Disarmament of Population

[CPT Holzbach]

Martial Law was exactly what I was trying to think of for a better concept then just disarming. Much more would be envolved. I have a question. On TV reports the streets are always so dirty, good place to hide IED's. Don't they clean streets over there? If unemployment is so bad cain't they hire people to clean up and have fewer places to hide IED's. This is part of the broken window theory of police work, if the neighborhood looks bad it draws bad people, makes them take advantage of chaos, nobody in control? Your comments are welcome on this.

Yes, there is usually a lot of trash on the streets in Baghdad, and it is sometimes used to conceal IEDs. There have been many efforts at cleaning up the streets and reducing clutter, everything from hiring locals, to giving 48 hour notice to street vendors who block store fronts to move out or get their stands crushed by Bradleys and tanks (the guys who did this said it was IMMENSLY entertaining, though maybe not the best idea since the shops quickly reappeared). There is also much rubble that is used sometimes to conceal IEDs as well.

There was always a problem with corruption in hiring locals. Also, the people there are strikingly lazy about taking care of their neighborhoods. Many times giant dumpsters would be purchased and placed around the neighborhoods for both trash and dead animals (cattle). Two things would invariably happen. Either trash would be stacked AROUND the dumspter with little going INSIDE of it (!?), or the dumpster would quickly fill up and then the corruption of the garbage removal companies would have to be dealt with. Many times people would burn the contents. Other times they just throw the trash in the streets. Some of it is lack of government and private services. Some of it is simple laziness.

As far as the "broken window" concept, I always liked that idea, I know Gulianne (spelling?), the former NYC mayor, touted it a lot along with community policing, and it worked wonders for NYC crime. For Iraq, I would say that it is too subtle. When you have sewage in some of the streets, trash almost everywhere, and daily killings, making your neighborhood look nice to stop crime is just too small a thing to have meaningful effect. It works in a stable society run by the rule of law, like the USA. But Iraq has a ways to go before it can progress to that much of a nuanced policing concept. Bigger, bolder, more sweeping changes are needed first. Although if a sense of civic duty and personal responsibility could be fostered, it would help. Now, community policing would be a great thing to import there, for both the Iraqi Police and Army, AND THE AMERICANS. Combined Action Platoons.

[slapout9]

I would have loved to have seen the Bradley Police Car (uh excuse me combat vehicle) in action myself. I really like hearing what it is like. One of the websites that Jedburgh recomended talked about one unit having to send a rifle to squad to get some people to fix a sewer, this was actually there real job before the war, but they were mad at the people who had the sewer leak so they didn't think they should fix it. After some non verbal communication the sewer was fixed. Anyway welcome home.