CLC Group Works Out Details With Iraqi Army Forces
Baghdad
Troops from the Iraqi Army, and the local Concerned Iraqi Local Citizens Group joined together at a ceremony to honor the Iraqi Army Birthday. They met together January 6th, and forged an even stronger bond between the two groups.
Rumors had been flying that there was disharmony and strife between the Army and the CLC groups. However with their meeting, both sides were quick to say this is not the case.
“We stand with our CLC brothers, as the Iraqi Army, to help protect our country,†said Colonel Tariq Abdul Kareem Nasser. Colonel Nasser is commander of the 1st Brigade in the 11th Iraqi Army Division.
Members of both groups joined together in the chill morning hours to swear an oath to defend Iraqi together. After the swearing in, Colonel Nasser spoke to the assembled troops and citizens. “This proves our bond together between our two groups as brothers is stronger than ever,†said Nasser.
“Today was very important and shows how the different groups defending Iraq are beginning to join together successfully to restore, protect and defend their country,†said Captain Kiran Porter. Captain Porter is with the U.S. Forces team advising the Iraqi Army in this region.
The Concerned Local Citizen groups are a volunteer force made up of citizens, loosely based on the Neighborhood Watch model. Their immediate success in the Adhamiyah region of Baghdad was dramatic: Over a seventy percent drop in attacks in the first sixty days they assisted.
