US captain's farewell patrol in one-time Iraqi battleground

Posted 07 3 2009 3:28PM

KHAN BENI SAAD, Iraq (AFP) – It was 6 am as Captain Barry Troy's men set off on their last patrol of the town of Khan Beni Saad ahead of Tuesday's deadline for US troops to withdraw from Iraq's urban centres.

"Hi buddies, what's up?" chirped the 26-year-old US captain to the Iraqi police whose vehicles were decorated with flags celebrating "the day of national sovereignty."

After a short briefing from local police commander Colonel Aziz Ghazi, the US soldiers set off on patrol through KBS, as they have codenamed the town of Khan Beni Saad, south of the violent city of Baquba.

Backed by Iraqi police, they made their way through the dusty and garbage-strewn streets just as a sandstorm covered the town of almost 100,000 people with a yellow haze.

Until February 2008, the town was a stronghold of Al-Qaeda and a deadly battleground between Shiite and Sunni militants.

"From Tuesday, it will be over. We will need an invitation to come in town," explained Troy, a native of Pennsylvania. But the US military will continue to train its Iraqi counterparts and provide reinforcements if asked.

Iraqi police Lieutenant Qattuf Salman, playing the role of guide, explained that the town was a no-go zone two years ago for all but militias, until a months-long US military operation which dislodged the insurgents.

The operation was followed by a training programme for Iraqi forces to take over security responsibilities.

"At the beginning, it was hard. The colonel before was a fat lazy incompetent. The discipline sucked. But with Colonel Ghazi (having taken over), it's much better," was the frank assessment from Troy.

"It's night and day," added Sergeant Jeff MacDonald, also 26, referring to the readiness of Iraqi forces, especially the police.

"It's a good thing that they take over the security in the cities. They are ready," he said just as a local resident came out of a building, with his shirt off, to see what was going on.

"They must go. Their invitation has run out," the resident said before darting back indoors.