Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[explosion]
[♪drum beat♪]
Welcome back.
The 1st Armored Division is working with Iraqi Security Forces
to train them to take over the lead role in securing their country.
Sergeant Paul Monroe reports.
[traffic sounds]
[Monroe] Since the beginning of the partnership with Iraqi Security Forces,
American troops have been drilling a message
into the minds of their Iraqi counterparts.
Security, security, security.
[Monroe] In southern Baghdad, leaders feel that message may have finally hit home,
so the focus on patrols with Iraqi police has shifted.
[male soldier] They understand the security portion.
I think that's been drilled into their heads by Americans.
But I think the next step for them
is to then now become fully involved in the community
and to be able to go out there and just do almost like walking the beat
like an American cop would do.
[Monroe] Now on these patrols, soldiers take a step back.
Going into houses as they're talking to people,
it's always the Iraqi Security Forces that are approaching first,
and then as we're invited, we come up.
[Monroe] The same can be seen at checkpoints in the area.
My patrols and my platoons will just go around and stop in,
check in for about five minutes, ask them, "Hey, how are you doing?
Is there anything you need?" give them a bottle of water,
just to let them know that we appreciate them being out there.
But it is their country now; it is their security.
[Monroe] So in this part of their country, Iraqi police travel through the streets,
going door to door to see what's going on in the community
and to find out who's who--even what's in their driveway.
[ambient chatter]
And the hope is that efforts like this will help maintain security
when the distance between Iraqi Security Forces
and American troops is much greater.
Reporting from Baghdad, Army Sergeant Paul Monroe.