Iraqi leaders shaping Iraq's future

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jayson Price | Col. Khalid Kharbit, the district chief of police for Habbaniyah, Iraq, gives his thoughts on local current events with members of Police Transition Team 13 and Military Movement Team 6 aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, July 28. U.S. forces provide training, information and support to Iraqi leaders, like Kharbit, who are taking an active role in Iraq's future.  

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ

09.12.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Jayson Price 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — "Before he came here, [Iraqi civilians] would throw stones at [U.S.] forces, but now they invite them for dinner and celebration."

Col. Khalid Kharbit, the District chief of police for Habbaniyah, Iraq, is talking about Lt. Col. Robert E. McCarthy, a Police Transition Team leader who Kharbit credits with providing leadership that helped change the situation in Habbaniyah in early 2007.

But soon the country will rely completely on Iraqi leaders, like Kharbit, who are willing to step up and take an active role in Iraq's future.

"Key leaders are essential to Iraq's future," said Gunnery Sgt. Rusty L. Smith, the operations chief for PTT-13, who has worked with Kharbit for two months. "For example, a chief of police has to coordinate everything from natural disaster response to local security."

Leadership within Iraq's police and military forces has come a long way in the past few years and Kharbit says he can see a definite difference in today's Habbaniyah compared to how it was in 2006.

"It was an uncontrollable security situation," said Kharbit, through an interpreter. "I used to travel to conferences and meetings, and there would be many explosions along the road. We would even take indirect fire during meetings."

Kharbit, along with members of the police transition teams, established and began enforcing a system for reviewing police recruits.

"We performed background checks, checked their skills, qualifications, knowledge of weapons and physical fitness," said Kharbit. "[U.S.] forces provided equipment and weapons, and we began sending recruits to police academies for training."

Iraqi police special forces and quick reaction forces began engaging the enemy to defeat al-Qaida in early 2007, said Kharbit.

"In the past, we received help from coalition forces and the ministry of defense," said Kharbit. "Now our Iraqi police are capable of controlling the whole situation without any help."

As more capable leaders step up within Iraq's military and police forces, U.S. military and police transition teams are stepping back and providing advice, training and assistance only when it is requested.

In a closed meeting with PTT-13 and the Marines who will soon replace PTT-13, Kharbit revealed his requests and plans for the future. He could have requested extra funding or equipment, but instead, he revealed he was interested in acquiring supplies for a school and repairing a local church.

"We need to continue working on two subjects: human rights and providing help to civilians," said Kharbit, as he talked about leaders and other influential people in Iraq.

"I want them to work for the country and help the country. Win the hearts and minds of the people and treat everyone as equal - don't differentiate. I recommend this to every leader in Iraq."

• Date Taken: 09.12.2009
• Date Posted: 09.12.2009 04:59
• Story ID: 38657
• Location: AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IQ