America's North Shore Journal

Iraqi National Policemen and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers took to the streets to remove concertina wire Sept. 18 in the 9 Nissan district of eastern Baghdad.

A combined effort of NPs from 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, and Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, MND-B, traveled through various areas in Beladiyat and removing the wire from the streets.

The combined forces sheared their way through the unwanted concertina wire with wire cutters, collected it and loaded it on to waiting trucks.

One of the primary reasons the combined patrol removed the wire is because it led to a large trash buildup, said Iraqi Command Sgt. Maj. Ali Mahdi Muhammad, assigned the 8th Bde., 2nd NP Div.

In addition to collecting trash, the wire provided areas for militant criminals to plant improvised-explosive devices, he said.

A lot of the wire sections are remnants previous units left behind, said Staff Sgt. Stuart Sword, platoon sergeant for Co. C, 2nd Bn., 30th Inf. Regt. Taking away the wire improves the overall appearance of the Beladiyat area.

Feedback from area residents on the removal of the wire has been positive.

“The people are really happy about it,” said Muhammad. “It’s a sign of progress for the people.”

Seeing the wire come down has brought a level of reassurance to the people in the community that things are getting better, he said. It helps make the people feel safer.

Gaining the trust of the Iraqi people, Sword said, is one of the reasons for their success, and their efforts in removing the concertina wire shows they care about the people in the local communities.

MNF-I