Over 140 Iraqis lay down arms in Balad

(Men waiting to reconcile outside the doors of Forward Operating base Palawoda, near the city of Balad.)

Balad, Iraq-

Key tribal leaders ended their standoff with U.S. and Iraqi forces by bringing in men from their areas who have insurgent histories.

The commander of 1st Squad/32nd Cavalry Regiment of 1st/101st ABN, who control security around Balad, had previously set deadlines for known insurgents to reconcile by. Reconciliation is a process in which insurgents meet with US and Iraqi forces to officially lay down their arms in exchange for some amnesty.

Much of this is based on relationships. Local sheiks and militia spread the word that time is running out. Of course, when the Airborne backs up the "or else" with raids that kill or capture high-value targets, that could be called an incentive.

Thursday at a small base just outside of Balad, there must have been plenty of incentives.

Apparently, operations conducted by 1st Squad/32nd Calvary Regiment recently killed three key insurgents in the area. The next day seven "high value individuals" with close ties to the insurgents volunteered to turn themsevles in. Over the next two days 140 men came pouring in to surrender.

"We are tired of fighting and want peace," one sheik taking part said, according to a military press release.

(Iraqis line up to receive refreshments while they wait to meet with coalition and Iraqi forces.)

According to the Army, the reconciliation process begins with the wanted man contacting coalition and Iraqi security forces to enter the process; a meeting is then scheduled. The individual who is reconciling is informed of his status depending on his record.

Each individual is informed up front of the conditions associated with their reconciliation, Army sources said. They have to sign a cease-fire agreement. If the man has an outstanding warrant, a court date is scheduled through the Joint Command Center to face an Iraqi Judge.

If he misses the court date, he forfeits his status and is put back on the active target list for detainment.

"People who reconcile must be treated fairly. If others see that those reconciling are treated fairly, then they will come in, the process will work, and reconciliation will have been responsible for bringing peace for this Qada (County)", said Lt. Col Richard McCarthy of 1st Squadron/32nd Cavalry Regiment of the 1st/101st Airborne Division.

Balad, a city of 120,000 up the Tigris River from Baghdad, lies less than 15 miles from Logistics Support Area Anaconda, the largest U.S. military base in Iraq. Balad was the site of well-publicized sectarian bloodshed in 2006. More than 100 Sunni and Shia killed each other here after the Samarra mosque bombing.

"The place used to be a flashpoint for Sunni and Shite," said Major Tussey of the 1st Brigade/ 101st Airborne Division. "The relationships the 32nd Cav developed over two to three months, starting in January to this point is a great success story."

"We gave them the opportunity," Tussey said. "Day one, day two, day three, hundreds. The (1st/32nd Cav) had the relationship with the leaders. They made the sheiks part of the solution," Tussey said, confirming it was the largest mass reconciliation since the 1st/101st has been in theater, which is a little over eight months.

But the deadly effectiveness of air assault operations on black listed targets, including one that led to 22 detainees last month, also must have influenced the Balad reconciliations. This latest is significant for its size, and the number of high-value targets. Perhaps it is the turning point here.