Iraqi Troops Risking Their Lives for Elections
Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq – Members of the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi police force have a big job ahead of them. They are the glue in the democracy model. Their responsibility is to guarantee citizens are able to safely cast their vote for the new Iraqi National Assembly, a group of representatives who will elect a leader of Iraq at the end of this year.
iraqi guard | With less than a week to go before the election, Soldiers of the 303rd Iraqi Army Battalion patrol the streets of Al Ameryiah in a flatbed truck filled with 12 Soldiers; one mans a pedestal-mounted machinegun on top of the truck and the other 11 carefully watch from the back of the truck for insurgents. |
The unsung heroes of Iraq, these Soldiers and the Iraqi police, will act as the security force at each of the 1,405 polling stations in-and-around the Baghdad area. They have selflessly made the decision to put their lives in danger to protect their fellow Iraqi voters who want change and improvement in their lives.
Currently, the 303rd Battalion’s main concern is to ensure a safe place for Iraqis to vote at the 24 polling stations in their area of operation Jan. 30. They will be providing security in the streets surrounding the polling stations, as well as the polling stations itself.
The battalion’s plans officer previously served in the Iraqi Army for 20 years. He said that holding the elections is the first step toward a peaceful future for his four children and an end to the insurgency in Iraq.
“The election will be a strange and unique situation because we have never had an election before,” he said. “This is the first election by the Iraqi people for a leader who will work for the Iraqi people. I hope the new government will be a true government. If it is true, they will help protect the Iraqi people from insurgents.”
These Iraqi troops not only fight insurgents with weapons, they also encounter the terrorists who choose to attack the Iraqi people with words. At three of the polling stations in Al Ameryiah, threats and warnings against voting at these particular polling stations have been spray painted on the walls. Some read “Long live the resistance!” and “Down with the decision council!”
Others are more violent in nature, threatening jihad and beheadings for those who participate in the elections.
A female Soldier in the 303rd said she is excited to have the opportunity to vote in the upcoming elections. She said her neighborhood polling station has received many threats, but that will not stop her from doing what she can to improve her country‘s future. She believes the main focus of the new president should be to work with multinational forces to end the insurgency and unnecessary killing of Iraqi citizens.
“The new government may be good, depending on the character of the person chosen,” she said. “The new president will provide a safe and secure area for all of Iraq. I hope he will aid the poor people and not distinguish between the different classes of people when aid is being given; equal treatment for all citizens in Iraq.”
Another Iraqi Army troop, a young 20-year-old with a perpetual smile on his face, joined the Iraqi National Guard last April. He said he will vote because he wants to be part of the decision-making process for his new government. He agreed that nobody should be treated differently because of the tribe they belong to, or their status in society.
“The new president should not discriminate against the people because they are not Sunni or they are not Shia,” he said. “He will have to provide power and water to all citizens and make the laws (apply to) everybody.”
This young Soldier became the sole-provider for his wife, one-year-old child and two smaller brothers after his parents died. He joined the ING to protect his fellow Iraqis and his newly freed nation. His family asked him to leave, though, because a note was left on his front door stating he and his family would be beheaded if he continued to work with the Americans.
“I can’t leave this job because it is a good job, and I am proud to be a ...Soldier alongside the other ...Soldiers,” he said. “It is an important thing to make people feel safe while they go to work. I am here to protect the Iraqi people.”
Most of the Soldiers of the 303rd Battalion were prior-service members, but wanted to remain in the military to help build a peaceful land for their people to live. One sergeant said protecting the people of Iraq and ensuring their safety was one reason he wanted to stay in the ING. He said he hopes the new government will bring humility to the country, so they can experience the taste of real freedom.
“Sure the insurgents will continue to attack after the elections, but the new government will build a stronger army and end the insurgency,” he said. “Democracy is good for Iraq because it means we will be able to have a better life and to be able to see life the way it should be.”
Despite the constant fears and threats voters and troops alike receive, the plans officer maintains an optimistic outlook for the elections. He said he is confident the elections will take place and they will bring a new leader to Iraq who will make Iraq a better place for its citizens.
“Our new president must see the Iraqi suffering; the suffering in everyday life, such as no water or electricity and the fuel lines. We hope the bad situation will change,” the plans officer said. “I hope the time comes when I can wear my uniform in public without having to worry for my life, and the time when outsiders can come to our country and not be afraid of being kidnapped.”
(Editor’s note: This release was provided by Spc. Brian Schroeder 10th Mountain Division Pubic Affairs.) Release #050124j
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