Sunni residents of Saydiyah grateful U.S. presence helps keep lid on violence

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An Iraqi girl turns to check out the camera while Spc. Justin Jelley, 23, of Tulsa, Okla., jokes with another Iraqi girl Sunday in the Saydiyah neighborhood of Baghdad. For soldiers, the presence of children is a reassuring sign that the streets are safe here, in contrast to areas within earshot that are being torn apart by violence.


Sunni residents of Saydiyah grateful U.S. presence helps keep lid on violence
By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Looking at a map, one would expect Saydiyah to be rocked by the same violence that’s tearing apart other Baghdad neighborhoods.

It’s nestled against some of the city’s most violent districts, places where U.S. soldiers died just last week. Mortar and rocket fire hit adjacent districts, and gunfire is a regular part of Saydiyah’s soundtrack.

But Saydiyah has so far resisted the violence that broke out when Shiite militants kicked off fighting against coalition forces early last week. Residents must still abide by a citywide curfew in effect in Baghdad. But U.S. forces are enforcing this with a light touch, and business continues as usual in Saydiyah, for the most part.

“Nothing,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Harmon, a platoon leader in Company A, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment. “We’re ready for it. We hear it all night. It hasn’t really happened yet.”

Residents say the makeup of Saydiyah plays a large part in the ongoing peace.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53734