Rebuilding Efforts Taking Hold In Formerly War Torn Area
Forward Base Kalsu- Iraq
Iraqi Hands that once held offensive items are now joining together with U.S. Forces, holding and using tools to help build the local area in Iraq. With joint efforts from the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry from Fort Stewart Georgia, and local area Iraqi workers, the local people in the area are beginning to restore their area, literally from the ground up.
Current projects attempted are restoring a local building so as to house a health clinic, and efforts to pave a road through town. “Its their own local economy, it quite literally is their town†said Lieutenant Morgan from the 3rd infantry. “We are now able to work closely together with local Iraqi people to help them with rebuilding†said Morgan.
The speed of the projects has been surprising. At the clinic job site, more than a dozen men were rebuilding walls, chipping away at old paint, and laying new tiles on the roof. Outside, a crew was working to grade the road in preparation for paving. “The Speed and swiftness of these projects is needed because winter is coming soon,†said Iraqi contractor Yasser G. Khalid.
The high pace of the projects has been a positive thing. Colonel. Terry Ferrell, Army Commander was very pleased during his visit to the area. Overall great progress has been made in a short amount of time. For things to turn around so swiftly is amazing, but change has been coming slowly, and carefully for a long time now. Its just now that it has suddenly become apparent, to local Iraqi’s, to U.S. Forces, and finally to the world stage.
