5/1/00 1 Database System Recovery CSE544 Philip A. Bernstein Copyright ©2000 Philip A. Bernstein.
Philip Forgit part 1
1
By Philip Forgit SAAB AL BOR, Iraq “Welcome to Saab al Bor! Welcome to the City of Peace!” exclaims Radi Jaffir. As is the custom, he greets his guest with a firm handshake and kiss- es in the air at the sides of each check. Beaming with civic pride, Jaffir is the Mudeer of Saab al Bor, a town of about 40,000 about 30 miles north of Baghdad. Like Williamsburg’s mayor, the Mudeer is elected to his office by his colleagues on an elected city council known as the Nahia. He also performs the function of a city manager. He is a gracious host, as Iraqi culture demands, offering his guests a round of sweet, hot tea known as chai before business begins. On the day of my visit, this Jeanne Zeidler/Jack Tuttle of Saab al Bor takes a meeting of the Essential Services Authority. Replete with indoor fountain, colorfully tiled floors, velvet covered chairs and Persian rugs, the govern- ment center was recently renovated by coalition forces. Representatives of the gas, water and electric utilities, religious and health sections, police and security forces are gathered for a meeting that the Mudeer directs. Taking reports from the various sections and moderating disputes, the meeting is rancorous by Williamsburg stan- dards. Raised voices and fingers and arms animate points of discussion, all the cultural norm. The Jaiysh Iraq (Iraqi Army) representative sits bored, chain-smoking to occupy himself as the authority discusses reconstruction projects, water and returning refugees. He has little to report when his turn comes, and with reason. Saab al Bor was once a hotbed of insurgent activity and criminal violence. Today it has become an oasis of relative calm. Fifteen months ago, red points marking incidents such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), small arms fire, car bombs, murders, etc. would have completely covered military maps of Saab al Bor in red. Now, just weeks before provincial elections, members of a U.S. Army unit here see less red, and most of it is attributable to crime, not terrorism. Capt. Digati, commander of the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team, B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division out of Hawaii, explained the formula for success: “We cleared the city targeting Jaish al Mahdi (Shia) and al Qaeda (Sunni) cell leaders. We used the Sons of Iraq to maintain check- points, keeping trouble out, and we’ve held the city by microgrants, assis- tance from Iraqi security forces, and the delivery of essential services by the Nahia.” Essential services are notably improved from a year ago. The city’s new electric substation has power on nearly 21 hours a day. A year ago power was available just four hours a day. Water flows regularly and cleanly throughout the city. Colorful yellow trash cans are being distributed as trash pickup is estab- lished. Bombed out vacant lots of trash and rubble are being cleared, giving way to new construction. Schools have reopened, and micro grants of up to $2,000 given to businesses have improved the stores and shops of the market areas. Success in Saab al Bor is borne out by the number of people who have returned or moved here from other areas less secure. The Iraqi government offers a payment of one million dinar (about $900) to return, and in the last four months 830 families have moved back. As recently as December 2007, Saab al Bor could best be described as a ghost town, reduced by terror and coalition bombing to about 4,000 residents. Today, it is a thriving town of 40,000. As the city moves forward, Jaffir is as concerned about corruption as he is terrorism. “The people who are corrupted are the same as the ter- rorists. Both are doing something bad for my country.” For the most part, the Mudeer is confident that those working in the local government have good intentions and are working hard to move the city forward. Next door, a shopping mall is being constructed and a hospital, to be the largest in the area, is in the planning stages. Jaffir concedes he is a shameless promoter of his town, a one-man chamber of commerce. But the evidence of success is in the streets of Saab al Bor and in the discus- sions of projects, plans and problems by the Essential Services Authority. Two hours after it started, the meeting concludes — when the power goes out and the room goes dark. Next — Sons of Iraq. T ANGIBLE PROOF OF PEACE IN I RAQ Attitudes and services are much improved IRAQI VOICES Former Rawls Byrd Elementary School teacher Philip Forgit is embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, filming how the war has affected the Iraqi people. First in a series. Above is Radi Jaffir, the Mudeer of Saab al Bor. At left Iraqi children greet U.S. troops. Philip Forgit An Iraqi family warms by a fire in the town of Saab al Bor, a former hotbed of insur- gency that has become a peaceful oasis. January 28, 2009
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Philip Forgit part 1
Transcript of Philip Forgit part 1
By Philip ForgitSAAB AL BOR, Iraq“Welcome to Saab al Bor!
Welcome to the City of Peace!”exclaims Radi Jaffir.
As is the custom, he greets hisguest with a firm handshake and kiss-es in the air at the sides of each check.Beaming with civic pride, Jaffir is theMudeer of Saab al Bor, a town ofabout 40,000 about 30 miles north ofBaghdad.
Like Williamsburg’s mayor, the Mudeer is elected tohis office by his colleagues on an elected city councilknown as the Nahia. He also performs the function of acity manager. He is a gracious host, as Iraqi culturedemands, offering his guests a round of sweet, hot teaknown as chai before business begins.
On the day of my visit, this Jeanne Zeidler/Jack Tuttleof Saab al Bor takes a meeting of the Essential ServicesAuthority. Replete with indoor fountain, colorfully tiledfloors, velvet covered chairs and Persian rugs, the govern-ment center was recently renovated by coalition forces.
Representatives of the gas, water and electric utilities,religious and health sections, police and security forcesare gathered for a meeting that the Mudeer directs.Taking reports from the various sections and moderatingdisputes, the meeting is rancorous by Williamsburg stan-dards. Raised voices and fingers and arms animate pointsof discussion, all the cultural norm. The Jaiysh Iraq (IraqiArmy) representative sits bored, chain-smoking to occupyhimself as the authority discusses reconstruction projects,water and returning refugees. He has little to report whenhis turn comes, and with reason.
Saab al Bor was once a hotbed of insurgent activityand criminal violence. Today it has become an oasis ofrelative calm.
Fifteen months ago, red points marking incidents such
as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), small arms fire,car bombs, murders, etc. would have completely coveredmilitary maps of Saab al Bor in red. Now, just weeksbefore provincial elections, members of a U.S. Army unithere see less red, and most of it is attributable to crime,not terrorism.
Capt. Digati, commander of the Army’s StrykerBrigade Combat Team, B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 14thCavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division out of Hawaii,explained the formula for success:
“We cleared the city targeting Jaish al Mahdi (Shia)and al Qaeda (Sunni) cell leaders. We used the Sons of
Iraq to maintain check-points, keeping troubleout, and we’ve held thecity by microgrants, assis-tance from Iraqi securityforces, and the delivery ofessential services by theNahia.”
Essential services arenotably improved from ayear ago. The city’s newelectric substation haspower on nearly 21 hoursa day. A year ago powerwas available just fourhours a day.
Water flows regularlyand cleanly throughout thecity.
Colorful yellow trashcans are being distributedas trash pickup is estab-lished. Bombed out vacantlots of trash and rubble arebeing cleared, giving wayto new construction.
Schools have reopened,and micro grants of up to$2,000 given to businesseshave improved the storesand shops of the market
areas.Success in Saab al Bor is borne out by the number of
people who have returned or moved here from other areasless secure. The Iraqi government offers a payment of onemillion dinar (about $900) to return, and in the last fourmonths 830 families have moved back. As recently asDecember 2007, Saab al Bor could best be described as aghost town, reduced by terror and coalition bombing toabout 4,000 residents. Today, it is a thriving town of40,000.
As the city moves forward, Jaffir is as concerned aboutcorruption as he is terrorism.
“The people who are corrupted are the same as the ter-rorists. Both are doing something bad for my country.”
For the most part, the Mudeer is confident that thoseworking in the local government have good intentions andare working hard to move the city forward. Next door, ashopping mall is being constructed and a hospital, to bethe largest in the area, is in the planning stages.
Jaffir concedes he is a shameless promoter of his town,a one-man chamber of commerce. But the evidence ofsuccess is in the streets of Saab al Bor and in the discus-sions of projects, plans and problems by the EssentialServices Authority. Two hours after it started, the meetingconcludes — when the power goes out and the room goesdark.
Next — Sons of Iraq.
TANGIBLE PROOFOF PEACE IN IRAQAttitudes and services are much improved IIRRAAQQII VVOOIICCEESS
Former RawlsByrd ElementarySchool teacherPhilip Forgit isembedded withU.S. troops in Iraq,filming how thewar has affectedthe Iraqi people.First in a series.
Above isRadiJaffir, theMudeerof Saabal Bor. Atleft IraqichildrengreetU.S.troops.
Philip Forgit
An Iraqi family warms by a fire in the town of Saab al Bor, a former hotbed of insur-gency that has become a peaceful oasis.
January 28, 2009
