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Iraqi Leaders Stand Against Terror

Dec- 2-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Link to Full Article with Photo
Sgt. 1st Class Jason Arneson
4-11th Field Artillery

FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — Local leaders from the Tigris River Valley came together Nov. 20 to sign a “Contract Against Terror” to signify their opposition to terrorism.

After traditional greetings were exchanged, the ceremony started with Lt. Col. Scott Wuestner, Task Force Thunder commander, thanking the leaders for coming.

“You have come on your own to state that you reject terrorism in all its forms since these terrorists offer nothing,” he told the assembled group of leaders.

Taha Ali Taha, an Al Aitha city council member and brother of Sheik Hussein, spoke for the participants, saying, “We have come here to announce that we reject terrorism and will not have terrorists intimidate us.”

This statement of solidarity was all the more pointed since his fellow attendee, Sheik Zedan, presented a letter to the group from purported anti-Iraqi forces who threatened retribution to the citizens of Al Aitha for their continued cooperation with both Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces.

This pledge to renounce terrorism was echoed by the comments of Tutakat city council president Abdulla Mohammed Khalaf who came to add his support.

“I am happy to come here to support the citizens of Al Aitha and its pledge to renounce terrorism,” he said. “It is through the brave efforts of both the ISF and CF in pursuing these terrorists that they will be defeated.”

The ceremony concluded with the attendees once again pledging their support to help defeat terrorism by proudly showing the copies of their signed contracts with thumbprint.


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