Taji’s “Neighborhood Watch” turns over another cache
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory APO AE 09342
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RELEASE No. 20070627-06 June 27, 2007
Taji’s “Neighborhood Watch” turns over another cache By Maj. Randall Baucom 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq —
For a second time this week, a large cache consisting of improvised
explosive device-making material and mortar rounds was turned over to
Coalition Forces by the “Neighborhood Watch” in Taji, Iraq.
The
Taji neighborhood watch contacted Coalition Forces June 25, after the
driver of a truck fled the scene when the volunteers stopped a
suspicious vehicle moving through the rural village of Abd Allah al
Jasim. The vehicle contained 24 mortar rounds, two rockets, spare
machine gun barrels, small arms ammunition and other IED-making
material.
“This grassroots movement of reconciliation by the
volunteers is taking off all around us. The tribes that had once
actively or passively supported al-Qaeda in Iraq now want them out,”
said Lt. Col. Peter Andrysiak, the deputy commander of the 1st
“Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
The
neighborhood watch is made up of a group of 500 volunteers, from a
number of tribes in the area, who want reconciliation with the
Coalition Forces and the Iraqi government. The volunteers are currently
being vetted for possible future selection for training as Iraqi Police
or some other organization within the Iraqi Security Forces.
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Since
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Logistics Center has monitored 4,191 convoys; 44,457 cargo vehicles;
and 1,734 rail missions.