The meeting took place at the College of Languages on the Bab Al Muadham campus of Baghdad University. Col. Peter Mansoor, 1st Brigade Combat Team commander, 1st Armored Division and a panel of experts from the brigade and the division staff were on hand to answer students’ questions.

The goal of the meeting was to increase the flow of information between the coalition and the Iraqi public, and to provide a forum for the future leaders of Iraq to learn more about the current events in Baghdad and plans for the future.

Lt. Col. Sharon Riley, the Division’s senior legal advisor, and Lt. Col. John Kem, 16th Engineer Battalion commander, also participated in the evening’s discussions.

A large number of students were present and eager to ask questions of the panel. Their questions covered topics which included Iraq’s upcoming national elections, discussions of the meaning of federalism, the movement of Coalition forces to the periphery of Baghdad and local infrastructure improvements.

The meeting also covered issues concerning the college itself and the future of educational institutions in the new Iraq. Mansoor greeted the students and introduced the panel. He told the assembly that sovereignty would transfer to Iraqi control June 30.

He said the meeting this was a good opportunity to discuss issues of concern to the students. One student, who was present at the last forum, asked Mansoor why the new Iraqi constitution would not be based on the laws of Islam.

“Iraq has many religious groups and to base the government on Islam would be to ignore the others,” he explained. “The Islamic faith will be completely respected, as it has in the new constitution of Afghanistan. But there are many Christians living in Iraq. Respectfully, they should not be governed under Islamic law.”

One group of students came apparently to ignite issues concerning student behavior on campus. The group, calling itself the “League of Students for Moral Conduct,” claimed that they should be the sole protectors of the school. The Iraqi Police Service or Facilities Protective Service officers were not needed, members of the organization said.

Riley explained that students in the school should focus their interests on learning and not law enforcement. Judging from the speakers’ comments, it became clear to participants that the organization was not concerned about crime, but rather wanted to control student behavior on campus - especially the behavior of female students who choose not to abide by the traditional Islamic code.

"What you are doing is wrong. It is not your place in a free society to intimidate other students into acting in the manner you think is right,” Mansoor said. “If the students are not breaking the law, then they are free to act as they choose. Who is to say that your moral code is any more right than theirs?"

According to the participants, the forum went well. In addition to students, members from the local press were present and a local television station had a chance to conduct interviews with the students and Army leaders. The brigade is planning another student forum for later in March.