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Pacifying the “Triangle of Death”
From death to life:
Citizens Groups Help Pacify Former ‘Triangle of Death’
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2007 – Tired of al Qaeda-committed brutal acts, armed groups of Euphrates River Valley residents are working with Iraqi army and coalition forces to pacify an area once known as the “triangle of death,” a senior U.S. military officer said today.
“We’ve really seen a dramatic reversal in the security situation,” said Army Col. Michael Kershaw, commander of 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The emergence of these citizens groups about four or five months ago was a turning point in efforts to establish stability within his area of operations, Kershaw told Pentagon reporters via satellite from Iraq.
Kershaw and his troops have patrolled a 300-square-mile area southeast of Baghdad, once known as an insurgent stronghold called the triangle of death, for the past 14 months now. They’re getting ready to rotate home to Fort Drum, N.Y.
About 16,000 vetted citizens have enrolled to form the armed citizens groups, Kershaw said, of which about half are now performing security patrols and checkpoint duties. Cooperation with citizens groups has led to the capture of more than 85 terrorist leaders in recent months, Kershaw said. And citizens groups are finding and turning in large amounts of explosives and other ordnance that could be used by insurgents.