Thursday, January 25, 2007

Soldiers, Iraqis team up for mosque search

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, began their day Jan. 16 securing the outside of a mosque in the Hardar neighborhood of Al-Doura, Baghdad, while NPs and IAs searched the inside.

General Order Number One prohibits U.S. forces from entering mosques because they are religious sanctuaries for Iraqis, said Sgt 1st Class William Gustwiller, platoon leader for Company A’s 2nd Bn.

Consequently, Soldiers rely on their Iraqi counterparts to ensure mosques do not become weapons storage spaces or safe havens for insurgents, said Gustwiller.

“They know that we can’t go in there, so it’s a good place (for them) to hide stuff,” said Staff Sgt. Nick Crosby, a Co. A squad leader.

Since the mission of searching a mosque is always joint in nature, Soldiers and Iraqi security forces coordinate and share information to ensure the operation succeeds, Gustwiller said.