, Iraq (April 7, 2008) - After completion of a recent
operation reconnecting old economic partners, the people of the
northern-Iraqi city of Samarra can breathe again.
The "Bastogne" Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division, recently finished conducting multiple operations
that cleared al-Qaida fighters and other enemy extremist from the
desert areas west and south of Samarra, including the southern
portion of the city.
Over the past year al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) has had a chokehold on
the "Fallujah Road", the main road between al Anbar province's
population centers and Samarra.
They have operated freely on and around the Salah ad Din
Province portion of the route, restricting travel between the two
areas.
Al-Qaida had forced civilian traffic to alternate routes,
choking this critical economic line of communication. The enemy did
this by hijacking and kidnapping drivers; preying upon helpless
travelers and truck drivers in the secluded areas of the desert
away from security forces.
According to Maj. Jim DeOre, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry
Regiment operations officer, "this had many Iraqis traveling
considerable distances out of the way, forcing them to use a great
deal of fuel and energy in the process.
"The restriction of travel on this route strangled the economic
growth of the city and its surrounding towns and villages," said
DeOre. "Opening this road displays to the Iraqis that Iraqi
security (ISF) and coalition forces (CF) are making positive gains
in their efforts to remove AQI's criminal influence over the
people."
These enemy extremist had smothered this passageway by
kidnapping, murdering, and extorting money from any civilians
traveling on the route. The emplacement of improvised explosive
devices (IED) ultimately made civilian travel on this thoroughfare
almost non-existent, according to DeOre, whose battalion controls
the area where most of the route runs.
The opening of the route offers more convenient travel for
people looking to drive between Salah ad Din and Anbar. This
freedom of movement for Iraqis and is attributed to the
construction of checkpoints along the route and the establishment
of the Sons of Iraq (SoI) groups manning them.
By having a 24-hour, 7-day a week over watch on the route, Iraqi
and coalition forces can ensure AQI doesn't return to the area and
terrorize the local populace.
"These security positions deny use of the road to the criminal
activity of AQI fighters, thereby making the area safer for people
traveling on the road and those who live in the area," DeOre
said.
Captain Nathan Hicks, commander of Delta Company, 2-327, said
SoI members in his unit's area are pointing out hiding places AQI
use to conceal their bombs and dangerous weapons. Hick's unit,
responsible for most of the route running into Samarra, routinely
speaks with SoI groups in its area seeking out information leading
to weapons caches and enemy hideouts.
"The greatest effect the SoI have on the people here is making
their homes and towns safer," said Hicks. "Brave men are standing
up SoI groups to deny AQI sanctuary there."
If coalition forces are correct in their assessment that this
route will stimulate the economy of Samarra, thousands of people
will see and feel the positive impact. The transport of goods and
services will allow the economy growth of the city of Samarra, and
the surrounding areas along the route. It will also improve the
quality of life for thousands of Iraqi citizens.
One day during the first week of the route opening, a coalition
force patrol had counted over 240 fuel trucks traveling on the
road.
"Agricultural and fuel trucks travel this route by the hundreds
everyday," said DeOre. "We believe there is no doubt that this
movement of goods between the provinces will stimulate the economy
of large and small towns along the entire length of the road as
well as the cities that are now linked by its opening."
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