In Twist of History, Kurds Patrol Baghdad

04/24/2007

By EDWARD WONG
NY Times
Published: April 24, 2007


BAGHDAD, April 23 — The Shiite mother and her son opened their door for the soldiers on night patrol.

In walked the Americans, each brandishing an M-16 assault rifle. Next came the men wearing tan uniforms and carrying Kalashnikovs. They spoke Arabic with accents as thick as crude oil.

“Are there problems in the neighborhood?” said their leader, Capt. Sardar Hamasala. “We’re here for your safety. Let us know if there are sectarian problems or other kinds of problems — Sunnis threatening Shia, Shia threatening Sunnis.”

The black-robed mother and her son said they were glad to see the soldiers, and shook their hands before the men stepped back into the cool night air of western Baghdad.

“There was a time when we couldn’t go from house to house like this among the Arabs just because we’re Kurds,” Captain Hamasala said. “Now we’re trying to make things easier for them. We’re proud of that.”

READ MORE: Click HERE