America's North Shore Journal

Reconciliation efforts have recently broadened in the Salah ad Din Province, with the city of ad Dawr seeing 58 former fighters pledge their allegiance to the Government of Iraq June 30.

Seeking to clear their names, the men initiated the reconciliation process.

Taking advantage of security gains in the area, GoI leaders, Iraqi Security Forces and Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, see reconciliation as the next phase of development for the province.

“Reconciliation is the logical next step in our area,” said Maj. Tim Povich, executive officer, 1st Special Troops Battalion. “With the recent security improvements in both Ad Dawr and Tikrit, reconciliation, or Musalaha as the Iraqis call it, will provide additional momentum to keep the situation improving in both areas.”

Povich, whose battalion falls under the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, said that by allowing those with checkered pasts to gain a fresh start, the people of Iraq can focus on the future.

“Iraqis want to be part of the future of Iraq, and the reconciliation effort allows them to put past transgressions behind them and start with a clean slate,” said Povich It is very powerful when an Iraqi comes in and pledges to stop attacking Iraqi Security and Coalition forces and supports the Government of Iraq. We think reconciliation will have a tremendous impact in both Ad Dawr and Tikrit.”

Meanwhile, Iraqi Security and Coalition forces continue to see an increase in the number of cache finds in the Balad area after a major reconciliation effort in May that saw more than 500 men pledge loyalty to the Iraqi government.

Acting on Iraqi sources, Coalition force soldiers were led to a subterranean arsenal near Balad containing rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles. Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division discovered the cache, which is the latest in a series of large finds.

“Reconciliation efforts in the Balad area have led to an increase in cache finds due to an enhanced flow of information from the local populace,” said Maj. Johnpaul Arnold, spokesman for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “The people of the Balad area are coming forward with information on weapons caches and the whereabouts of terror supporters, because they want to be free from the fear and brutality that al-Qaeda brought to their country. Al Qaeda is being marginalized by Iraqi citizens who see hope in Iraq’s future.”

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