U.S. Troops Driven by Duty in Sadr City

B A G H D A D, Iraq, July 1, 2004 -- Sadr City is a problem area. The streets of this Baghdad slum are strewn with trash, sewage bubbles up from dilapidated pipes, and the narrow alleys hide thousands of insurgents bent on forcing the coalition out of Iraq — something the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division knows all too well.

On April 4, members of a 1st Cavalry platoon were in downtown Sadr City, cleaning sewage from the streets, when they were attacked. Platoon leader Lt. Shane Aguero only realized his gunner was dead when the body slid silently from the turret down into the Humvee. Seven other soldiers lost their lives that day.

Sadr City is a slum on the edge of Baghdad, originally called Saddam City and built to house about 300,000 people. It is now home to almost three 3 million Iraqis, as well as 1,800 soldiers of the 1st Cavalry.

The U.S. soldiers are based at Camp Eagle, a former juvenile detention center on the edge of town. They face two tasks: firstly to bring security and peace, and secondly to give the people what we take for granted in the West — sewage, electricity and running water.

Lt. Craig Allen spent Monday evening touring the north of Sadr City — the most anti-coalition neighborhood — asking people how things were moving along. Before long, a crowd of kids gathered, chanting the name of firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and throwing stones.

"It's kind of hard to rebuild the place with people shooting at us and kids throwing stones," Allen said. He was exasperated.

Why Take the Risk?

So why bother? In the time of Saddam Hussein, Sadr City had nothing. There was no garbage collection or functioning sewage system back then. This is a Shiite neighborhood and Saddam is a Sunni.

"Well, if we have the chance to give them something better, then let's do it," one soldier told me.

And now back to Lt. Aguero, who lost his gunner in the April 4 ambush. For him, trying to get the trash collected, or trying to get the sewage system working, is what keeps him going.

"When you're here and you see just the absolute misery these people had to endure for so long and you can actually give them something, regardless how small, that makes it all worthwhile," he said.

Aguero is supposed to meet with the so-called Neighborhood Advisory Council every week. They tell him what needs fixed on their block. Two months ago, there were 18 men on the Council. Now there are two. Three were assassinated, and the rest quit in fear.

Cooperation Is Dangerous Work

Cooperating with the coalition is dangerous in Sadr City. Five Iraqi translators working with the 1st Cavalry have been assassinated on their way home from work. One translator, George (not his real name), said he now lives on the base because it's too dangerous to go home.

So why does he do it? He could earn a lot more money working for an international corporation in Baghdad.

"Because I love my country and I want to do something to help," he said.

On patrol with the Quick Reaction Force in downtown Sadr City on Wednesday, another translator, Radi, hid his identity with a helmet and large sunglasses.

"My brother was shot two times in the legs, in the feet, for working with coalition," he said.

Again, Radi does what he does because he wants a better life for himself and his people. Cooperation is the quickest way to a better life, he said.

Back at Camp Eagle, work is also under way. The former detention center is beginning to resemble a base back home.

It's still hot and dusty, mortars still sail over the perimeter most nights, and it's still a long way from home. But they're installing air conditioning in the barrack blocks and pretty soon there will be inside toilets, as well.

The U.S. Army is settling in for the long haul.

As one soldier said, "If I had to guess, and I'm no expert, I'd say it'll take five or 10 years."