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Stryker Brigade sees progress

Jul-24-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

FAIRBANKS -- Soldiers from Alaska have spent 10 months in Iraq fighting insurgents, maneuvering through a fledgling government, training and empowering regional forces, drinking chai with locals and riding the political waves of the vexing and complicated conflict.

The soldiers have succeeded in their efforts, said their commander, Col. Michael Shields. But that doesn't mean the work in Iraq is complete.

"The answer is 'Yes,' we've achieved our goals and objective," Shields said Thursday by phone from Iraq. "That does not mean our work is done."[...]

Shields said the leaders have worked to peacefully mesh the different ethnic groups. A Tal Afar market destroyed by a car bomb reopened Wednesday, he said. The mayor created a plan when rebuilding the stores to alternate between Sunni and Shiite shops.

"So everyone has a stake in security and economic development," Shields said.

The region still has several challenges, he said, including economic development and unemployment.

"There's some personnel that are out there putting in IEDs just to get money to feed their families," he said. "It's less tied to terrorism and more tied to basic needs."

The transition to the 3rd Stryker Brigade from Fort Lewis, Wash., has begun and Shields said he expects those soldiers to adjust to the fluid political situation just as the 172nd did.

"I fully expect they will see changes and, in the end, they will have to adapt to them," Shields said.

The 172nd is anxious to return to Fairbanks in the next few weeks, with hopes of making it back in time to catch a salmon or two, Shields said.


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