Operation Raider Reaper

[unhappycamper]

Operation Raider Reaper
Army News Service | December 31, 2007

BAQUBA, Iraq - Tribal leaders of Khalis and Hibhib in Diyala province held a reconciliation meeting at the Governance Center here Dec. 27.

The meeting marked the end of Operation Raider Reaper, a month-long campaign conducted by the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and several companies of the Iraqi Army 5th Division. The focus of the operation was to clear al-Qaida and insurgents from Diyala province. The meeting focused on keeping the peace post-Raider Reaper, ending sectarian violence and finding a means to bring displaced families back to their homes.

Every sheik who attended the meeting took an oath and signed a written agreement. The agreement stated that the sheiks would work together to stop attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, deny use of land for insurgents, follow the government's laws, resolve tribal conflict through the sheiks, guarantee equal rights regardless of sect, and allow the displaced families of Diyala to return to their homes regardless of sect.

Speakers at the meeting included Iraqi Army 5th Division Commander Staff Maj. Gen. Salim Karim Salahl; Diyala Governor Ra'ad Rasheed Majeed; Diyala Operations Center Commander Iraqi Army Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem; Provincial Security Advisor Dr. Hussein Abdul-Mahaeed Alzubaidi; and 4-2 SBCT Commander Col. Jon Lehr.

"We as a central group have created a window for peace," Col. Lehr said. "We are separating insurgents and terrorists from society. We are doing this by raising concerned local citizen organizations, building Iraqi police stations where police stations have never been built and by reconciliation between tribes."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,159162,00.html

[thunder rising]

1. Notice "Army News Service" ... any independent verification

Of coarse this is as valid a write-up as you'll find in the MSM. The Army is just cutting out the middle-man markup for their spewage.