Hawr Rajab rebounds from attack

Capt. Greg Curry, Troop A commander of the 6th Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, gives an Iraqi convenience store owner a microgrant to help expand his business in Hawr Rajab on Thursday. A week ago, at least nine Iraqis died in a gunbattle with al-Qaida fighters in Hawr Rajab. But the incident hasn't stopped U.S. efforts to rebuild the town's economy.


Hawr Rajab rebounds from attack
By Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, December 4, 2007

HAWR RAJAB, Iraq — For months before Nov. 22, Hawr Rajab served as a symbol of the military’s surge strategy.

Hundreds of “concerned citizens” patrolled streets formerly ruled by insurgents in this town bordering south Baghdad. More than 70 percent of the population had moved back into abandoned houses, 3rd Infantry Division officials said.

Commerce showed signs of life, local residents say. Then an al-Qaida attack shattered the growing calm.

“Before last week, business was booming. But not now,” said shopkeeper Salim Jatoo Sawhid.

Anywhere from 15 to 50 insurgents entered the town, depending on various reports. They killed concerned citizens guarding perimeter checkpoints. Then they entered the town center, stole an Iraqi army Humvee and killed two soldiers.

They moved on to the concerned citizens headquarters and killed at least seven before the Iraqi army and U.S. Army air assets repelled the attacks.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50704