Stryker Brigade News

Now, with the constitutional referendum vote, Iraq seems to be on its way to a democratic government elected by the people.

Oct. 15 the people of Iraq voted on their first constitution. Nearly 17.5 million of Iraq’s 27 million people registered to vote in the referendum.

Despite threats from terrorist groups, fears of possible attacks and constant intimidation, the people of Iraq showed their resolve and commitment to make their country a better place by having an incredibly high turnout of voters at the polling sites throughout the state.

Even before the polling sites opened up at 7 a.m., men and women lined up by the thousands in some places for their right to vote and to have their voices heard.

On a day where the temperature nearly exceeded 100 degrees, Iraqis, many accompanied by their children, stood in line, sometimes for several hours, outside of the polling sites while Iraqi Police and army forces kept a sharp eye out for any possible threats.

For several weeks leading up to the referendum, Coalition Forces helped the Iraqi Police forces and local government officials plan out where the polling sites would best be located and provided assistance with the setup and delivery of polling site materials.

The coordination and prior planning led to a day of safe voting throughout the nation. Current estimates place the actual voter turnout at 80 percent of registered voters.

While Coalition Forces continued to conduct daily patrols throughout the nation, it was the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police force that took center stage for the referendum.

Iraqi forces stood as the main effort, securing and guarding every polling site while the Coalition Forces were on standby in the event local forces called for assistance with problems or emergencies.

The Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police forces have been working with Coalition forces for more than two years for the eventual complete transfer of authority to Iraqi security forces.

Two years of hard work and training have led the Iraqi Army and Police forces to a point where they can stand up and take charge of situations themselves with little involvement from Coalition Forces.

Although threats and intimidation remain high against their members, they continue to join and serve their nation in increasing numbers and take a more prominent role in planning operations to help end the insurgency which has plagued their state since the end of Saddam’s reign.

The Iraqi Army and police forces were busy throughout the day ensuring that the people of Iraq were able to vote in safety, yet they each took the time to vote and then proudly displayed their inked finger to their friends and others waiting.

(After voting, each Iraqi is required to dip his or her finger in a vial of ink to prevent multiple votes by the same person.)

In the northern Iraq city of Mosul, elements of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team planned for several weeks to help the Iraqi Army and Police force execute this great undertaking.

Every possible situation was planned and scrutinized in an effort to mitigate as much danger as possible for the Iraqi people and their security forces.

Of course, in a city of well over two million people, there were a few problems but all were quickly remedied through cooperation with local forces.

In the Palestine neighborhood of Mosul, for which the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment has responsibility, a group of men complained that their polling site was too far away from their homes to travel safely.

The Company B commander, Capt. Brad Velotta, quickly solved this problem by telling the men: “The first opportunity for freedom in 8,000 years is worth walking 2 kilometers!”

The men all laughed, then nodded in agreement and headed out for the polling site to vote.

The Arctic Wolves have been in Mosul since they replaced the1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

Since September, the 172nd has been responsible for the capture of more than 100 suspected terrorists and thousands of various munitions including mortars, artillery rounds, improvised explosive devices, rifles, machineguns, ingredients for making explosives and instructions and manuals for producing bombs.