Published: November 05, 2008
Striker Brigade commander dines with Sadr City Sheik
By Maj. Mike Humphreys
3rd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B
BAGHDAD - More than a feast was on the table when Col. John Hort, commander, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, dined with Sheik Hassib Farhan Mifftin at the home of the tribal leader's brother in the Sadr City district of Baghdad.
Leader engagements such as this one in Sadr City play a vital roll in the ability of Multi-National Division - Baghdad forces to gauge the pulse of Iraqi communities in order to better serve the population and protect U.S. forces, Iraqi Security Forces, and Iraqi civilians.
"Coalition Forces and the Government of Iraq recognize that tribal sheiks play an extremely important leadership role in the Iraqi culture," said Lt. Col. Pete Pierce, a native of Yorba Linda, Calif., and the human terrain team leader, who advises the 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Sheik Hassib Farhan Mifftin talks with Col. John Hort, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at his brother's home in the Sadr City district of Baghdad. Hort was invited to dine with the Sheik as part of ongoing cooperation between Multi-National Division - Baghdad forces and tribal leaders.
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While reinforcing important friendships, Hort's engagement in Sadr City with tribal leaders, often the most influential of Iraqi leaders, is to seek out more support from Iraqis to find Special Groups criminals and prevent a return to violence in the region.
Mifftin said he agreed with Hort's assessment and method for capturing SGC and is confident that SGC must have support from other Iraqis to continue their campaign of violence.
"No stranger will come to this area unless accommodated by a local," Mifftin said, of Sadr City.
Hort, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., asked Mifftin what the people of Sadr City felt about the Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers compared to five months ago.
Col. John Hort, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, talks with Sheik Hassib Farhan Mifftin at the home of Mifftin's brother in the Sadr City district of Baghdad. Hort was invited to dine with the Sheik as part of ongoing cooperation between Multi-National Division - Baghdad forces and tribal leaders.
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Mifftin said that most people in Sadr City felt safer, happier and thankful for security, but the wall is still a point of contention for many that feel isolated from critical economic infrastructure and essential services. The Gold Wall, a three-mile concrete barrier 10 to 12 feet high, was built by the MND-B brigade in April and May to separate the southern neighborhoods of Sadr City, Thawra 1 and Thawra 2, from the rest of the district and limit SGC access to rocket-launching sites and their primary source of funding, the Jamilla Market.
Hort told Mifftin he understood the wall has been an obstacle to more than just the SGC. It was built to channelize and has been a key element to the security Sadr City now enjoys. He said continued support from the people and more improvements in security will allow MND-B to open more access points in the wall that now has five entry points.
Additionally, he said the goal was to one day remove the wall entirely when the conditions in the district allowed it.
"Okay, here's what we'll do," Hortsaid as he leaned forward in his seat in a friendly gesture to the Sheik. "We'll remove the barriers on one condition - everybody has to tell us about one bad guy."
Col. John Hort, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, greets Sheik Uday Mifften and brother, Sheik Hassib Farhan Mifftin, at Uday's home in the Sadr City district of Baghdad. Hort was invited to dine with the Sheiks as part of ongoing cooperation between Multi-National Division - Baghdad forces and tribal leaders.
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Mifftin and Hort laughed in agreement at the enormity of the task, but Mifftin said he is confident Sadr City is getting better thanks to the efforts of Coalition Forces and their Iraqi partners in the Iraqi Army.
"Sometimes the bad things happen, but we expect something good to come from it," Mifftin said.
Mifftin added that his friendship with Hort was among the good things that he personally has experienced since 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., began operations in Sadr City.
"Through these things we've been through, I've been able to see brothers I never would have met," Mifftin said.
Over dinner, the men talked about Iraq's vast and rich resources and Baghdad's potential to once again be an international stage for wealth and commerce.
Mifftin spoke proudly about Iraq's future and his country's continued relationship with the United States.
"We hope that we've changed our idea about America and that Americans have changed their idea about Iraq," he said.
For anyone that may doubt Iraq's potential, Mifftin called for patience.
"You cannot judge Iraq in one season," he said.
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