Patience Pays

If you support the troops but not their mission, would that include not supporting this?:

CAMP TAJI — Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks from Iraqi villages of Aqar Qaf, Bassam, Salamiyat and Fira Shia moved closer to reconciliation Monday here during a meeting facilitated by the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment. The sheiks put aside their differences to end violence in their villages and met to discuss ways of starting neighborhood watch programs made up of volunteers to protect their communities.

According to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Kamper, commander of 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt., the sheiks are tired of attacks on innocent civilians and Coalition forces in their neighborhoods and want to put an end to the presence of al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups operating there.

“This is a monumental meeting,” Kamper said. “This is the first time in more than three years that these tribes have sat down to talk - leaders from the west side who are Sunni and those from the east who are Shia.”

“This has been a very positive step on their parts, and it’s important to have them involved in the government process that will lead to volunteers providing security for their own villages,” Kamper added. “It has been the result of about six weeks of work to bring them to the table and for this first meeting we’re offering them a neutral ground here on Camp Taji.”

God Bless our brave and patient Troops.