Multi-National Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070105-03
Jan. 2, 2007

Iraqi Army, police team up in joint operation on Haifa Street
Division – Baghdad PAO

By Spc. Alexis Harrison
2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – The 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment's Military Transition Team has
been overseeing operations performed by the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army
Division for more than two months now. To effectively beef up law enforcement and
security in the area, another group of Iraqis stepped up to join into the fight to make
Haifa Street a safer place.

On Dec. 28, the Iraqi Army battalion teamed up with police from the Al-Jeafer
Police Station in a joint operation to seize high-value targets and show the locals they
had a police force they could count on, said Maj. Chris Norrie, the commander of the 4-
9 MTT.

U.S. and Iraqi troops and the police targeted an area where intelligence
resources reported the wanted men were staying.
The police and Iraqi soldiers stormed the building and went floor-by-floor looking
for their targets. Unfortunately, none were found, but Norrie said finding high-value
targets wasn't necessarily what it was all about.

The Barton, Vt. native said that the operation between the Iraqi police and army
was the first step in building a relationship that would hopefully lead to future joint
operations.

According to Norrie, this was the first time in more than 16 months that the Iraqi
police and army have worked together in this area.

"The (Iraqi Army) and (police) are much stronger together than they ever would
be if they were apart," Norrie said. "It's been a long time since IP's have done a search,
a raid or any kind of joint operation here, and they were clearly excited to be out there."
Norrie remarked about the strengths and tenacity the police seemed to carry with
them.

"The IPs didn't have armored vehicles like the army had, but they were not afraid
in the least," he said. "The Iraqis will take the fight to the insurgents. They're out on the
streets every day despite some equipment and personnel issues, but they're out there
… going after the bad guys."

“The mission was capturing the terrorist because they are harming the Iraqi
people, and we will not allow them to do it … if God is willing,” said one Iraqi police
officer.

Norrie said locals in this area hadn't seen a policeman in almost two years. He
said the return of the police force to one of the deadliest places in the capital could bring
a renewed hope to a city torn by sectarian violence.

We hope to build momentum from this and get the guys they're after and other
guys that are doing harm in the area," Norrie said. "It's all anybody wants is to protect
the local populace. That's the key."

Norrie said his team's mission is of the utmost importance. The team works with
the Iraqi army every day to ensure coalition help is readily available to aid the Iraqis in
the fight against insurgents.

1st Sgt. Joseph MacFarlane, from Traverse City, Mich., said that although the
roles of the army and police differ, they find a common ground in wanting to see the
streets become safer.  "For the people on the street, they see the American forces, the Iraqi Army and
the police working together," MacFarlane said. "It's great for them, for a sense of
security. Hopefully, they will open their arms to the police force as well as the Iraqi
Army."

MacFarlane said as joint operations become more commonplace, the confidence
among the Iraqi security forces will also continue to grow, as the Iraqi Army, police and
coalition military transition teams work together.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – BAGHDAD
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IRAQNA: 011-964-790-192-4675.