More than 140 suspected criminals turned themselves into the Joint Coordination Center in the city of Balad, May 22.

Three tribal leaders from the area ended their standoff with U.S. and Iraqi forces by bringing in all men under their influence who have a criminal history.

“Today’s reconciliation is an example of local leaders taking a broad step forward in the future security and in the legitimacy of the legal process,” said Maj. Ramiro Salazar, an executive officer of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “This is the first step of initiating the process for reconciliation with the Iraqi Government, as well as Iraqi Security and Coalition forces.”

The mass reconciliation comes on the heels of several operations designed to put an end to the insurgency that has crippled the area since 2006. The operations targeted key individuals and peripheral fighters resulting in three key individuals being killed.

According to CF, the news of these individuals’ deaths prompted fighters in the area to give up their arms and contact local security forces to surrender.

One local sheik taking part with the other members of his tribe said, “We are tired of fighting and want peace. The reconciliation process is a step in the right direction, and now there will be a common goal of peace between the government and those who had fought it.”

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CAMP BUCCA, Iraq – The family visitation program at the detention facility here had its highest number of visitors for the week ending Dec. 21.

After implementing a number of new programs to the visitation process, the renovated visitation center at Camp Bucca doubled the level of visitation from approximately 750 visits per week in the fall to more than 1,600 during the third week in December.

The program is viewed as a vital part of the reconciliation process for detainees.

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