HAHAHA.... mangledbrain strikes again.....how many "hearts and minds" do you really expect to gain in the ME???
your idea of gaining hearts and minds is cut and run and appeasement, until your terrorist buddies decide to bomb something/someone else of ours.
As far as Iraq, there is both good news and bad news....as with any new Democracy, especially one in the ME.
If you are looking for some good news.....READ ON:
MAY:
How About Some Good News?
Progress in Iraq.
I had hoped this Iraq-progress round-up would include news about the formation of a new government today, but infighting has stalled the process. Still there is lots of other good news to report from Iraq, and even signs that some in the media are taking notice: The article linked to says “Statistics cited come from a report in National Review.”
In a move to help quell sectarian violence, seven Sunnis were rescued from Shia militiamen by U.S. and Iraqi forces Thursday. U.S. and Iraqi forces arrived in a village where the kidnappings were under way after receiving a tip from village leaders. After a brief gunfight with the militia, the hostages were rescued. Five of the kidnappers were wounded and 36 taken into custody.
A newspaper affiliated with a Kurdish political party claimed that 1,577 Iranians had been captured in the last month crossing the border into Iraq. Also this week, a top Sunni political leader accused Iran of sending intelligence agents into Iraq and of setting up operations centers in Iraqi towns.
Iraq is planning on reorganizing its security forces in Baghdad. The plan includes consolidating police and army forces under one command, and one uniform. In addition, the plan calls for a significant reduction in the number of American troops in the capital city.
ONE FINE (ARTS) DAY
In Baghdad, a private art gallery drew a small crowd to an art exhibit. One artist commented that artists have more freedom now than under Saddam:
The young artists at the Cultural Attitudes Society art gallery in central Baghdad say they are more free to express themselves now that Saddam is gone.
FOR THE CHILDREN
Students of Watertown High School in Wisconsin recently collected backpacks filled with school supplies to send to Iraq. The success of “Operation Backpack” surprised even its organizers:
We picked up 80 backpacks from the Educational Service Center that were donated to the school district by the Watertown Kiwanis Club,” Mark McFarland, student council president, said. “
Eight large boxes were filled with the items from the backpacks. Those boxes will be shipped over to Iraq along with the backpacks.
The children of Sadr City are now going to school in new classrooms thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers:
Among the schools getting makeovers was the Mustafa School, which serves 930 high school students in the morning and 430 elementary students in the afternoon.
The $290,000 project included 300 new interior lights, 55 ceiling fans, 11 window air conditioners, 300 square meters of new concrete playground surface, remodeling of restrooms, roof repair, raising the perimeter security wall one meter, repairing all broken glass and installing a steel mesh to protect all exterior windows, painting all interior and exterior walls, and supplying a new 80kva generator.
“It’s one of 13 public-school renovations in East Baghdad that we oversaw in the last year,” said Jeremy Way, project engineer with Gulf Region Central District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
THE MONEYMEN
The head of Iraq’s central bank said this week the country was making progress in reforming the banking system:
He also said Iraq was on track in its financial reforms, including transformation of the banking system "from one depending on cash to a system depending on credit."
"By the end of the year God willing, our banks will have a developed payment system to carry out their settlements fast through accounts at the central banks," he said.
"Other reforms we are working on include improving the banks' managements and developing the technology they use to carry out transactions," he said. "We cannot say everything is perfect, but we are moving forward."
He also said Iraq’s foreign reserves now stand at $10 billion.
The Iraqi-American chamber of commerce will be holding its second trade show in Iraq in September.
Iraq’s oil minister announced that the country will be building three new oil refineries at a cost of $6 billion. When completed, the three facilities will be capable of pumping up to 900,000 barrels a day.
The American chamber of commerce third “Rebuild Iraq” conference ended this week on a high note for residents of Fallujah:
"Fallujah is a secure city and returning to a normal life and its soil is ready for investment". Delegates also heard from speakers of the huge resources available for utilization including 40,000 skilled and currently unemployed people in Fallujah and highlighted the many products that could be sold across Iraq and internationally including ceramics, stone and even a budding tourism sector.
ON FIRE
Renovations to the Al-Musharra fire station are complete. The $110,000 project will benefit 750,000 Iraqis:
Located near the Tigris River, the structure was weakened by the high ground water table. Crumbling walls and floors, a polluted water storage tank and decayed roof tiles were just a few of the reconstruction problems. New joists and wall supports, roof tiles and floor tiles were installed to bring vitality back to the building. New electrical, water, sewage and air conditioning systems were installed and a sleeping quarters, kitchen area and general use room were built to accommodate the nine fireman stationed there.
Thanks to Iraqi production, OPEC’s oil output topped 30 million barrels per day for the first time since November:
The biggest single increase came from Iraq, which saw volumes rise from 1.82 million b/d in March to 2.01 million b/d in April, thanks to a big boost in exports from the south, which had been constrained by a combination of weather problems, power outages and sabotage.
LOOKEE HERE
U.S. and Iraqi troops uncovered a massive weapons cache near Baghdad on Wednesday. The cache was largely made up of materials used to make IEDs:
…searched a house in New Baghdad and discovered 142 land mines, 58 blocks of C4 explosives, approximately 8,000 feet of detonation cord, 107 fuses, 22 rocket-propelled grenades, a launcher, 59 mortars, 40 pounds of mortar propellant, four shape charges, 43 blasting caps, explosive-formed projectile materials, two gas masks, six two-way radios, multiple mortar launching tubes, maps of Baghdad and Iraq, and anti-Iraqi force literature.
The story continues:
The discovery of weapons caches, often a result of a local's tip to Iraqi or American forces, occur nearly every day in Iraq, but the May 10 discovery was particularly large.
In a press conference this week, Major General Lynch noted that tips from Iraqis have increased significantly this year. During the first eleven days of May, Iraqis had phoned in more than 1,500 phone calls. Lynch said that 98 percent of the tips contain usable intelligence. The tips have been especially useful in the fight against al Qaeda and IEDs:
Improved intelligence and increasingly capable Iraqi security forces also led to the capture or killing of more than 161 senior leaders of al-Qaida in Iraq, as well as a marked decrease in effective improvised bombs. More than 50 percent of the bombs now are found and defused before they can kill, he said.
Major Lynch also made a rather interesting statement, and I couldn’t agree more:
"People want to talk about what the enemy did. But they don't talk about what the enemy couldn't do," Lynch said. "And there is a lot he couldn't do because of that increased presence."
ON THEIR OWN
The Iraqi army is now conducting independent operations in Diyala Province:
Iraqi army Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division are independently conducting operations in their area of Diyala Province. They are performing tasks such as gathering their own intelligence, to patrolling their streets and hunting suspected anti-Iraqi forces.
Independent operations are also being conducted by the Iraqi army in Mosul. Three terrorists on the Iraqi army’s most-wanted list were captured during the operation planned and executed solely by Iraqis:
The Iraqi brigade demonstrated their military planning skills by formulating the mission, issuing appropriate orders to its subordinate units, and overwatching the conduct of the operation.
SAME BAD TRICKS
Terrorists are still using mosques to plan attacks against Coalition forces. In Baghdad, an IED exploded in the basement of a mosque, killing one terrorist, and wounding two others.
A tip from an Iraqi led U.S. troops to a weapons cache, and to the capture of two members of an IED-making terrorist cell.
U.S. and Iraqi forces captured an al Qaeda-cell leader in Adhamiyah. The captured terrorist immediately sang like a canary and seven more terrorists were promptly rounded up.
U.S. soldiers uncovered IED making equipment thanks to a tip from an Iraqi citizen. The cached included an IED ready to go:
The cache included an IED ready for placement, nine anti-tank mines, eight hand grenades, various other weapons and IED making equipment, as well as an improvised rocket launcher.
Three men on the Iraqi army’s most-wanted list were captured during an operation in Mosul. The operation was planned and led by Iraqis.
Two terrorists were killed when they fired on Iraqi police in Tikrit. A search of the building they were in led to the discovery of a tunnel and weapons cache:
The Soldiers uncovered a false wall that led to a tunnel system and another hidden door that opened into a room used as clandestine sleeping quarters.
The “Ready First” Soldiers discovered a variety of weapons and munitions scattered about the tunnel and underground room. A Katusha rocket, 10 rifle grenades, four mortar rounds, three IEDs and two mortar tubes were seized.
Helicopters from the 101st Airbrone Division fired on two terrorist placing an IED during a nighttime patrol, killing one and wounding the other.
In Julaybah, a terrorist compound was destroyed by Coalition forces:
After killing three terrorists and detaining four others, the troops conducted a thorough search of the area. They found six affiliated vehicles, three of which were loaded with various weapons and explosives to include rifles, mortars and improvised explosive device material. The troops also uncovered numerous weapons caches with AK-47's, rocket propelled grenades, mortar rounds and IED material.
Five safe houses, six cars, and all lethal material were destroyed on target. No civilians were injured or harmed during the assault or resulting firefight.
Centcom released captured al Qaeda documents this week in which it is clear the terrorist group is having a tough time in Iraq. An excerpt particularly relevant here:
The actions of the Iraqi Security Forces are having a significant negative impact on the Mujahideen’s ability to operate in Baghdad. Al Qaida in Iraq attacks Mosques and other public places to draw media attention and is having difficulty recruiting members because the people of Iraq do not support its cause.
Great news, but here is how the Reuters’ story on the documents began:
A purported al Qaeda document published by the U.S. military may or may not be authentic but its message that the Sunni Islamist guerrillas face problems in Iraq could reflect reality, security experts said on Tuesday.
Fake but accurate, now where have I heard that before?
In Al Furat, a mostly Sunni area of Anbar, men said they were volunteering for the Iraqi army because they are tired of the insurgency:
One 30-year-old Iraqi man accepted for enlistment said his younger brother had his left leg amputated after infection set in from a gunshot wound from insurgents. He’s hoping his enlistment in the Army is the beginning of the end of the insurgency in Al Anbar Province, he said.
“He told me, my brother – ‘save our country,’” said the man through an interpreter. “’Don’t let another guy end up like me.’ I just do this for him.”
JUST THE FACTS
And in case you missed it, here are some highlights from the latest Brookings’s Iraq Index:
Per Capita GDP (USD) for 2005 is forecast to increase from the previous year to $1,051. In 2002 it was $802.
Increases in GDP for the next five years: 16.8, 13.6, 12.5, 7.8, and 7.2.
Actionable tips from Iraqis have increased every month this year. In January, 4,025 tips were received; February, 4,235; and March, 4,578.
On an index of political freedom for countries in the Middle East, Iraq now ranks fourth, just below Israel, Lebanon, and Morocco.
Crude oil production reached 2.14 million barrels a day (MBD) in April of this year. It had dropped to 0.3 MBD in May of 2003.
Revenues from oil export have only slightly increased from prewar levels of $0.2 billion, to $0.62 billion in April.
Electrical output is almost at the pre-war level of 3,958 megawatts. April's production was 3,600 megawatts. In May of 2003, production was only 500 megawatts. The goal is to reach 6,000 megawatts, and was originally expected to be met in 2004.
The unemployment rate in June of 2003 was 50-60 percent, and in April of this year it had dropped to 25-40 percent.
The number of U.S. military wounded has declined significantly from a high of 1,397 in November 2004 to 430 in April of this year.
Iraqi military casualties were 201 in April of 2006, after peaking at 304 in July of 2005.
As of December 2005, countries other than the U.S., plus the World Bank and IMF, have pledged almost $14 billion in reconstruction aid to Iraq.
Significant progress has also been made towards the rule of law. In May 2003 there were no trained judges, but as of October 2005 there were 351.
As of January 2006, 64 percent of Iraqis polled said that the country was headed in the right direction.
Also as of January 2006, 77 percent said that removing Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do.
In May of 2003, Iraqi security forces were estimated at between 7,000-9,000. They numbered 250,500 in March of this year.
The breakdown of foreign terrorists by country of origin is interesting. The largest number come from Algeria, at 20 percent. The next two countries are Syria and Yemen, at 18 percent and 17 percetn, respectively.
The number of foreign terrorists fighting in Iraq was estimated at between 300 and 500 in January 2004. That number increased in April of this year, to between 700 and 2,000.
From May 2003 and April 2006, between 1,000 and 3,000 anti-Iraqi forces have been killed each month.
JUNE:
This Is What Progress Is Made Of
Haditha, mercifully, is far from the only recent news from Iraq.
Good news from the ground in Iraq isn’t the only thing the mainstream media fails to report on when it comes to our military. They also miss stories of some of the smaller services such as the Army Veterinary Corps, which is celebrating its 90th year in 2006. Let me give you a quick idea of how the Vet Corps is contributing to our success in Iraq.
A group of Army engineers learned that five villagers, including a child, had been bitten by a stray dog. The dog was killed by the villagers, and buried. Our soldiers, concerned that it could have rabies, dug up the body and sent tissue samples to the Veterinary Corps in Landstuhl, Germany. The dog did have rabies, and the five villagers who were bitten received appropriate medical care, saving their lives, and earning the gratitude of the entire village.
In Anbar Province, soldiers of the Vet Corps travel throughout Iraq conducting food-service inspections:
With wild dogs, snakes and unfamiliar insects running throughout the region, the threat of animal borne illnesses is always present.
“There are a lot of animal borne illnesses here that we are not used to back in the states,” Boyd said. “If someone gets bitten by a wild dog, we work with the doctors who treat the patient in case the dog had rabies or any other type of disease that may infect the victim.”
Congratulations to the men and women of the Veterinary Corps on their 90th anniversary, and thanks for everything you do in the war on terror. My thanks to Melinda Yantis for alerting me to the fine work of the Veterinary Corps.
More Traditional Good News from Iraq
Iraq’s prime minister said last week that his nation’s security forces would be ready to take over security duties for the entire country in 18 months.
Major General William Webster commented that his saw signs of significant progress in Iraq during his tour there as commander of the Third Infantry Division:
"The reality was that we conducted about 800 offensive operations a day," he said. "That included patrols, logistics, combat patrols, coordinate search operations, detainee operations, traffic control points. And the vast majority of those operations were conducted without any violence at all.
“And when there is a car bomb, it is so vastly different than what happens here, and so vastly different from what the average Iraqi has been experiencing during the day, that it makes the news. And it's unfortunate that that is all our people here at home see. Cause there's so much positive going on in Baghdad. Yeah, it's a violent place. Yes, the war is still going, but our servicemen and -women and the people that are contracted to help them are doing amazing things to help the Iraqi people get on with their lives.
"When we arrived in Baghdad, there was only one Iraqi Army Battalion on the street, fighting at the time. And by the time we left, there were 22 battalions out there helping us secure the city. We have turned over 60 percent of the city to the Iraqi Army to provide security, and they're doing that.
The State department’s James Jeffrey also sees signs of progress in Iraq. Jeffrey is the coordinator for Iraq policy and senior adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He predicted that 100 Iraqi light infantry battalions would be engaged in the counterinsurgency fight within 12 months.
During an interview with the AP, Ambassador Khalilzad said he believes Iraq is headed in the right direction:
I am more optimistic now than I have been at times in the past, now that we have the Sunni Arabs participating in the political process, now that we have a government of national unity, but I am, of course, realistic enough to know that there are significant challenges that still are part of the picture. We need a good Defense Minister that has to be still appointed, a good Interior Minister that has to be appointed, and the security situation has to be dealt with. But I think that fundamentally, with the political participation of all communities in the political system, that Iraq has been put on the right trajectory.
General Casey said recently that Iraqis remain optimistic:
Iraqis are hopeful about their future. They have emerged from the yoke of a brutal dictatorship and are determined to realize their full potential as a unified and prosperous nation, secure from the threats of terrorism. Their courage and commitment to overcome years of neglect and oppression is undeniable, evidenced in the broad voter turnout in national elections, investment in agriculture and business ventures, support to Iraqi Security Forces, and expanding involvement in local government. Political and economic efforts are beginning to bear fruit for all Iraqis.
What a Difference Several Months Make
The Iraq 2nd Brigade of the 9th Mechanized Division took over security operations in the Taji region. Seven months ago the 2nd Brigade had no weapons, tanks, APCs, housing, or uniforms, but today they are known as the “jewel of Iraq” by the Iraqi military:
As the new Iraqi army attains capability, more units are taking over security responsibility within their country. The latest example is the Iraqi 2nd Brigade of the 9th Mechanized Division, which assumed responsibility for security in the Taji area during a ceremony here today.
The brigade will be "in the lead" in defending 150 square kilometers of the region, including the cities of Saab al Bour and Hor al Bash.
Iraqi soldiers assumed command of security operation near Sinjar. It is the first time Iraqis have taken control of battle space in this part of Iraq.
The 4th Iraqi Army Division is now in control of the battle space in and around the city of Kirkuk:
The battle space handover was the area’s second this year and another indication of the Iraqi Army taking increased control in one of Iraq’s largest northern provinces.
For the first time in three years, residents of Husaybah are benefiting from a fully-functional police force, and two new police stations.
In another sign that the rule of law now governs Iraq, the Central Criminal Court sentenced 14 terrorists to prison, and released 151.
Steven Alvarez returned from Iraq with a newfound respect for Iraqi soldiers:
Uniformed Iraqis are the whipping boys of American foreign-policy criticism, and while it may be true that pockets of Iraqi soldiers suffered from what we called "tiny heart syndrome," there is no doubt that the bulk of the Iraqi forces are good-intentioned, eager to learn and loyal to their flag. The majority of Iraqi security forces are proud, patriotic and brave.
The Iraqi men and women I've served with do so because they remember Saddam Hussein's oppressive regime. Each day, for just a couple of hundred dollars per month, these men and women suit up and set out to help their nation get a little closer to democracy, putting themselves and their families at great risk so their ancient nation can slowly adapt into a modern democracy. For some, Iraqi army-issued boots are the first pair of shoes they have ever owned.
Disarming
During Operation Roll Tide, U.S. and Iraqi troops uncovered a large weapons cache in Baghdad:
During Operation Roll tide, a combined effort between elements from 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade Iraqi National Police, and Soldiers from Company D, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, uncovered a huge weapons cache of land mines, rockets, explosives, and documents in a house.
In one home the unit found over 140 mines, 58 blocks of C4 explosives, 18 rockets, and almost 40 mortars, as well as manuals and equipment to convert these munitions into deadly improvised-explosive devices.
In another joint operation, a terrorist training camp was shut down near Tikrit:
The 150-square kilometer complex was a chemical production facility that was closed by the United Nations after the fall of the former regime.
"Insurgents were coming here to train, conduct link-up operations, and moving out to attack Coalition Forces," said Capt. Andrew Graham, assistant plans and operations officer, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment.
More than 200 “insurgents” were arrested during the operation.
In Balad, U.S. soldiers uncovered three large weapons caches in a matter of days:
The first two caches were discovered south of Balad by Bulldog Troop, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 3rd HBCT, 4th ID, Task Force Band of Brothers Thursday. These caches consisted of four rocket-propelled grenade heads and propellant, two RPG launchers, two unknown rockets, one 82 mm mortar tube, one tripod, one homemade rocket launcher, one 60 mm rocket, one unknown rocket in green canister, one box of detonators, 400 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, one heavy machine gun and one assault rifle.
A third cache was discovered by Bulldog Troop Saturday in an area south of Balad, near where the first two caches were found. This cache consisted of: four RPG rounds, three anti-personnel RPG rounds, three RPG launchers, five mortar rounds of various sizes, one 60 mm rocket, one AK rifle grenade, four anti-personnel mines, four mortar fuses, 100 to 150 unknown grenades, six illumination rounds, 500 rounds of 7.62 linked ammunition, one bottle of unknown liquid, four bags of unknown white powder, one bag of gun powder, one motorcycle battery and electronic equipment for an improvised explosive device.
Near Abu Ghraib, three terrorist were killed after Coalition forces observed them planting three IEDs.
Last week, 46 insurgents were detained in operations around Kirkuk.
A tip from an Iraqi led soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division to 4 55 gallon drums filled with weapons.
Another tip allowed U.S. and Iraqi soldiers to foil a kidnapping attempt.
Multiple tips led Coalition Forces to a terrorist safe house and IED factory:
After securing the targeted safe house, the troops found one heavy machine gun, two medium machine guns, rifles, a pistol, artillery shells, IED material, large oxygen tanks configured as IEDs, a suicide vest, rocket propelled grenades and one launcher. Large amounts of discarded automobile parts were also present in the structure further indicating that cars were likely being configured into vehicle-borne IEDs in keeping with the tips provided to Coalition Forces. Additionally, the troops discovered equipment and material used for making remote controlled IEDs. The terrorists' equipment, weapons and ammunition were destroyed by ground charges and air strikes.
Soldiers also found an 8-year-old boy who told them he was being held against his will.
Near Latifiyah, Coalition Forces killed a known al Qaeda terrorist, Abu Mustafa, and 15 of his associates. Mustafa was wanted in the shooting down of a U.S. helicopter:
Iraqi and Coalition Forces were searching for Abu Mustafa, a member of al-Qaida, because of his leadership role in the April 1 downing of the AH-64 helicopter in Yusifiyah. Abu Mustafa was also a known weapons smuggler who allegedly facilitated the movement of missiles and rockets within the al-Qaida terrorist network.
In Mosul, U.S. soldiers disarmed a car bomb before it could cause death and destruction, thus guaranteeing that the story wouldn’t make it onto most evening-news programs.
An elite Iraqi SWAT team captured the leader of a terrorist cell during a raid near Baghdad.
Coalition Forces killed two al Qaeda terrorists in an operation near Baghdad. One of the dead terrorists was wanted:
One of the terrorists killed, Abu Ahad, managed foreign fighter facilitation and also provided a modicum of command and control between several terrorist cells operating throughout the vicinity of Fallujah, Baghdad , Yusifiyah, Taji and Mahmudiyah.
No civilians were wounded during the operation, guaranteeing that the New York Times wouldn’t write about it.
Two water projects are complete in Baghdad Province:
Construction is complete on two projects "Water Compact Unit" and "Sewage Pumping Station" in Baghdad Province. These projects are within the series of water and sanitation developing projects aims to create a healthier living environment as rehabilitating the water and sanitation infrastructure provides safe drinking water and reduces the transmission of water-borne disease.
USAID has completed the Iraqi Teacher Training project, successfully training more than 38,000 teachers. Efforts included:
• Trained and prepared 68 Master Trainers to educate English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in secondary schools;
• Trained and prepared 53 Master Trainers to educate teachers and administrators in Information and Computer Technology (ICT);
• Trained and prepared 74 Master Trainers in Science Pedagogy;
• Trained and prepared 58 Master Trainers in modern teaching methods;
• Over 38,000 secondary school teachers have received instruction directly through USAID programs, including: 7,480 English teachers; 13,740 teachers in computer skills; and 15,045 in pedagogical innovations. Additionally, 115 local staff and 244 MOE staff have received training;
• Science training has reached over 1,000 model school science teachers and other teachers in the districts where model schools are located.
More than 750,000 residents of Al Amarah province are benefiting from a newly renovated fire station: Reconstruction problems included crumbling walls and floors, a polluted water storage tank and decayed roof tiles.
USACE managed the renovation, which included the installation of new joists and wall supports, roof tiles and floor tiles; new electrical, water, sewage and air conditioning systems; and the construction of a sleeping quarters, kitchen area and general use room.
A new school is complete near Mosul. The $460,000 project will benefit almost 900 Iraqi school children:
A newly constructed school located in the center of Dahuk will provide service to approximately 840 students and 36 teachers.
This new two-story complex consists of a 12-room classroom school with a detached exterior lavatory building, a play-yard and a generator building; all of which is surrounded by a three-meter high perimeter wall.
The exterior and interior walls are of masonry construction with a concrete super structure and terrazzo tile flooring. The exterior wall finishes are cut stone and plaster.
“Of the 317 school projects funded by the Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund in the northern region of Iraq, 315 are complete and two are in progress. “
Marines and Iraqi soldiers joined together to hold a medical clinic in Hamandiyah for more than 300 Iraqis:
Some Iraqi citizens suffered from more serious conditions. One small infant was diagnosed with spina bifida, a condition in which the spine is not completely grown together. Doctors were unable to treat the child there, but referred his mother to a specialist for treatment.
“There is nothing we can do here for this little guy,” said U.S. Army Dr. (Lt. Col.) Kathy F. Champion, a 42-year-old physician from Olympia, Wash. “We have given the mother information on an American doctor who specializes in this area, who is in the country.”
American Heroes
U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructor Sgt. Jeremiah Workman was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in Fallujah. Sergeant Workman killed over 20 terrorists while saving the lives of several fellow Marines who were pinned down by enemy fire:
Ignoring heavy enemy fire and a storm of grenades raining down on his position, Workman fearlessly laid down enough cover fire to allow the trapped Marines to escape.
After seeing the first group of wounded Marines safely to a neighboring yard, Workman rallied additional Marines to his side and provided more cover fire for an attack into the building to rescue other Marines still trapped. He continued to fire even after receiving numerous shrapnel wounds to his arms and legs after a grenade exploded in front of him, stated his citation.
Workman's efforts did not stop after the second rescue attack. Ignoring his wounds, Workman once again united his team for a final assault strike into the building to retrieve remaining Marines and to clear the building of insurgents.
"Basically, we got ambushed," he said. "There were insurgents on the second floor in a bedroom. We fought our way up the stairs. There were grenades going off around us (and) small arms fire everywhere."
Marine helicopter pilot Colonel John C. “Jay” Kennedy was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during his second combat tour in Iraq. He is now starting his third combat tour in Iraq.
Marine Sergeant Timothy Connors was awarded the Silver Star for his service in Iraq:
Connors, 23, a 2001 Braintree High School graduate, was awarded the Silver Star for ‘‘gallantry and valor in combat, and a selfless act of bravery’’ while serving in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004.
Major Michelle Stringer and 1st Lieutenant Sarah Paris, both of the 78th Security Squadron, received the Bronze Star for “exceptionally meritorious service” while in Iraq.
Stringer and Parris, both assigned to Iraq in May of 2005, were tasked to train Iraqi forces on the latest security and force protection techniques at Camp Ur near the city of An Nasiriyah. Both also served as gunners or commanders for supply convoys in the region. Carter stressed that the assignment was formidable for both officers. "Their job was to train people including many who had no military skills - to keep their minds focused and help build an army," she said. "They knew it placed them in a non-traditional role, but they didn't let social norms get in their may." Stringer returned to Robins earlier this month after serving 12 months in the combat zone. Parris left Iraq last November after suffering facial injuries and a broken back when a Humvee she was riding in swerved to avoid an Iraqi running toward her convoy. She was in the gun turret when the vehicle rolled.
JULY
Progress Report
More good news from Iraq.
Before we get to the latest good news from Iraq, a brief clarification is in order concerning why it is important to compile this good news here in the first place: because it receives sparse or no coverage from the mainstream media. The purpose of these compilations is not to whitewash the situation in Iraq, nor to suggest that there haven’t been problems with the administration’s handling of the conflict. They are simply an attempt to fill in the news gaps, to help form a more complete picture of the current state of affairs, so that readers can be better informed about it.
And now, some news you might not have heard from Iraq:
We begin with U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, urging Americans to be optimistic about his country’s fate:
I will give my bottom line up front. I believe Americans, while remaining tactically patient about Iraq, should be strategically optimistic. Most important, a major change—a tectonic shift—has taken place in the political orientation of the Sunni Arab community. A year ago, Sunni Arabs were outside of the political process and hostile to the United States. They boycotted the January 2005 election and were underrepresented in the transitional national assembly. Today, Sunni Arabs are full participants in the political process, with their representation in the national assembly now proportional to their share of the population. Also, they have largely come to see the United States as an honest broker in helping Iraq’s communities come together around a process and a plan to stabilize the country.
Moreover, al Qaeda in Iraq has been significantly weakened during the past year. This resulted, not only from the recent killing of Zarqawi, but also from the capture or killing of a number of other senior leaders and the creation of an environment in which it is more difficult and dangerous for al Qaeda in Iraq.
Foundationals
In November, a “rebuilding Iraq” expo will be held in Sulymania, in the Kurdish north. Due to the success of last year’s event, plans are being made to welcome more than 800 companies:
While many claim a rebuilding Iraq event should only be held outside Iraq for security reasons Kurdistan DBX is the only trade show on Iraqi soil, by Iraqi's and for all Iraqi private companies and Iraqi government and last year event was a point and time in history for all present to remember, and realize that Iraq is on its way to become a magnet for trade and investment in the region.
This year['s] event expanded space will be able to handle upwards of 800 companies and many Iraqis that can not and will not attend rebuild Iraq events outside Iraq will attend Kurdistan DBX trade show , November 11th, 2006. More than 95,000 people attended last year’s event and not a single security incident was recorded.
A company has invested $70 million in a cement plant in northern Iraq:
Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) announced that rehabilitation of the 2.3 million ton per year Tasluja cement factory in northern Iraq has been completed for a total investment cost of $70 million.
An OCI-led consortium was awarded a tax-exempt 12-year lease for the Tasluja cement plant located near the city of Suleimaniyah in the Kurtdistan region of Iraq in November 2004. The OCI consortium includes the Farouk Rasool Group (FRG), an industrial group in northern Iraq. This month saw Iraq import the first shipment of Peugot sedans from Iran. Another 1,000 cars are expected to be imported soon.
In Kirkuk, USAID is working to provide residents with potable water: One local resident said:
“We thank the organization for this intervention; before we had acute shortage of water. Even the supplied water was very dirty with soil participles easily seen by unaided eyes. I am happy now since my children would drink clean water.”
A ceremony was held to mark the start of construction of a power station in Samawah. When complete, the station will provide 60 megawatts of energy.
Japan held a ceremony marking the completion of several rebuilding projects in Samawah:
The Project for Improvement of Al-Kornish Street and the Samawah Promedade Project total about 55.5 million yen; the Project for Improvement of Samawah Girls' School Street totals about 56.8 million yen; and the Project for the Provision of Generators on Al-Kornish Street totals about 94.6 million yen.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed projects worth $190 billion Iraqi Dinars in various areas of Iraq. The projects include:
In Basra, work on the 186 billion ID Khor Az Zubair Power Plant has been completed. The project added two new power generation units to the existing four older units. The two new units have essentially doubled the output of the plant, adding approximately five percent more electric generation capacity to Iraq's national grid that benefits more than 200,000 Iraqi homes.
In Wasit, reconstructing of Sheikh Sa'ad PHC cost 891 million ID. Scope of work required installation of electrical and mechanical systems.
In Nineveh, construction is complete on the 420 million ID Ba'aweza Secondary School. The project built a new school with 18 classrooms and five administrative offices to house approximately 450 students.
In Najaf, construction is complete on the 2 billion ID Najaf Road Segment Paving project; approximately 15 Km of rural roadway near the Header area was repaired and paved.
The U.S. has helped the Iraqis with more than $22 billion of infrastructure projects since 2003:
Iraqi reconstruction has been undertaken in every sector, McCoy said.
“We have built new power plants and refurbished dozens of turbines around the country,” he said.
“We are building water treatment plants to provide fresh potable water to Iraqis.”
Additionally, “we are now installing sewage treatment plants in parts of the country to begin the process to get the sewage out of the streets and make Iraq a more healthy country,” the general said.
U.S. efforts also have helped build, expand or renovate thousands of schools across Iraq, McCoy said, improving the learning environment for Iraqi schoolchildren. American assistance also has built new police stations, medical clinics and hospitals for the Iraqi people, he said.
“All of this has been done in close coordination with the Iraqi government and now, with the permanent government in place, with their leadership,” McCoy pointed out.
Iraq Star, the Iraqi version of American Idol, is now in its second season, and Iraqis love it:
Whatever the inspiration, the show has gained a strong following among Iraqi viewers. More than 1,200 contestants from all over Iraq have registered to try out for the show this season, compared with 500 last year, said Haitham Shaoubi, a music executive who is on the three-judge panel. The other two are music executive Waleed Hassan and famed Iraqi singer Ahmed Nema.
After calls for unity by Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraq’s largest Sunni bloc has ended its legislative boycott:
The Iraqi Accordance Front suspended its participation in parliament meetings earlier this month after one of its members, Tayseer al-Mashhadani, was kidnapped in a Shiite neighborhood in Baghdad. Many Sunnis blamed anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, although the organization has denied any involvement.
Al-Sadr has called for unity. A leading Sunni politician said the bloc was responding, in the first sign of accommodation by both sides amid a sharp rise in sectarian tensions.
“We have decided to attend the meetings as of tomorrow in response to the call by Muqtada al-Sadr,” lawmaker Adnan al-Dulaimi told The Associated Press. Two of al-Mashhadani's guards were released last week.
A recent story about the 500 WMDs found in Iraq since its liberation ignores the other findings:
Former weapons inspector David Kay declared on Oct. 2, 2003, that U.S. personnel discovered “a vial of live C. botulinum Okra B. from which a biological agent can be produced.”
In January 2004, according to a New York Sun editorial published that June 1, a block of cyanide salt popped up in Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s Baghdad safe house.
On May 2, 2004, U.S. forces in Iraq found a mustard-gas shell, rigged as an improvised explosive device. The Iraq Survey Group sent in by coalition forces to find WMD dismissed this as “ineffective” due to improper storage. Of course, the effectiveness of Saddam’s weapons was not the issue.
“The Iraqi Survey Group confirmed today that a 155-millimeter artillery round containing sarin nerve agent had been found,” also reworked as an explosive device, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told reporters that May 15. Two soldiers exposed to the device “displayed ‘classic’ symptoms of sarin exposure,” Fox News reported.
Weapons sleuth Charles Duelfer told Fox News on June 24, 2004: “We found, you know, 10 or 12 sarin and mustard rounds.”
That July 6, the Department of Energy announced that a joint effort with the Pentagon removed 1.77 metric tons of low-enriched uranium from Iraq “that could potentially be used in a radiological dispersal device or diverted to support a nuclear weapons program.”
Major Gaps
Major Gregory Bishop of the 101st Airborne, writes to the Louisville Courier-Journal that the mainstream media is ignoring many of the accomplishments in Iraq:
The bad news stories should absolutely be told. But so should the 'not interesting' stories of small Sunni villages receiving clean drinking water for the first time ever because of U.S. troops or their local governments providing for them, or the stories of local and provincial governments that are getting along (at least as well as the politicians in the U.S.) despite ethnic tensions and are making progress for the people of Iraq.
“… Or the Iraqi Army Brigades that are conducting independent operations and who have taken control of their own areas of operations with only small teams of military advisers.
“… Or the fact that electricity capacity is much greater than pre-war levels, but the reason the number of hours of available electricity is low is because the load on the electrical grid has increased exponentially due to the unprecedented availability of air conditioners, TVs, satellite dishes and other appliances that were not available to non-Sunnis during the former regime.
In addition, Major Bishop points out that our enemy in Iraq “feeds off” negative reporting:
Progress is being made, every day, in small ways and in large, newsworthy ways. Our enemy is feeding off of the nature in which U.S. and international media are treating this war. They (the enemy) conduct their operations SOLELY for the purpose of media coverage and to spread fear.
Good News About Bad Guys
In related news, Iraq’s prime minister said that fears of an Iraqi civil war are unwarranted:
“I don't see the country falling into a civil war despite the regrettable activities of certain people who ignore that Iraq is united,” Maliki told reporters in the Kurdish city of Arbil in the north of the country.
“The security services are still in control of the situation and we would like to see matters move towards political (compromise) rather than resort to force,” he added.
“We have the capacity, if necessary, to impose order and suppress those who rebel against the state.”
Al-Maliki also revealed that Iraqis security forces had thwarted a plan by terrorists to take over parts of western Baghdad:
“There was a plan to occupy Baghdad's districts west of the Tigris but Iraqi forces were able to thwart this occupation,” Maliki told a session of parliament.
“They tried but they failed. Nobody can threaten the security of Iraqis. Our forces started to creep into these areas and to control them.” Maliki did not say which militant group was behind the plan.
Major General Thomas R. Turner, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, said that security has improved immensely in the north of the country:
“Security is at a level where we can begin worrying about economics, about projects,” Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Turner told The Associated Press. “It's true in Mosul. It's true in Tal Afar. And it's true in Tikrit.”
Turner, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, was referring to northern Iraqi cities that were once deeply embroiled in insurgent violence. Although the insurgent threat remains, the area is less turbulent than central Iraq or the western province of Anbar.
That's notable, Turner said, because many U.S. military commanders had thought the northern provinces under his command would be lasting insurgent strongholds, with roads forever lined with bombs and gunmen always targeting U.S. convoys.
Now computer labs are being built in Mosul and libraries are planned in Tal Afar, he said.When the 101st leaves Iraq, only ten of the 35 U.S. military bases will remain.
The violence in Baghdad has “ebbed significantly,” according to this story in the New York Times:
After four days of rampant sectarian violence that killed more than 140 people here, the bloodshed ebbed significantly today as Iraq’s security and interior ministers appeared before the Iraqi Parliament and were aggressively questioned by legislators on their plans for imposing order in the streets.
You know it’s true if the Times actually has to report it.
Iraqi troops captured the number-2 man in the Islamic Army terrorist group:
The Iraqi army has captured a top rebel from the militant group the Islamic Army in northern Iraq, a senior army officer said on Sunday.
He said Ali Najm Abdullah, also known as Abu Hozeifah and the number two in the Islamic Army, was captured in a raid at 06:00 (02:00 GMT) on Sharifiyah village, located in the insurgent-plagued district of Hawijah west of the oil city of Kirkuk.
The officer said Abdullah and his commander Abu Aesha were responsible for nearly 75 percent of insurgent attacks in northern Iraq's Kirkuk, Mosul and Tikrit regions.
In Baghdad, Iraqi troops captured two top Shiite militia leaders, and killed or wounded between 30 and 40 during the raid:
Iraqi soldiers backed by U.S. troops and military aircraft stormed a building in a Shiite slum here early Friday, killing or wounding between 30 and 40 gunmen and capturing a high-level Shiite militia commander accused of attacking Iraqi and U.S. troops, the U.S. military command said.
U.S. and Iraqi authorities did not disclose the identity of the captured militia commander, but residents said the building that came under attack was a base of operations for a man known as Abu Deraa, a top commander of the Mahdi Army, the restless and potent Shiite militia that answers to the militant Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr.
British troops handed over security of Muthanna to the Iraqis. The U.S. ambassador to Iraq hailed the move as “milestone” in Iraq’s road to freedom and security:
In a joint statement, the U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and the U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey, hailed it as a milestone in Iraq's capability to govern and protect itself as a “sovereign nation” and said handovers in other provinces will take place as conditions are achieved.
“With this first transition of security responsibility, Muthanna demonstrates the progress Iraq is making toward self- governance,” the statement said, adding that “Multi-National Forces will stand ready to provide assistance if needed.”
It’s the first time since the invasion that Iraqis have taken over sole responsibility for security of a province. Iraqi soldiers understood the importance of the handover:
Beaming Iraqi soldiers walked hand in hand along the field's fringes in the pleasant morning heat (at least for Iraq in July, when temperatures can sometimes hit 130 degrees). Curious spectators pushed through the crowds to catch the dance performances by the splendidly dressed local tribesmen. Up in the stands, small groups of Iraqi soldiers — also looking smart in their now-meaningful uniforms — watched the ceremony in the comfort of the shade. The P.M.'s private security detail showed off their new matching gray sneakers on the track below while keeping an eye out for their boss.
The Iraqi army can now operate its base at Kirkuk independently:
Until recently, the Iraqi Army had to rely on Coalition Forces for their supplies; be it clothing, ammunition or food. Now, however, IA Garrison Support Unit soldiers at Kirkuk’s K-1 Army compound are taking over their own logistical support, fully capable of sustaining the base on their own.
“We all know that all armies are dependent on their logistic support,” said British Brigadier General Jamie Gordon, acting MNSTC-I commander. “This handover marks the first step in bringing the system alive and making the Iraqi Armed Forces fully self-sufficient.”
Iraqis are now in the lead in Diyala Province.
An emergency response unit is now operating in Kirkuk:
Kirkuk’s Emergency Response Unit is a new group of police officers trained to deal with crisis situations and get things under control before the regular police force arrives.
“They’re like a 9-1-1 center,” said 1st Lt. Andrew Salmo, executive officer, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “Getting on the scene first and … conducting initial investigations for the police force.”
The number of tips from Iraqis continues to grow:
As Iraqis see their own countrymen defending them against the terrorists and Saddamists, they are stepping forward with needed intelligence. General Casey reports that the number of tips from Iraqis has grown from 400 in March 2005 to over 4,700 last month.
In Babil, Iraqi security forces captured a leader of anti-Iraqi forces:
The Iraqi forces, assisted by Coalition Force advisers, raided a house in Mahawil, north of Hillah, and captured this insurgent commander without incident.
He is responsible for the following activities: weapons smuggling, including the movement of SA-7 surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles; espionage activities for Iran ; participating in coordinated improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces; murder and intimidation of Iraqi citizens, inciting sectarian violence; and financing the operations of his organization through contacts in both Lebanon and Iran.
Based on tips from Iraqis, Iraqi security forces captured an entire anti-Iraqi cell during a raid in Mosul:
Local civilians provided tips and other investigative resources were used to identify the houses of three possible terrorists. Once the IA troops entered and cleared the houses, four males were detained and questioned about their involvement in insurgent activities. The four men then pointed the Soldiers to whom they believed to be their cell leader at another location.
A secondary raid based on this information lead the Soldiers to another house and two more terrorists, one of whom was identified by several different sources as the cell leader and a terrorist.
A senior insurgent leader was captured in Baqubah. The wanted man was responsible for terrorist activity throughout the middle Euphrates region.
In Baghdad, a top al Qaeda leader was captured by Coalition forces:
The targeted individual is reported to be an Umar Brigade member and recruiter with control of several terrorist fighting cells. The Umar Brigade is an Al-Qaeda in Iraq created and sponsored, Iraqi insurgent group known to target Shia and specifically designed to incite sectarian violence.
In another raid, Iraqi security forces captured a top insurgent leader, responsible for IED attacks, and the murder of Iraqi civilians:
The captured individual heads multiple insurgent cells in Baghdad whose main focus is to conduct attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. These attacks include the use of Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, and vehicle-borne IEDs.
He and his followers have kidnapped, tortured and murdered Iraqi citizens, and he is also is personally responsible for the killing two Iraqi soldiers in an attempt to improve his organization's status with higher leadership. Additionally, he is linked to a “punishment committee” that carries out vigilante judgment on perceived enemies of his organization.
Iraq’s border with Syria will become more secure this month with the completion of construction on 23 border forts. Each outpost cost $250,000.
The 900,000 residents of Erbil now have a first-rate maternity and pediatrics hospital:
The two-story Erbil Maternity and Pediatric Hospital renovation began in December 2004 and was recently completed at a cost of $6,830,887. Major repairs and renovations were needed to meet the acceptable standards of functionality and cleanliness set by the International Health Code Standards.
Renovations included the installation of a reverse osmosis potable water treatment system as well as an incinerator to keep medical waste from entering into the solid waste and water systems. Repairs were made in many areas, including to mechanical, electrical, water, sewer and structural systems. Generators were also added to provide power to the hospital regardless of the local power supply.
The Erbil Maternity and Pediatric Hospital has 672 employees. This staff includes doctors, nurses, administrators and other staff members. A doctor’s residence attached to the hospital was also part of the rehabilitation and 39 apartments were modernized.
The community of Al Ahnaf Nahia now has a new government building:
“This is a great moment for our community,” said Anmar Thamer during a ribbon cutting ceremony that marked the official opening of the Al Ahnaf Nahia Council’s new building.
Thamer is chairman of that Council which represents about 50,000 residents in north Baghdad Province. “
After suffering 35 years of neglect under the old regime, our residents finally have something they can call their own.” He says their eventual goal is to have the facility open six days a week “so anybody who lives in this area has an opportunity to come here and get help — whether it’s to file a claim against the government if there’s a problem, or doing normal documentation like verifying one’s residence.”
Finally, what often gets lost in the debate over Iraq here at home is what our military men and women think about it. Please check out what the Air Force Pundit had to say about it.
by Bill Crawford
author.nationalreview.com
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