Coalition Reclaims al-Jamea'a

30 July 07
By Spc. Alexis Harrison
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.

BAGHDAD - As Operation Arrowhead Ripper moves along in Diyala, ever so quietly, Operation Rogue Thunder swept through a section of the capital in hopes of ridding the area of anti-Iraqi forces for good.

The 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army, their Military Transition Team and Soldiers from the U.S. 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, cleared al-Jamea'a of caches, bombs and insurgents while helping to ramp up security efforts to reclaim the area terrorized and bullied by al-Qaeda.

Terrorists in the area had been ruthlessly controlling every action of the people according to Maj. Chris Norrie, the transition team's commander. Women were forced to cover their faces, men were arrested for no apparent reason and children weren't even allowed to play soccer in the streets.

At one time al-Jamea'a was occupied by white-collar professionals until insurgents began scare tactics that led many of the well-off residents to leave their homes. Many of the mansion-sized homes in the neighborhood are empty, and as Capt. Peter Kilpatrick said, the empty homes are seen as an opportunity for insurgents to move in.

"Only 30 percent of al-Jamea'a was occupied," said Capt. Kilpatrick. "The vacancies made it vulnerable."

Several caches had been found during previous operations around the Najra Mosque area. During the first day of this operation, streets and shops around the mosque were empty. A few people cautiously came out to see the Humvees, tanks and Iraqi army vehicles stage. This would begin the lengthy process of securing the area.

Sgt. Kenneth Swartwood said many of the residents are happy to see the Coalition forces move into their neighborhood. More importantly, the combined presence of Iraqis and Americans working together proved to the people just how important the area's security was.

"We came in with open arms to the Iraqi army," said Sgt. Swartwood. "A big reason Adel and Jamea'a are good now is because of the partnership with the IA. They actually worked with them hand-in-hand. The civilians feel a lot better when it's a partnership. They feel like it's twice as secure."

After many of the new security measures were in place, the commander of the Iraqi Army battalion, Col. Raheem went to the mosque to use its loudspeaker to make an announcement to the people in the neighborhood.

He let it be known to the people that coalition forces were in the area to make a change for the better. He said security will improve for the people and that they have not only God watching them, but the entire coalition.

"Almost immediately, people began to come out of their homes," Col. Raheem said. "These people deserve to live in peace after al-Qaeda had oppressed them for so long."

Now that security measures are in place, Capt. Kilpatrick said coalition forces in the area will have 24-hour surveillance over the entire area.

"We've established several static positions," he said. "However, I don't think locals would have felt comfortable with putting a coalition outpost next to the mosque without help from the Iraqis."

Col. Raheem said many of the locals feel that having a combined presence in the area is good and that it helps gain the trust of the people even faster.

Photo - The commander of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, Col. Raheem, points out locations of traffic control points and other security measures being placed in Al Jamea'a during Operation Rogue Thunder. The Iraqi army battalion, along with a Military Transition Team and Soldiers from the U.S. 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, swept the area and implemented several new security measures during the operation. Photo by Spc. A. Lexis Harrison.

Balad F-16s destroy terrorist training camp

Cross-posted @ Rosemary's Thoughts.

27 July 07
by Maj. Robert Couse-Baker
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here destroyed an al-Qaida training camp southwest of Baghdad July 21.

In a coordinated attack, joint air terminal controllers on the ground cleared seven F-16s to drop 500-pound and 1,000-pound guided bombs on the terror complex near Karbala.

The precision-guided weapons destroyed the target, degrading al-Qaida's ability to mount attacks on the Iraqi government, coalition forces and innocent civilians.

The destruction of the terrorist facility is part of aggressive and comprehensive operations to hunt down, capture or kill terrorists trying to prevent a peaceful and stable Iraq, said Col. Charles Moore, the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group commander. "Our Airmen and other coalition forces are helping Iraq achieve a stable government and ultimately, helping the United States and our allies to defeat terrorism," he said.

A large part of the 332nd AEW's combat effectiveness stems from the Air Force's culture of excellence. "We train day-to-day to make sure when we are called upon to deliver, we do it with precision and professionalism," said Capt. Kevin Hicok, a pilot with the 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed here from Misawa Air Base, Japan. "Deliberate coordination and careful planning goes into every weapons drop," Captain Hicok said, "to ensure that we have a positive ID on the target and that everyone is on the same page."

The recent increase in air operations is part of the coalition's increasing pressure on violent extremists, primarily in Baghdad and nearby areas. In a separate air strike north of Baghdad July 22, another F-16 from Balad AB dropped a precision-guided weapon on a terrorist weapons cache in a rural area, destroying it and detonating the explosives stored inside.

"I could not be prouder of the way our Airmen performed on Saturday," Colonel Moore said. "The events of this past weekend once again demonstrate the Air Force's ability to deliver decisive combat airpower any place and at any time."

Photo - An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off for a combat mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom July 22 at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The two F-16s are deployed from the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing at the Tulsa International Airport. F-16s from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing destroyed an al-Qaida training camp southwest of Baghdad July 21. Photo Senior Airman Olufemi A. Owolabi.

Iraq's Prime Minister Visits Diyala for First Time

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

27 July 07
By Multi-National Division-North Public Affairs Office.

BAQUBAH, Iraq - Iraq’s prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, met with the governor of Diyala, provincial leadership, key tribal leaders, Diyala’s Iraqi security force leadership and senior coalition officers during a meeting at the Baqubah Government Center, July 26.

“The prime minister’s visit is vital, not only for the government and security officials, but for the people of Diyala to see that their effort in achieving peace and fighting against terrorist groups does not go unnoticed,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of coalition forces in Diyala province.

The visit, which focused on current operations in the province as well as provincial-level government issues, was Maliki’s first trip to Diyala province since taking office.

“This is a great day for Diyala province because the prime minister is among us,” said Ra’ad Hameed Al-Mula Jowad Al-Tamimi, governor of Diyala.

“We are here to thank all the excellent efforts by you (the government and security officials), and we also came to thank the people of Diyala,” Maliki said in his opening remarks. “We can say that the suffering of Diyala people is ending, and we in the central government appreciate all your efforts.”

During the meeting, Maliki addressed the peoples’ ability to rise above terrorism, assuring those present that the central government will continue to work closely with the provincial government and is committed to the people of Diyala.

“This province suffered a lot from the outlaws,” Maliki said. “They wanted it to be a huge graveyard, but we wanted something else for Diyala – and we succeeded when the Iraqi army, Iraqi police, tribes and all other people found out what the terrorists are really made of. “We are fighting against the terrorists and we will prevail,” Maliki added, before discussing the importance of tribal reconciliation.

“Iraq is not only for some people, it’s for everyone,” Maliki said. “We cannot ignore our nation and we have to be united in our efforts to build Iraq.”

“The tribes have to support the government in its war against the terrorists – they play a big role,” the governor added.

“Iraq, with all its (rich resources) and people, can eliminate all kind of threats,” Maliki continued. “We will all work together for the prosperity of this country and we will not let anyone interfere with our affairs or with the political process.”

“The ultimate success of Diyala lies in the hands of the people,” Sutherland said. “Today’s meeting continued to prove that the governments, both central and provincial, care greatly for the peoples’ safety, security and well-being. “The will of the government drives the hope of the people,” Sutherland continued, “and I hope today’s visit, along with recent operations throughout Diyala, continue to restore that hope – a hope that the terrorists tried to destroy, but couldn’t.”

Photo - Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, left, walks with Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem, commander of Iraqi security forces in Diyala province, after arriving at the Baqubah Government Center for his first visit to the province since taking office, July 26, 2007. Photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden.

Airmen prep battlefield dropping 120,000 leaflets

24 July 07
by Capt. Teresa Sullivan
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) - Airmen of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing dropped 120,000 leaflets over the Helmand Province in Afghanistan July 22 to help prevent civilian casualties while prepping the battlefield for future operations.

The nine-member crew of the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, all based out of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, successfully accomplished a short-notice mission to release leaflets over four southwestern Afghanistan drop zones in a dangerous Taliban hot spot, despite challenging winds and dust storms.

The leaflets were designed to deliver a message to the people of the province to take refuge in their homes and also discourage them from harboring Taliban members. In the meantime, coalition forces continue efforts to eliminate the insurgent's stronghold while avoiding loss of innocent lives.

The mission began several days prior to C-130 Hercules' takeoff when the squadron was alerted and planners began developing their strategy. Their computer-based plan considered route, location, wind forecasts and leaflet size in its calculations. High winds and dust storms throughout the area made planning a challenge.

Prior to the mission, the aircrew gathered to discuss the game plan.

"It's going to be a long night, but you are all prepared," said Lt. Col. Joe Sexton, the 746th EAS commander to the C-130 crew after the mission brief. "It's no coincidence that you all are on this (mission). I have full confidence in all of you. You guys are going to go out there and do it right."

Ready to put their plan to the test, they set off for the airdrop.

"We were originally scheduled to do a different mission, but we were alerted to come into work because we were going to be doing a 'special' mission," said Capt. Brett Cochran, a C-130 pilot and native of Pflugerville, Texas. The captain was responsible for flying the aircraft over four drop zones. "This is the first mission of this kind for our squadron during this deployment so far, so it's important we get things started on a good note."

A lot was on the minds of crew members who were new to the combat zone airdrop business. "What-if" discussions included the dust storms, fuel, shifting winds, contingency plans and defensive tactics on the way to Kandahar International Airport to pick up the leaflets.

The Air Force uses leaflets to deter enemy forces or reduce their will to fight. In this case they were being used to encourage innocent bystanders to stay out of harm's way. While the leaflet-drop mission may be new to some of the pilots of this expeditionary squadron, it's a mission that's tied closely to the 379th AEW's heritage.

In the summer of 1944, leaflets were dropped over Germany by the 379th's ancestor, the 379th Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force, intended to shape the adversary's psyche, and to destroy their ability to wage war.

Then 379th BG's leaflets were designed to spread the word on allied progress during World War II. Some provided words of encouragement to the people of enemy-occupied countries while others focused on relentless bombings of Nazi airfields, oil refineries and cities undermining the enemy's will to resist.

Knowing the wing's forefathers carried out similar missions 63 years ago reminded the aircrew that they're part of a long tradition of airpower.

"It's neat that we can continue on with the legacy," said 1st Lt. Mike Heddinger, a 746th EAS co-pilot from Wichita Falls, Texas. "It's also great that we'll be helping the guys on the ground by prepping the battlefield."

As the crew departed Kandahar for the Helmand Province, pilots reviewed their play book once more while loadmasters rehearsed the drop in their minds preparing the harnesses, oxygen tanks and boxes of leaflets.

"What we're going to do is line these boxes up as advertised and push them out the door at the right time," said Master Sgt. Larry Lambert, a 746th EAS senior loadmaster from Asbury, N.J.

The loadmasters in the back of the C-130 were responsible for the drop portion of the mission, communicating closely with the crew in the cockpit.

"We've been around the block a few times, so I can put my faith in the guys up front (of the C-130)," he said. "These leaflets can save innocent lives, so we're fired up to be a part of this."

As the aircraft approached the drop zone Sergeant Lambert established contact with his two loadmaster teammates using designated hand signals, letting them know when they were 20, 10, four, three, two and one minute away.

The crew was 5,000 feet above the target and everyone was fully prepared in safety gear. Within the hour the mission was complete. The crew went four for four over the Helmand Province, dropping the leaflets on time and on target. Within minutes it would be raining leaflets over the Helmand Province.

"It was a good day. We accomplished what we were asked to do," said Captain Cochran. "We completed the mission at hand and it's a great feeling."

This is what it's all about, said Maj. Pat O'Sullivan, the 746th EAS director of operations, from Sebring, Fla.

"We love this stuff. Missions like this drop with little to no notice," he said. "As soon as we received the word, they started moving, planning for and coordinating every possible scenario and variable. They were ready for every situation, guaranteeing a successful mission."

Photo - Tech. Sgt. Matt Rossi drops 30,000 leaflets July 22 over a drop zone in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The squadron successfully met their objective of dropping 120,000 leaflets over the Helmand Province, prepping the battlefield. Sergeant Rossi is a 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron instructor loadmaster. Photo by Capt. Teresa Sullivan.

Chairman of Taliban's Military Shura KILLED!

Bill Roggio is an excellent writer who decided he was not going to write about those things which he did not have first hand experience, so he suited up and became an embed both in Iraq and Afghanistan. (He's had experience from before, but he just felt compelled to do this.) His latest article (I think he is home now) is wonderful news written this morning or very late last night.

Qari Faiz Mohammad killed in a raid in Helmand province

Afghan and ISAF have been conducting major offensives up and down the Helmand River Valley in the northern portion of the province over the past several months. Major ground and air strikes have been ongoing in the Musa Qala, Kajaki, Nari Saraj, and Sangin districts in Helmand province, as well as in the Ghorak district in Kandahar and in southwestern Uruzgan. Coalition forces have been attempted to clear the Taliban stronghold and reopen the vital Kajaki Dam. The Taliban openly control the Musa Qala district. Upwards of 150 Taliban fighters have been killed in strikes in the region during the past week. (Please continue reading at Bill's The Fourth Rail.

Such wonderful news! I hope you have not forgotten that we are still in Afghanistan. I hope you have not forgotten why. If you do remember, then you should know that when we removed them from power they would need a place a to go. THAT is why they are in Iraq. To join in the fight for our very existence.

Why do I say, "...our very existence"? The Taliban and al Qaida are interchangeable names they call one another. This is to give some of the terrorists cover. Do not be fooled. Now that that's cleared up, let us turn our heads towards reason, shall we?

If they need somewhere to go, they will find a place to go. Right? What will they do once they get there? Will they continue the war they have waged upon us? YOU BETCHA.

No matter when, where, who, what and no one gives a flying hoot about why, the fight will continue. They want every Christian, Jew, Atheist, Agnostic, Hindu, non-proper Muslim, and everyone else who does not subscribe to their way of interpreting the Koran DEAD. Are we clear on this now? Good. Have a nice day.

New Iraqi Police Station Opens in Wahida

19 July 07
By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Public Affairs.

COMBAT OUTPOST CLEARY, Iraq — The Wahida City Council opened a new police station in Wahida July 17 in the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment’s area of operation.

When Lt. Col. Jack Marr, 1-15 Infantry commander, Lt. Col. Ryan Kuhn, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s deputy commanding officer, and Capt. Ravindra Wagh, commander of Company E, 1st Battalion, 125 Infantry Regiment, arrived at the new police station, they were greeted by a mob of excited Iraqi policemen and local leaders.

The visit began with a tour of the new facility followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony signifying the end of the project and the opening of a brand new Iraqi police station.

On paper, the project began in October 2006 with a request for a new Iraqi police station. According to Wagh, who headed the project from start to finish, the Iraqi Police of Wahida received the title to an empty lot and the appropriate funds to get the project under way. Wagh said the former Wahida police station, which was co-located with a mosque, did not have the resources fit for a unit whose main mission is providing security to Wahida.

“The old police station was right down the road from the new one,” Wagh said. “It had three rooms and the front of the building was a mosque. It wasn’t fit for jurisdiction in Wahida.”

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, members of the Wahida police, along with leaders of the community and Coalition Forces, sat down for a conference to discuss the new station. “It is very nice to have the new police station here (in Wahida,)” Jawad Khadum, chairman of the Wahida city council said through a translator. “I would like for you to all be equal, to work as one, to serve the community and enforce the law.” He then saluted the policemen for a job well done on the project.

Lt. Col. Kareem, the station commander, also spoke at the conference. He thanked the Coalition Forces for their efforts on the project. He also reminded his policemen that they have a brand new station and encouraged them to maintain the station as it stands today.

According to Wagh, the project is a symbol the citizens of Wahida can see that proves the government is capable of listening to the requests of the community and spending the $3.5 million it took to fund the project on the community. “This government has a commitment to security,” he said. “Many people believed the government was getting all this money and they would never see it. "This project proves the government is spending the money on their communities.”

Wagh, who has been in Iraq since August 2006, said he was privileged to be able to see the new Iraqi police station project from start to finish. “The problem with many of these projects is that one unit is there for the beginning and then has to leave so another unit gets to the final outcome,” he said. “I am glad I was able to see the conception on paper all the way up to the building we see today.”

Although the new police station doesn’t necessarily increase the capability or the capacity of the Iraqi police, Marr believes it does a lot for the morale of the policemen. He said it also shows the Wahida citizens that progress is being made and normalcy is being restored.

“This project gives the good people of Wahida confidence in their police,” Marr said. “The project was Iraqi driven, which means we are coming along the way we have always wanted. We want to help the Iraqi people help themselves. The best solutions are the Iraqi solutions.”

Photo - Army Brig. Gen. Allawi, deputy district commander, cuts the ribbon with Army Lt. Col. Jack Marr at a ceremony July 17 to open the new Wahida police station in Wahida, Iraq. Photo by Sgt. Natalie Rostek.

Afghan police chief earns Soldier’s respect

2 Jul 07
By Sgt. Jim Wilt
CJTF-82 PAO.

QARABAGH, Afghanistan - It is often said respect is earned not given. In the Army, it is one of the seven Army Values. Respect between fellow Soldiers is a critical part of military operations.

For one Soldier in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, Kentucky National Guard, the respect he has for his Afghan National Police counterpart has blossomed into near brotherhood.

"We’re just like brothers," said Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, a squad leader in Bty. A, 2nd Bn., 138th FAB. "The only difference between us is the language."

Linneman, who arrived in Afghanistan in March, quickly became friends with the Qarabagh District Police Chief, Col. Abdul Shokor. The friendship is built on mutual respect. Respect between the two and respect between the men who follow them. Both Linneman, a Florence, Ky. native, and Shokor, a resident of Kabul, have more than their respect in common.

"They’re like two peas in a pod," said Army Sgt. Paul Wilkerson, a forward observer in Bat. A. Both men are leaders, both are 51 years old and both fight against the Taliban. "Taliban sabat," is a common phrase heard between the two. The phrase means "Taliban tomorrow."

["The ANP] get disappointed if we don’t find them," Linneman said. The troopers of Bat. A work hand in hand with the ANP, Linneman said. "I love taking them out on patrol with us," he said. Linneman said he believes in working beside them, not in front of or behind them.

"[Shokor] is pretty gutsy," Wilkerson said. "He gets out with us and dismounts with us." Who is in charge of the men is a non-issue between them, Linneman said. They both are. "What ever chief says goes. What ever I say goes," he said.

Linneman has good reason to share the decision making process. He understands there are aspects of Afghanistan that he can never grasp as well as Shokor. "This is [Shokor’s] backyard," Linneman said.

Linneman’s respect for Shokor is partially based on Shokor’s war fighting experience which is reflected in the five scars on his body from bullets and shrapnel. Shokor said when he was younger he woke up one day to tanks in his town. Shortly after, he started fighting the Soviet Union in Khandahar province as a mujahedeen in a war that would leave the Russians defeated and the country of Afghanistan fractured.

Shokor said he began to fight because he didn’t believe in the ideas the Russians had for the country. After the defeat of the Russians, Shokor soon found himself fighting the Taliban. Today, he is still fighting the Taliban but now at the side of U.S.-led coalition forces.

"It is our country, we should work for the country," the police chief said. "As a police chief, it is my job to provide security for civilians." Shokor’s need to help the people of his district and his men is evident to the Soldiers who work under him. "He seems like a pretty respectable guy. He takes care of his men," Wilkerson said. "He does what he can to help the people in his district," he added.

Shokor spends most of his time at the district center. He said he sees his wife and eight children for only two days every two to three weeks, the rest of the time he is here.

The respect Linneman and his men show Shokor is mirrored in the respect the squad leader receives from the "chief" and his men. When the Afghan policemen are looking for Linneman, they want to know where the "commandant" or "grandfather" is. "Grandfather" isn’t a shot at the skinny, grey-haired staff sergeant’s age. It is a term of respect. It means Linneman is a good man.

The Soldiers and policemen the two lead have also formed their own bonds between themselves. Despite a language barrier, jokes and friendship pass between the men. In the evenings, food is exchanged between the two groups and a friendly game of volleyball is played.

While the two leaders may consider themselves brothers, the two groups of men, one from Kentucky, the other from various parts of Afghanistan, form one big family.

Photo - Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, a squad leader in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment, Kentucky National Guard, talks with Qarabagh District Police Chief, Col. Abdul Shokor during a joint U.S. and Afghan formation at the Qarabagh District Center in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Jim Wilt.

Iraqi, Coalition forces move forward despite attacks

21 Jun 07
by Spc. Carl N. Hudson
Combined Press Information Center.

BAGHDAD – The Fardh Al-Qanoon spokesman and a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman held a press conference at the Combined Press Information Center Wednesday.

Iraqi Army Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta Al-Moussawi, Fardh Al-Qanoon spokesman, and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Fox, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman, discussed the progress of Fardh Al-Qanoon.

“Our military operations are still ongoing in many places in Baghdad to pursue the terrorists,” said Al-Moussawi. “Terrorist attacks will not make us stop our operations in Baghdad, and we’ll move forward with steady steps.”

Al-Moussawi addressed the progress made by the Iraqi Army in the past week.

“We’ve killed 32 terrorists, detained 170 others, freed five kidnapped (victims), defused eight improvised explosive devices and 17 car bombs, found 2,000 different kinds of weapons and seized eight tons of TNT,” said Al-Moussawi.

With the Iraqi Army in the lead, Iraqi locals continue to provide information in response to attacks made by terrorists.

Fox also explained the ongoing security efforts.

“All of the additional requested forces for the ‘surge’ are now in place and are simultaneously conducting coordinated core-level offensive operations throughout Iraq,” said Fox. “Coalition forces are strong and focused and are concentrating our effort and might against the extremists, taking the fight to where they are, going after the terrorists to deny them sanctuary and taking back neighborhoods in order to build a secure future for the Iraqi people.”

“Iraqi and Coalition forces are conducting carefully planned and executed operations, demonstrating their resolve to deny terrorists safe havens,” he said. “We’ll continue to pursue these terrorists wherever they go by attacking their networks and damaging their ability to wage horrific and calculated violence against the citizens of Iraq.”

Al-Moussawi and Fox also expressed their sympathies to the killed and injured from the al-Khalani mosque bombing in Rusafa, Iraq.

“We share the outrage of the Iraqi people against this despicable attack,” said Fox.

“We face a summer of hard fighting,” he said. “I’m confident there’s good prospects for continued progress in the months ahead and that can be matched by progress in the political and economic areas here in Iraq giving us hope for the way ahead.”

Photo - Iraqi Army Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta Al-Moussawi (right), Fardh Al-Qanoon spokesman and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Fox, a Multi National Force-Iraq spokesman, discuss the progress of Fardh Al-Qanoon at athe Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad. Photo by Spc. Emily Greene.

Artillery battalion trades steel rain for hearts and minds

20 June 2007
Story and photo by Cpl. Rick Nelson
2nd Marine Division.

HADITHAH — The counter-insurgency coalition forces are conducting in Iraq calls for numerous military units to give up their traditional roles and pick up a different weapon. This is nothing new for artillery units, who, since the Battle of Fallujah in November of 2004, have often been called upon to put away their howitzers for rifles, police batons, and claims cards. All around Iraq, artillery batteries and battalions are serving as provisional rifle, military police, and civil military units. In Hadithah, it’s no different.

At the Hadithah Civil Military Operation Center, Marines assigned to 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, an artillery battalion based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. assist the local populace with their civil matters.

“This was a big change from our usual duties as a field artillery battalion,” said Cpl. Russell Mullis, Civil Affairs Group, Team 1, Detachment 1, 5/10. “Steel rain and hearts and minds are two entirely different missions, but we’re adapting very well.”

Until this year, CAG detachments were primarily staffed by reservists. This is the first year an artillery unit has civil affairs as their primary mission.

“We serve as a liaison between the local populace, and the coalition forces,” said Mullis. “We handle any claims and concerns from the populace, and process projects to rebuild the area.”

Civil Affairs Group, Team 1, Detachment 1, 5/10 is a part of Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment who fall under Regimental Combat Team 2. These Marines operate the CMOC, and patrol in Hadithah to conduct assessments and coordinate with local contractors.

“The Marines run two different missions, CMOC and civil affairs,” said Warrant Officer Harold Kiser, Officer-In-Charge, CAG, Team 1, Detachment 1, 5/10. “Our areas of concern and focus form the acronym SWEATS – schools, water, electricity, agriculture, transportation and sewage.”

The center conducts many daily tasks for the local nationals, a lot of which includes vehicle registration and badge distribution. CAG also compensates the locals for any damages inadvertently caused by military personnel during counter-insurgency operations.

“The sheer number of people who come through everyday is our biggest challenge,” added Mullis, a Winston-Salem, N.C.

On average, the CMOC will assist approximately 150 people a day. The largest number of local nationals serviced in one day was 220. CAG compensates for this number by issuing the local national a specific number after he or she has been searched at the entrance. This number puts them in a line to air their grievances and receive help. The Civil Affairs Team uses interpreters to overcome the language barrier.

“Our main problem here is a shortage of interpreters, but the ones we do have do a great job,” Mullis added.

Once a number is selected, an interpreter will speak with that person and determine how they can be helped. After speaking with the interpreter, the Marines will cater to the local national’s problem based on the situation.

Mullis recalled one such incident that occurred at the CMOC.

“A local national was driving his dump truck through a [traffic control point] in Haqlaniyah and misunderstood the Marines working there, and he went the wrong way,” said Mullis. “The way he went had road spikes, and he ended up destroying two of his tires.”

The driver was issued a claims card. When he arrived at the CMOC, he was given 381,500 dinar ($299.92 in American money).

“We searched through vendors to see what an average price was on the tires, which is how we came up with the amount,” he added. “That’s the usual way we complete our claims, and it seems to be working.”

This CMOC is another facet to this complex environment, and it’s something the CAG Marines know is vital to mission success.

“The CMOC provides a place for local nationals to interact with coalition forces, and without it, I think there would be a lot more friction with the people,” said Mullis.

Marines assigned to the CAG detachment continue to help the locals here and support the Lava Dogs of 1/3 in order to aid their counter-insurgency campaign.

Photo - Cpl. Russel Mullis, a Marine with the CAG detachment assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, hands out paperwork to the local nationals at the Civil Military Operations Center in Hadithah.

Historic Abu Nuwas Street Revitalization Center Opens

By Maj. Sean Ryan
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs Officer, PAO.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — The rebuilding of the famous market in eastern Baghdad is making progress with the opening of the Abu Nuwas Revitalization Center June 9.

The market is well known for serving up mazgouf fish, meaning river fish, a Baghdad delicacy cooked over wood fires while you wait and served with fresh vegetables. The wait won’t be too much longer as the information center is one of the first steps in the historic street’s revival.

The information center was opened in conjunction with local leaders from the Rusafa District along with the District Advisory Council chairman from Abu Nuwas.

This part of the city, which once provided a variety of shops, restaurants, and hotels, was world-renowned and will soon open again. Approximately 45 business owners attended the opening to discuss economic and security issues.

According to Maj. Dave Carlson, a native of Allensburg, Wash., and the leader of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division’s civil support team and the Rusafa district, the meeting allowed business owners from the area to discuss issues and “become unified in their economic goals.”

“It’s in everyone’s best interest to make the street a more central location,” said Qays Foraj, the Abu Nuwas chairman. Foraj explained to the business owners his vision of the future for the market and the possibilities of offering financial assistance.

The center will be open to answer questions or discuss upcoming projects to citizens and business owners, alike. Questions to be answered include when the market will be open for customers.

“I would be very happy once the area brings back even a portion of the customers that used to come,” said a store owner who owns a retail store. “A lot of money is being put into fixing the street and the people appreciate the time and effort from everyone.”

Under Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon, also known as the Baghdad Security Plan, the Abu Nuwas Market is one of the areas targeted to stimulate economic growth.

Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Multi-National Division-Baghdad‘s deputy commanding general for support, paid a recent visit to the market and discussed issues with local owners.

“The Iraqi people need to remain resilient and things will get better,” he said. Brooks recognized that security needs to improve and reassured the store owners that they will not be left without protection.

“Coalition Forces are working side-by-side with the Iraqi Security Forces and we are here to help, not leave,” he said. Iraqi Police and Army under the Iraqi Rusafa Area Command provide security for the area, with help from the soldiers from 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, currently operating as part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The area has been shut down due a series of car bombs that left the area paralyzed several months ago. With no customers coming in, a lot of shop owners and restaurateurs had to close their doors and the ones that stayed in the area, slowly watched their livelihoods disappear.

“We still need essential services like electricity and water,” an owner of one of the fish markets told Brooks during the general’s visit, “but we are ready to start telling all customers we will be open soon.”

Photo - U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, paid a visit to the market and discussed issues with local owners, June 9, 2007. Approximately 45 business owners attended the opening of the Abu Nuwas Revitalization Center in the Rusafa District of eastern Baghdad to discuss economic and security issues of the area. U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sean Ryan.

Iraqi Security Forces foil suicide car bomb attack

14 Jun 07
Multi-National Division-Baghdad Public Affairs Office.

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Security Forces prevented a suicide car bomb attack on a Coalition forces combat outpost in Khan Bani Sa’ad, located in the Diyala province, Tuesday.

Iraqi Army Soldiers received a tip and description of a potential suicide vehicle bomb and engaged the vehicle with small-arms fire as it approached the outpost. The vehicle detonated prematurely, before it could reach the outer perimeter.

Two Coalition force Soldiers received minor wounds and were treated on the scene.

“The truly amazing thing is that the Iraqi Soldiers, who are mostly Shia, got the tip from local Sunnis, who had seen a suspicious vehicle driven by masked men traveling towards the outpost,” said Lt. Col. Marshall Dougherty, commander, 2nd squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

“This is yet another example of the people of Iraq refusing to allow terrorists to destroy their lives,” Dougherty said.

The tip from the Iraqi citizen allowed the Iraqi Army to seek out and destroy the suicide vehicle borne explosive device, saving the lives of the countless number of casualties both Iraqi and Coalition, said Dougherty.

The Iraqi and Coalition forces have been engaging the local population of Khan Bani Sa’ad for the last several weeks in an effort to gain their trust.

“It’s obvious that despite their tribal or ethnic differences, the people of Khan Bani Sa’ad have come to trust their Iraq Security Forces and no longer will tolerate insurgent violence here,” said Dougherty. “Today was a good day.”

Immediately following the explosion, Iraqi Army Soldiers worked with Iraqi Police to secure the area and collect evidence.

“I could not be more proud of the Iraqi Security Forces today,” Dougherty said.

Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces continue to work together in order to gain the trust of the Iraqi people.

“Troop B, 2-1 Cav. Regt. lives and works in the combat outpost with Iraqi Army Soldiers,” Dougherty said.

Tips from Iraqi locals shows the trust they are gaining in the Iraqi Security Forces and their continued dedication to a safe and secure Iraq.

Photo - U.S. Army Spc. Marquis Dawkins, an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, surveys more than 120 five-gallon cans of nitric acid, a component used to make bombs, discovered at a bomb-making “factory” in Baghdad’s East Rashid District Monday. Every cache found by Iraqi troops and Coalition forces helps protect the population from future attacks. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ben Washburn, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs.

Dragon’ Soldiers Seize, Destroy Bomb Factory

12 Jun 07
By Multi-National Corps-Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory.

BAGHDAD — Baghdad soldiers seized a bomb-making factory, along with another large weapons cache while on patrol in the eastern portion of the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital June 11.

"This is tremendous work by our soldiers to take more than 300 (improvised explosive devices) off the streets," said Col. Ricky D.Gibbs, commander of 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

Troops from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 4th IBCT, discovered the factory, a complex of small buildings deep in the thick palm groves of East Rashid, after receiving word of the objective's location from other Coalition Forces.

The find consisted of one vehicle wired and loaded with explosives as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device; 54 82mm mortars; 27 155mm artillery shells; one 500-pound bomb; 64 anti-tank mines; two 200-pound bombs; three 100-pound bombs; 30 130mm projectiles; 30 hand grenades; 200 artillery boosters; 10 40mm rounds; one bag of blasting caps; one rocket of unknown caliber and origin; one bag of booster charges; six bags of propellant; 300 five-gallon cans of nitric acid used to make homemade explosives; one bag of breaching charges and 15 bags of anti-personnel mines with 100 mines per bag. Also found in the cache was enough wiring and bomb-making material to create more than 300 improvised explosive devices.

In a separate cache near the complex, an additional 125 five-gallon containers of nitric acid were found.

Three other vehicles were also found at the site wired as car bombs, but did not contain explosives.

A Coalition explosive ordnance disposal team catalogued the weapons and explosives found and will dispose of them properly, preventing them from being used against innocent Iraqi people or Iraqi Security and Coalition Force personnel.

"This find further emphasizes our ability to get after the extremists and take away their tools of destruction, as none of these weapons and explosives will ever be used to harm others," Gibbs said.

Photo - Electrical wiring and other components used to make improvised explosive devices were discovered by troops from the Multi-National Division – Baghdad in a bomb-making “factory” in Baghdad’s East Rashid District June 11. Components seized were enough to build 300 IEDs. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ben Washburn.

Iraqi AF flies high with safety course

5-Jun-07
By Marine Sgt. Jess Kent
MNC-I PAO.

BAGHDAD - The first aviation safety class on Iraqi soil was completed last week at New Al Muthana Air Base in Baghdad. Nine Iraqi Air Force pilots and two American Coalition Air Force Transition Team–Iraq members graduated the five-day course, taught jointly by American and Iraqi instructors.

The basic course focused on teaching Iraqi pilots about accident prevention and investigation, composite risk management and the duties of safety officers.

The pilots were also briefed about helipad and airfield safety surveys, aviation fuel operations and the medical factors a flight crew should consider.

These instructions were in addition to flight school at Camp Taji, for Iraqi Air Force pilots spread across the country in three squadrons.

“The new Iraqi Air Force has just now started getting off the ground and into the air, so Multi-National Corps-Iraq had school-trained aviation safety officers to enhance their accident- prevention program,” said Chief Warrant Officer Gregory Bonneau, aviation safety officer and class instructor, MNC-I. “We’re really giving them the basics because they’ve had no real formal safety management program.”

The basic safety course was the first phase of four. The class instructors will visit bases so each Iraqi pilot can complete a safety assessment during Phase 2. The Iraqi pilots will return to New al Muthana Air Base to discuss common problems and solutions in Phase 3. A ground safety course completes the program.

“The Iraqi Air Force just published its own safety regulation and they’re beginning to build the foundation for their aviation safety program,” Bonneau said. “This was an Iraqi course with some help from us.”

Some of the help includes providing a new attitude toward accident prevention and investigation.

“Their primary issue right now is overcoming a previous culture under Saddam Hussein which punished when you had accidents,” Bonneau said. “After an accident landing a MiG-25, one of the pilots was put on house arrest and unable to speak to anyone for three months. He was released when they found out it was a maintenance problem. We’re developing a new attitude to identify hazards and use risk management.”

The Iraqi pilots are very eager to put what they learned during the course to use, Bonneau said. They already provide C-130 transports, medical evacuations and some intelligence surveillance reconnaissance.

“They are real patriots to their country,” Bonneau said. “To make their Air Force and country better, they put their lives on the line outside the wire every day, and for me that puts into perspective what we do here.”

Iraqi Air Force Maj. Ala’din Mughir is one of those patriots. He said life is much different as a pilot now than it was under Saddam Hussein’s Air Force. Mughir graduated from the Iraqi Air Force College in 1986. After the invasion of Iraq, he stepped down as a pilot. He joined the new Iraqi Air Force in 2004.

“Under Saddam, Iraq was away from the world and the way it changed over the years,” Mughir said. “We were prevented from traveling and using the Internet. We had only the local channels. We did not know what was going on in the world. So before 2003, we did not have a program to concentrate on flight safety.”

Mughir learned a lot of useful information during the class. With the newfound knowledge, he plans to meet with his commander to establish a safety council for his unit. Mughir said the instructors were kind and very helpful, and he is honored to have them in Iraq as friends to the pilots rebuilding the Iraqi Air Force.

“It was our honor to teach them because it is such an important step in their Air Force development,” Bonneau said. “We learned a lot about each other, about our cultures and families, and we are not just going to do a class and leave them; we are going to be there by their side.”

Photo - An Iraqi Air Force flight nurse, tends to wounded Iraqis in a C-130 transport aircraft during a medical evacuation. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Samuel McLarty.

Australian Military Fills Role Vital to War on Terror

4-Jun-07
By Senior Airman Clark Staehle
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Most tasks wouldn’t happen without teamwork, and the same holds true for the Global War on Terrorism. Many countries comprise the Coalition forces that augment the U.S. military’s presence in Southwest Asia, including the Australian military.

Here, the Royal Australian Air Force contributes planes and personnel, which are used to support other RAAF and Coalition operations in throughout the area of responsibility.

“I command a Royal Australian Air Force RAAF C-130 Hercules detachment of about 155 personnel that provides intra-theater airlift and sustainment support in the Middle East, with three transport aircraft, ground crew and other support elements,” said Wing Commander Rob Williams, Task Group 633.4 commander.

The RAAF has more than just planes and pilots here though. There are several Australian servicemembers who provide support from the Combined Air Operations Center. There, they provide intelligence for other Australian assets in the AOR.

“(We) provide air asset support to ensure that the Australian whole-of-government effort to rehabilitate Iraq and stabilize Afghanistan is successful,” said Leading Aircraftsman Mark Sweeney, Task Group 633.4 A2 Intelligence clerk.

The RAAF also has personnel there whose job it is to plan, publish and coordinate the detachment’s missions here. This includes ensuring any cargo its planes may be carrying arrives to its destination on time.

“(I help support GWOT) by ensuring that every available inch and pound of RAAF C-130 pallet space is allocated and arrives in the right place at the right time, carrying Australian or Coalition freight or (passengers),” said Squadron Leader Buzz Lawson, Task Group 633.4 A3-A5 C-130 air operations and planning.

Additionally, the Australian government also provides support for GWOT in other ways. They also have an overwatch battle group, which patrols provinces in Iraq. The country also works hand in hand with Dutch personnel in Afghanistan. Like the U.S. military, the RAAF also operates a version of the plane the U.S. Navy uses here, the P-3 Orion, which helps support Coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

“In addition to the C-130 detachment, we also have a RAAF AP-3C Orion detachment of about 170 personnel that conducts maritime patrol operations, with two aircraft and associated command and support elements from a separate base in the Middle East,” Wing Commander Williams said. “The RAAF also has a number of staff embedded within Coalition headquarters throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The relatively small detachment of RAAF servicemembers provides vital support needed to the rest of its forces throughout Southwest Asia.

“Our role here with the C-130s keeps all of this functioning,” said Squadron Leader Shane Peacey, a Task Group 633.4 C-130 pilot. “Although a small force, we Australians can pack a significant punch.”

Wing Commander Williams agreed that the RAAF provide essential services to the Coalition forces throughout the AOR.

“It provides Australian Defense Force personnel an opportunity to strengthen and continue the long history of cooperation between Australian and the U.S. and other coalition nations,” he said.

Photo - Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Buzz Lawson, Task Grouop 633.4 A3-A5 C-130 Air Operations and Planning, works out flying schedules using a map of the area of responsibility. Photo by Senior Airman Clark Staehle.

Surge improves security, quality of life

2-Jun-07
By Master Sgt. Dave Larsen
1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.

CAMP LIBERTY — The surge of Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces into Baghdad neighborhoods is aimed at improving the security situation in the Iraqi capital. Yet, there are other programs benefiting by having more boots on the ground during Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon.

“The surge has assisted civil military operations by putting more coalition eyes on the environment, so that we get a more responsive analysis of what essential services and economic development services are needed by the populace,” said Lt. Col. John Rudolph, the assistant chief of staff of civil military operations for Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Rudolph said civil military operations in MND-B’s area of operation, which run the gamut from governance to agriculture to infrastructure to economic improvements, have already dedicated more than $163 million of Commander’s Emergency Relief Project (CERP) funds to projects all aimed at improving the quality of life for Iraqis living in and around Baghdad.

“This really is about improving the quality of life for the Iraqis,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, the deputy commanding general for support with MND-B. That “support” role not only touches the lives of the 50,000-plus troops working under MND-B, but also the Iraqi people. He said it’s challenging to move ahead with quality of life initiatives in the face of extremist efforts to stop them.

“There is a perception that I’ve seen in every sector of this region we have responsibility for - when I talk to the Iraqis - that the Americans have the ability to put a man on the moon, and yet they can’t provide us with electricity,” Brooks said. “That whole idea of an expectation that we promised and haven’t delivered causes a great deal of problems.”

Most westerners and Americans, for sure, cannot conceive flicking on a light switch on the wall and having it click with no effect. But, Baghdad has never had electricity flowing to its six million residents 24 hours a day. Electricity, or the lack thereof, was also tool used by the Ba’athist regime to reward or punish the population.

“You saw areas favored by Saddam and his regime see power longer throughout the day, but they still didn’t get power 24/7,” Rudolph said. “They still had to use what they called the ‘generator men,’ who were entrepreneurs who had their own generators and supplied power to local neighborhoods for the ‘off power’ periods - even during Saddam’s period.”

Rudolph said that providing power to Baghdad residents remains a priority, as witnessed by the 62 projects accounting for more than a quarter of the civil military operations funds dedicated this year – more than $44 million. The challenge to get the lights on throughout the Iraqi capital remains an ongoing issue.

“It was an inefficient system to begin with and what we have done is by our electrification projects, in general, we’ve improved distribution so that the power that comes in is distributed more efficiently,” Rudolph said. “However, the level of available power goes down. It goes out to more places, but it doesn’t last as long.”

Brooks said the provision of power to Baghdad neighborhoods remains a function of governance, and it will be the Iraqi government that will need to illuminate the Iraqi capital.

“Our effort here has to be more than a physical one - to not only find ways to improve those systems physically, but also have to work back through that governance effort to ensure that people who are in positions of responsibility in government are not sectarian and are not biased in the delivery of essential services to all people,” Brooks noted.

Improved security in some areas of the city has allowed life to flourish for some Baghdad residents. Temporary barriers erected throughout the city have created what military officials call “safe markets” and “safe neighborhoods.” Rudolph said the market areas have benefited from the temporary barriers, keeping suicide car bombers at bay while allowing commerce to continue.

The marketplace in the Rusafa District in what is known as “Old Baghdad,” on the east side of the Tigris River, is one of those success stories.

“Shoppers feel much safer going into the market now and they’ve actually seen an increase in the number of local citizens using that market,” Rudolph said. “It’s a perception, an attitude that the stigma of the random violence has lessened.”

The Doura Market is often a stop for visiting dignitaries to Baghdad in the southern Rashid District. The 1st Cavalry Division’s 2nd “Black Jack” Brigade Combat Team from Fort Hood, Texas, conducted the initial assessment of the area and started the revitalization project there.

Doura Market, Rudolph said, went from an unorganized street market of only a few dozen vendors to a thriving market place with more than 200 sellers now. He said the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kan., now operates in Rashid, and even more improvements are underway.

“4-1st Infantry is following up in their footsteps with a barrier plan just like Rusafa,” Rudolph said. “The shoppers (there) feel much safer in that environment. They’ve got solar-powered lights to provide security in the area. They have host nation security forces doing random patrols of the area, and because of these security measures more shops have opened up.”

Haifa Street, in the city’s center, west of the Tigris River, was once known as a hot-bed of extremist activity. It was a battleground for the 1st Cavalry Division when they operated in Baghdad in 2004-2005, and again earlier this year.

The battleground is now a model neighborhood.

“We’ve turned that around,” Brooks said. “Now, we have a thriving market area that is starting to grow and a revitalization process that will make the Iraqis really proud and recognize that things have improved.”

All things start with security, Brooks said, but quality of life initiatives have been brought to life in areas of the Iraqi capital where the neighborhood and district advisory councils have worked in harmony for the good of their constituents.

“It’s where people in the neighborhood, people in the district recognize that they have needs and they’re the ones who should represent the people in that area,” Brooks said. “Mansour has a very active district council that is functioning very, very well, and our recent security operations have enhanced that, so they feel more and more secure.

“They still remain periodically threatened, though,” Brooks said. “You have to recognize that people who are performing well, especially in harmony, are often targeted by extremists who don’t want to see good governance to ever form here.”

CERP funds are a “band-aid,” Rudolph said. They are a way for coalition forces to provide immediate aid where needed. But MND-B, in conjunction with the State Department, is looking at long-term solutions to many of the issues facing the residents of the Iraqi capital.

“They use training programs for business practices and they also do micro-grants and micro-loans, but those are ‘payments in kind,’ Rudolph explained. “If a business needed, say, a cash register to be able to transact business activities, they wouldn’t get the money to buy it. They would get a cash register. It’s the items they would need, not the cash. As much as security has improved, we still don’t want cash-flow going into the hands of the wrong parties. That’s the best means of addressing it.”

Brooks said MND-B has shifted its focus to long-term investments, versus short-term “band-aids” over the past three months.

“There’s been progress, but the approach that has been taken over the last several years for divisions like the 1st Cavalry Division was to find problems and fix them, and do it quickly,” Brooks said. “We’ve had success in that. But the reality is that it doesn’t leave an enduring systemic effect; so we’ve shifted our focus here over the last three months to look at the holistic system sewage on the west side of the river, for example, and identifying where the pump stations are, where the lift stations are, where the pipes that may be broken are, where there is standing sewage. Then, applying the resources, within the city of Baghdad and the government of Iraq, where they really matter.”

By looking at the broader picture, and engaging the local, district and provincial governments, Brooks said long-term progress is possible.

“What’s changed, I think over that last few years, is how much the larger infrastructure has been revitalized,” Brooks said. “Water pipes have been replaced, electrical transformers have been installed, but it’s that last 100 meters worth of the service that really still has to become focused. Then people will really recognize a difference.”

While on one hand, extremist elements are attempting to create chaos in the city streets and deter progress and quality of life initiatives, Brooks pointed in the other direction, to the American Soldier, and attributes much of the progress made to date in the Iraqi capital to the dedication of troops putting their boots on the ground to interact with residents and local officials.

“We wouldn’t have any of these successes; we’d have no progress if it weren’t for the contributions of our troops who are out there,” Brooks said. “We ask an awful lot of our Soldiers who are deployed over here. Certainly, we know we put them into harm’s way to accomplish whatever mission we set out to do. But their energy, their passion, their willingness to keep trying in the face of deliberate set backs at the hands of the enemy or at the hands of sometimes the Iraqis themselves - they’re out there every day and they keep moving forward.

“In all these areas, not only security, but in governance, it may be that the first, best way for people to come together is because an American Soldier encouraged a district council member to sit in the same room with another,” Brooks added. “And governance begins, then, with the passion and the heart of the Soldier in this country.”

Photo - An Iraqi vender works on setting displays of fresh vegetables on Haifa Street in Central Baghdad. The area had been a hot-bed of violence and extremist activity, but is now returning to a peaceful normality of day-to-day living. Photo by Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl.

Army's Newest Modular Combat Team Makes Mark in Iraq

May 31, 2007
BY Fred. W Baker III
Armed Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON - In its first deployment to Iraq, one of the Army's newest modular light infantry brigade combat teams is making its mark under the president's troop plus-up plan, the brigade's top officer said in a May 25 briefing to Pentagon reporters.

The 1st Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team from Fort Riley, Kan., is deployed as part of the troop plus-up to the east and west Rashid security districts in the Multinational Division Baghdad area. It is partnered with the 2nd Infantry Division's 3rd Stryker Brigade from Fort Lewis, Wash., and three Iraqi security force brigades. Together, the troops are clearing an area about 58 square miles, roughly the size of San Francisco, home to about 700,000 Iraqis.

In the past three weeks, under Operation Dragon Fire, the troops have cleared 45 neighborhoods, detained 94 terrorist suspects, freed two kidnapped citizens and captured 397 explosive munitions, 245 weapons systems, 150 IEDs and enough components to make 3,000 more IEDs, said Col. Ricky Gibbs, commander of the BCT and Task Force Dragon.

They've also destroyed two torture houses and a terrorist safe haven, Col. Gibbs said. It has not come without loss to the units, though. Seven U.S. Soldiers have been killed in the plus-up to clear the area. Initially, attacks were high against the troops as they moved in and secured the area. Now, direct attacks are down, but the use of IEDs against the troops has increased, Col. Gibbs said.

The troops man five joint security stations and 20 coalition outposts in the area. They live at the outposts until rotating back to the forward operating base. Col. Gibbs said living in the communities allows the troops to gain the trust of the Iraqi people. This reaps big dividends in the fight, he said. "The tips that are coming in from the people are astronomical, and that's allowing us to find these terrorists, or the Takfir, as the locals call them, and take them off the street," Col. Gibbs said.

The joint security stations are similar to local police stations and are located in the neighborhoods. There has been a decrease in violence, he said, primarily because of the nearly doubled troop presence. Col. Gibbs said his troops are working side by side with an Iraqi army brigade and two police brigades. He said they co-plan, rehearse and share intelligence, and in some cases the Iraqi forces lead the operations.

Even so, Col. Gibbs said, the Iraqi police forces have yet to earn the full confidence of the people there to the level that the Iraqi army has. Col. Gibbs said one of his biggest concerns was the ability of the Iraqi police force to hire enough to fill its ranks. The task force also is working to restore essential services in the area. Priorities have been to restore sanitation services and electrical power, with 127 active projects throughout the districts and another 62 projects planned.

Photo - Spc. A.J. Jackson looks for snipers during a cordon and search in Baghdad on May 16. Spc. Jackson is assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. Photo by Sgt. Tierney P. Nowland.

Khowst PRT Winning the Fight in Afghanistan

May 30, 2007
BY Pfc. Micah E. Clare
4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Less than 10 miles from training camps that produced many of the 9/11 hijackers, a team of coalition servicemembers are working together to make sure the area once home to Osama Bin Laden's terrorist organization becomes an environment that will deny such people a support base ever again.

But for this joint service team spearheading the fight against terrorism in Eastern Afghanistan's, Khowst province doesn't involve executing tactical military operations but in providing reconstruction assistance.

The Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team, based in Forward Operating Base Chapman near Khowst City, serves as the main effort in rebuilding Khowst province by distributing humanitarian aid, mentoring local government officials, planning for construction projects and providing security for important events, said Navy Cmdr. Dave Adams, commander of the Khowst PRT.

"We're a reconstruction organization with a military arm," Cmdr. Adams said. PRTs were established in Afghanistan when it was realized in 2003 that units needed to focus on winning the security fight, and a separate military organization was required to head up the badly needed reconstruction efforts. The Navy and Air Force answered the call and stepped up to assist, explained Cmdr. Adams, a submarine officer of 21 years who volunteered for this command.

A team of military advisors, United States Agency for International Development and Department of State officials, joined together as a PRT; a board of directors working to synchronize their efforts and resources. The Khowst PRT has brought assistance to the province in the past few years by sending its Army Civil Affairs teams to live in local communities to send back updates on area needs. Many construction projects such as irrigation systems, diversion dams, wells, schools, and roads have been set into motion by the PRT in this way, Cmdr. Adams said.

"These projects serve not only to improve the quality of life for the residents, but also to put shovels in the people's hands, providing them with jobs," he said. A big part in bringing these quality of life improvements to Khowst is the necessity for security, he said. This is where the PRT security force comes in, typically provided by the Army National Guard.

"Good security is vital for the PRT's mission to be successful," said 2nd Lt. Cory Marr, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard, who provides security and maneuver support to the Khowst PRT. The security is beginning to take care of itself, he said. The overall security in Khowst has improved greatly, which is the result of locals seeing the many improvements that have come in the past year, the fruit of their efforts in securing a safe environment. This has allowed the PRT to extend its reach, he explained.

"There's no place we're afraid to go," 2nd Lt. Marr said. "We work with the Afghan National Security Forces and get plenty of intelligence from the locals. For instance, we stop at police checkpoints as we enter an area, and they update us on the local situation. We always have a good understanding of the areas we're going into." "In some of the more remote places we go, the locals have become extremely helpful to us," said Spc. Doug Schletz, an infantryman in 2nd Plt. "They used to look at us like we were aliens, but recently they've seen what we're here to do for them, like seeing us helping the ANSF provide security for many of their events."

This increased security is so successful, international reconstruction agencies and foreign investors that have in the past shieded away from helping Afghanistan due to safety concerns are being drawn back, Cmdr. Adams said. Recently, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Khowst City to visit projects they have invested in, such as the city university and main mosque. Cmdr. Adams was able to confidently assure the delegates that any future projects built by their country would be safe in Khowst.

"Security here is stronger than ever," he said to UAE representatives during a meeting at the provincial governor's compound in Khowst. "The Taliban no longer have a foothold here. The ANSF can protect anything built here by the U.S. or the UAE." This is a big step forward in winning the fight in Afghanistan, the commander said. "We're helping the Afghans create something for themselves that the Taliban couldn't: a safe environment, a growing economy and an increasing standard of living," he said.

"This is a terrific mission we can all be proud of," he said. "By helping the Afghans permanently cast off the tyranny the enemy brought to them and to us, we're providing hope to them and their children, and for us and our children."

Photo - A convoy from the Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team visits a district center in the Spera district of Khowst province, Afghanistan to assess the area's security situation. Photo by Pfc. Micah E. Clare.

Air, ground units continue search for missing Soldiers

21 May 2007
U.S. Army story by Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs Multi-National Division-Baghdad PAO.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers continue 24 hour full spectrum air and ground operations dedicated to the search and rescue of three missing Soldiers, today.

Since May 12, pilots and Soldiers from 3rd “Spearhead” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, – a UH-60 Black Hawk battalion – have been conducting air assaults and air movements of Soldiers and cargo around the clock supporting the search for the missing Soldiers, said Maj. Gail Atkins, operations officer for 3-227th.

Spearhead also assisted in an information campaign by dropping leaflets onto the battlefield in an effort to recover information about the missing Soldiers’ whereabouts from the locals, said Atkins.

“Both the air to ground integration and also the air to air integration has worked well and I hope it has provided the support that they’ve needed,” she said.

Along with 3-227th, the 4th “Guns” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter battalion, is providing support to the recovery effort, as well.

“Ultimately, we support the ground guys. If they need our support, that’s our top priority,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Eldrige, an Apache and maintenance test pilot from Company B, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment.

Since their first response to the attack May 12, 4-227th has kept two teams of Apaches in the air to support the mission 24 hours a day, said Capt. David Roman, battle captain and Apache pilot for 4-227th.

Because the Soldiers searching on the ground are stretched throughout a large area, not only do they need supplies taken to them, but they need help relaying information to their headquarters, said Roman.

“One of the best ways we’ve been combat enablers for them is through reconnaissance and radio retransmissions – being able to talk to them and enable their communications,” he said.

Both air and ground Soldiers are committed to finding their comrades at all costs.

“Coalition forces are currently using every means at our disposal to find the missing Soldiers, and we will continue these efforts until all are accounted for,” said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesperson.

Photo: Spc. Theron Williams keeps an eye out for terrorists during a spring rainstorm May 16 while searching for three Soldiers who went missing after a May 12 attack. Williams, a rifleman with Company B, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., was one of over 4,000 Soldiers searching for the missing comrades. U.S. Air Force photo.

Romanian Soldiers Stand United with Americans in Iraq

From friendly contests to focused missions, coalition forces learn from each other.

By Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AREA ADDER, Iraq, May 15, 2007 — There are differences in uniform, equipment and language, but to members of the Romanian Army’s 495th Infantry Battalion and their coalition partners, the similarities among troops are more important.

The Romanian paratrooper unit patrols certain areas in southern Iraq, provides a quick reaction force for British Explosive Ordinance Disposal units and maintains a safe route for convoys 24 hours a day.

While the soldiers are trained in airborne operations, scuba diving and climbing, they are “just infantry guys” during their missions in Iraq, their commander, Lt. Col. George Constantin said. Their paratrooper status has helped them bond with the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, but overall he sees troops from both armies in the same light.

“I don’t see boundaries between Americans and Romanians,” Constantin said. Their efforts have gained the respect of many U.S. soldiers, who provide additional equipment and training to the unit stationed at Logistical Support Area Adder.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael E. Proctor of Jacksonville, Fla., a senior maintenance adviser with the 546th Maintenance Company, said he enjoyed working with the Romanians when he recently taught Humvee maintenance to more than 50 of them.

“I’m pretty impressed with them,” Proctor said, noting the Romanians were eager students who constantly asked questions about the unfamiliar vehicle. The southeastern European country has participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom since their beginnings. Currently, there are nearly 600 Romanian soldiers serving throughout Iraq, with a majority of those at the Tallil base, according to their spokesman, Lt. Dorian Constantin Balan.

The Romanian army takes part in numerous training exercises with the American military every year and many of the soldiers know basic or intermediate English, he said. Balan himself learned English through a training program at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

“We have a special partnership with the U.S.,” he said.

Although the Romanian men and women serve under British forces at LSA Adder, many Americans have worked to forge connections with the paratrooper unit. Maj. Lisa Munday, the plans and effects branch chief for the 365th Corps Support Battalion of Hattiesburg, Miss., said she started working with the Romanians to help provide the Humvee training.

She was also looking for ways to improve life on the base, so she organized a soccer tournament among various coalition forces, including the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, the Romanian army, the British army, the Ugandan security forces and the Australian army.

“Initially, it was going to be just one tournament,” she said. Instead, the game has become a Sunday ritual at the Romanian camp inside LSA Adder. Variations on physical training uniforms substitute for team colors, with the exception of teams such as the Australians, who brought soccer jerseys with them to Iraq.

Cpl. Mihai Gancea, a Romanian soldier, was preparing for the American-Romanian match, except he was suiting up to play on the United States team. He said he found Americans to be very friendly and any preconceptions have gone away as he’s gotten to know them.

“We are all here for the same thing, so we have to be united,” Gancea said. “They are the same as us.”

This equality doesn’t extend to everything. He said while the Americans might be victorious if they were playing their version of football, those skills don’t necessarily translate to a mastery of European football.

“I don’t know if they can beat us at soccer,” he said, smiling.

Lt. Delman J. Hafermann of Waverly, Iowa , a liaison officer for 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, was one of the Americans competing on the field. He said he enjoys playing against the Romanians and the good-natured competition works both ways.

“We tell them Americans can beat Romanians any day,” Hafermann said. This time, however, the Romanians earned a 3-1 victory over their American counterparts. Munday, who took part in a volleyball game with the Romanians the same day, said she enjoys seeing the interaction between the different countries. Munday, who is from Fuquay-Varina, N.C. , said her new friends have refused to teach her any Romanian, because they want to practice their English. She also noted their discipline, stating they do physical training five times a week.

“They have such huge hearts. They’ll do anything for you,” Munday said. “If we
stay in our little cliques, we miss a chance to get to know each other.”

The Romanians have had several chances to learn from U.S. troops. Many participated in a Combat Lifesaver course taught by the 82nd Sustainment Brigade in February and there are plans to conduct a joint mass casualty exercise in the near future.

“It is very important that we do these exercises together,” Lt. Macau Florin commander of the Romanian medical platoon, said. “We cannot afford mistakes in this.”

There are a few other differences. While the names attached to some military camps can be obscure, it’s pretty clear where the namesake of the 495th encampment comes from. The large bat painted on the concrete wall outside the camp is one clue.

“They call it Camp Dracula to scare the enemy,” Balan, the spokesman, said with a smile. The Romanians are also involved in their own civil affairs projects, including the planned rebuilding of a nearby Iraqi school, he said.

The Romanians also face their own dangers. Recently, members of an American convoy helped alert the soldiers stationed at a checkpoint about a suspicious vehicle in the area, Lt. Benone Bodoc, a Romanian platoon commander, said. The vehicle was later prevented from approaching the checkpoint.

“They are always willing to help us,” Bodoc said of the U.S. convoys.

The Romanians constantly scan the area and the traffic for trouble. They also stay alert for dangers, including improvised explosive devices, during their own convoys.

“We have to know it’s a war and we have to pay attention to everything; not just one thing,” Cpl. Mihai Gancea said while on security duty.

The 495th arrived in February, just a month after their military did away with its draft, Romanian officials said. All the soldiers currently here volunteered to come to Iraq . The Romanian commander said each will do his best to accomplish the mission.

“We are honored to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the American Army and we want to be all the time in the same situation,” Constantin said. “Our place is here with NATO soldiers.”

Photo Caption: Lt. Sorin Lungu (right), with the Romanian Army’s 495th Infantry Battalion, makes a kick during a soccer game with American soldiers. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gary A. Witte

General Cites ‘Massive Effort’ Under Way to Find Missing Soldiers

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2007 – The U.S. military, coalition partners and Iraqi security forces are making a “massive effort” to find three American soldiers missing in Iraq since May 12, a senior U.S. military officer said today.

“We are using every asset and resource available to the United States and our Iraqi allies in these efforts,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said during a videotaped release broadcast on the Pentagon Channel today.

A convoy carrying seven U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi army interpreter was ambushed by enemy forces as it traveled west of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, during a search for roadside bombs, U.S. officials reported. The attack site is located about 20 miles south of Baghdad.

Positive identification has been made of three U.S. soldiers killed in the attack, Caldwell said, and of the Iraqi interpreter. Identification of the fourth U.S. soldier killed in the ambush is pending, he said.

However, “we still have three missing American soldiers,” Caldwell said, noting their current duty status is classified as “whereabouts unknown.”

“We are doing everything we can to locate our soldiers,” Caldwell emphasized, adding that Iraqi citizens are providing tips to help find the missing troops.

Caldwell said credible intelligence information indicates that the U.S. soldiers have been abducted by al Qaeda or an affiliated terrorist group operating in Iraq.

Intelligence teams, manned and unmanned aircraft, and an array of other U.S., coalition and Iraqi assets are being employed in the search operations, Caldwell noted.

Information now being disseminated about the missing soldiers is intentionally limited, Caldwell noted, so as not to jeopardize ongoing search operations. The missing soldiers’ families are receiving all available information, he said.

Caldwell said the U.S. military’s thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing soldiers and to those families who have suffered the death of a loved one as a result of the attack.

Thousands of U.S. troops are combing the area where the missing soldiers were last seen, Caldwell said, noting everyone involved is “doing everything we can to find these brave and courageous soldiers.”

The U.S. Army is pledged to honor its tradition of never abandoning a comrade on the battlefield, Caldwell pointed out.

“We live by that creed,” the two-star general said.
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2007 – The U.S. military, coalition partners and Iraqi security forces are making a “massive effort” to find three American soldiers missing in Iraq since May 12, a senior U.S. military officer said today.

“We are using every asset and resource available to the United States and our Iraqi allies in these efforts,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said during a videotaped release broadcast on the Pentagon Channel today.

A convoy carrying seven U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi army interpreter was ambushed by enemy forces as it traveled west of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, during a search for roadside bombs, U.S. officials reported. The attack site is located about 20 miles south of Baghdad.

Positive identification has been made of three U.S. soldiers killed in the attack, Caldwell said, and of the Iraqi interpreter. Identification of the fourth U.S. soldier killed in the ambush is pending, he said.

However, “we still have three missing American soldiers,” Caldwell said, noting their current duty status is classified as “whereabouts unknown.”

“We are doing everything we can to locate our soldiers,” Caldwell emphasized, adding that Iraqi citizens are providing tips to help find the missing troops.

Caldwell said credible intelligence information indicates that the U.S. soldiers have been abducted by al Qaeda or an affiliated terrorist group operating in Iraq.

Intelligence teams, manned and unmanned aircraft, and an array of other U.S., coalition and Iraqi assets are being employed in the search operations, Caldwell noted.

Information now being disseminated about the missing soldiers is intentionally limited, Caldwell noted, so as not to jeopardize ongoing search operations. The missing soldiers’ families are receiving all available information, he said.

Caldwell said the U.S. military’s thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the missing soldiers and to those families who have suffered the death of a loved one as a result of the attack.

Thousands of U.S. troops are combing the area where the missing soldiers were last seen, Caldwell said, noting everyone involved is “doing everything we can to find these brave and courageous soldiers.”

The U.S. Army is pledged to honor its tradition of never abandoning a comrade on the battlefield, Caldwell pointed out.

“We live by that creed,” the two-star general said.