News From Fallujah Iraq

Security insures stability, stability insures prosperity, prosperity is a measure of victory.

Resolve to Win

From the Fearless First Marine blog:

Story by Cpl. Chris Lyttle

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Transportation in the city of Fallujah has taken the high road, far beyond the days of Bedouin caravan runners who used camels to travel and transport goods across the desert.Besides the occasional farmer’s donkey carting vegetables, Iraqis use four wheels, vice four legs, as a preferred method of travel. Dump trucks, tankers, commuter traffic and other vehicles steadily flow into Fallujah’s entry control points, which have been put in place to safeguard people inside the city.

Increasingly long car lines at the ECPs are a visual indication that commerce is on the rise, but so is the inconvenience of traffic congestion. To accommodate for this growth, Iraqi contractors and 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines are rebuilding the ECPs to cut the wait time for commuters, which in turn could boost the city’s incoming revenue.“Historically, the city of Fallujah has a transportation and logistics-based economy,” said 1st Lt. Philipp Rigaut, assistant operations officer, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.

“Based on demographics, the largest employment sector in Anbar and Fallujah involves transportation, particularly with truckers and cab drivers. The new ECPs throughout Fallujah are designed to support the increasing traffic flow while serving its primary purpose as the first line of security upon entering the city.”

Cross-posted at The Talon