In Arab Jabour, troops step aside, serve as ‘enablers’ for the Iraqis

A boy passes out chai tea to 2nd Lt. Bret Woellner, right center, and 1st Lt. Gregory Estevez, far right, both platoon leaders for Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, during a meeting with Sheik Arkan (center) in Arab Jabour, Iraq. Estevez is learning the area that his platoon will take on from Woellner. Arkan is the "Sons of Iraq" leader in the area.


In Arab Jabour, troops step aside, serve as ‘enablers’ for the Iraqis
By Steve Mraz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 3, 2009

PATROL BASE DOLBY, Iraq — Gone are the days of grunts kicking in doors and conducting kinetic operations.

Because of the current noncombat nature of the war in this part of Iraq, U.S. Army officers and senior noncommissioned officers now sip sugary tea with sheiks and strengthen relationships with Iraqi army leaders during frequent visits in this rural area southeast of Baghdad.

"Does it take away from the glory of combat? No," said Sgt. 1st Class Jesus Pena, just before meeting with an Iraqi Army lieutenant colonel.

"It’s just a different complexity now."

In many parts of Iraq, U.S. troops are already playing the role envisioned in the withdrawal plan President Barack Obama announced Friday. Under that plan, the "combat" mission will end by Aug. 31, 2010. But up to 50,000 troops will remain through the end of 2011 as "enablers" — providing training, air support and back-up for Iraqi security forces.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61076