Vote
in a small Iraqi town reflects changes in the wind
PURPLE AND PROUD: Abd
Aise Abaas, a resident of Yathreeb, Iraq, displays his
purple finger indicating he voted in the Dec. 15 general
elections. Abaas said security was his primary concern
in choosing a government. / Photo by Marshall Thompson
By Marshall Thompson
December 19, 2005 | YATHREEB, Iraq -- More
than half of the Yathreeb area's 35,000 residents voted
in the Iraqi general elections last week without incidence.
Although insurgents caused disruptions at other polling
sites in Iraq, calm prevailed in this community not
far from Logistical Support Area Anaconda. Locals said
the peaceful polling rseulted not from the presence
of a strong Iraqi army, but because of an idealistic
shift in the insurgency.
Abd Aise Abaas, a Yathreeb resident who proudly displayed
his purple finger indicating he had voted, said through
an interpreter that security was his first concern in
how he chose to vote. He said he doesn't feel safe in
his home, but he felt perfectly safe at the polling
site.
"A lot of people were there to vote, so I felt safe,"
Abaas said.
"There's a lot of people who are behind the chaos
who are starting to change their minds. They are voting
just in case."
Abaas added that Iraq would be more secure as soon
as U.S. troops leave because their presence incites
the insurgents. He came to talk to the U.S. military
to request compensation for a TV, which was broken when
soldiers apprehended a bombing suspect in his home.
"I think both the good guys and the bad guys have
come to a truce," said Staff Sgt. Mitch Lupo, Co. B
fire support sergeant from the 100th Battalion, 442nd
Infantry Regiment, "basically because both of them are
trying to get political recognition."
Providing oversight for the elections was the last
major operation for the 100-442nd, an Army Reserve unit
based in Hawaii, before they go home in early January.
Near the beginning of their tour, they noticed that
a good deal of the mortar fire targeted at LSA Anaconda
was coming from the Yathreeb area. The unit conducted
civic projects, infrastructure improvement operations,
searches and patrols in the area until they've come
to know several of the residents by name and know the
area well enough to have nicknames for the stray dogs.
They also helped train and equip the Iraqi army and
Iraqi police in the area.
As a result, mortar fire from Yathreeb is down 50
percent. Although their efforts may have contributed
to the relative calm elections in Yathreeb, U.S. soldiers
said the Iraqi army and Iraqi police did most of the
work.
"All we do is stand by to assist just in case they
come up with a problem they can't handle," said Sgt.
Fiti Seloti, the battalion commander's driver from Co.
B of 100-442nd.
The polls started to close by 7:30 p.m. and local
leaders gathered to discuss how they could improve next
time. Confusion on voting districts required some voters
ride buses to the next polling station, but the buses
came often and the turn out was still high. Lt. Col.
Brian Kent, 100-442nd commander, handed out chocolate-covered
macadamia nuts to celebrate.
"They're happy now," said Sgt. Maj. Paul Estabrooks
from the 100-442nd.
"They have chocolate and an elected government."
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