Dear Interested Readers,
Our top story has to be the little 2 year old girl's homecoming. What gorgeous eyes! Lots of other positive stories, capturing or killing high level terrorists, voting in East Rashid, and a clearing mission in Mosul with some great pictures.
Joanna
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
March 9, 2008
Iraqi Army's "Scorpion" Brigade searches Mosul neighborhood 
First Sgt. Stevie Jones of Killer Troop, 3rd Sqdrn, 3rd Armored Cav Regt, inspects the PK machine gun mounted in an IA Soldier's observation point at COP Scorpion in Mosul March 7.
An IA Soldier stands guard near a shop owner and a child.
An IA Soldier manning a DSHK 1938 12.7mm machine gun guards the Mosul neighborhood.
IA Soldiers found a weapons cache by acting on a tip from locals, which included hand grenades, RPGs, AK-47 assault rifles, radios and masks, hidden beneath the back seat of a car.
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Local citizens discover weapons cache near Sikek
BAGHDAD - Local Iraqis from Sikek, a village southwest of Mosul, discovered a weapons cache March 7. They informed the Saniyah District IP and Soldiers from 728th MP Bn, 18th MP Bde and MND-North, who immediately cordoned off the area. A joint patrol of IPs and MPs located the cache consisting of 90 mm mortars.
Maj. Mike Indovina, 18th MP spokesman said that the team work employed to discover and deny the use of this surplus continues to prove the forward momentum the ISF and the CF have made against the insurgents.
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Haditha girl returns home after heart surgery in U.S.
HADITHA - A two-year-old Iraqi girl returned to Haditha March 7 after undergoing open-heart surgery at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University.
Ala Fattah, the girl's father, and several family members traveled with Marines to Baghdad International Airport to meet Amenah, who departed Iraq Jan. 22 with his wife. "I am very happy. I was very worried that my daughter would not come home alive," Fattah said. "I am very grateful for the great treatment the American people gave to my family." The family then flew to Al Asad Airbase in Al Anbar Province, where they boarded an MV-22 Osprey for the final leg of the voyage to Haditha. Back home, the family served a dinner in her honor.
"I've got four children, two boys and two girls myself. I was very happy to see a father, mother and child reunite," said Maj. Kevin Jarrard, Co L's com. officer and the architect behind the medical effort.
Marines from 3rd Bn, 23rd Marines, which is assigned to the Camp Pendleton-based RCT 5, discovered Amenah on a routine patrol through the city. They noticed her extremities exhibited a bluish hue whenever she exerted herself. The battalion surgeon, Capt. John Nadeau, recognized the gravity of her condition and coordinated arrangements with the medical staff at Vanderbilt to perform a surgical procedure to remedy her heart defect.
The 35-year-old Jarrard choreographed the international effort to transport Amenah to the US and oversaw the entire operation. His wife, Kelly, raised the funds to finance the journey on both ends.
"Thank you is just too small of a word to express how I feel," said Amehah's mother, Maha Bandar. When Amenah arrived at Vanderbilt, doctors discovered, among other things, her heart was turned backwards. Nevertheless, the Feb. 11 operation was success, and Amenah spent the rest of her time in America recovering.
Haditha is now a reviving city on the verge of CF demilitarization and Iraqi lead with regard to security and municipal governance. This city's success is the result of this cooperative effort, such as with the care of Amenah. "I am very thankful for Jarrard, Nadeau, and I consider all the Marines in Haditha father to Amenah, and I will do anything as a return favor for the generosity of the Marines helping my family," said Fattah.
Coming Home
Amenah smiles aboard a C-130 aircraft, after she and her mother, Maha Bandar (right), returned from the US. Amena's father, Al'a Fattah (left), had not seen his wife or daughter since January and was all smiles upon their return to Haditha.
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Coalition targets al-Qaeda in northern Iraq; one killed, five detained
March 07, 2008
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
BAGHDAD – CF killed one terrorist and detained 5 suspects Thursday and today during ops to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in northern Iraq.
In northeast Mosul Thursday, CF targeted a suspect believed to be the replacement for the former Saudi al-Qaeda-in-Iraq senior leader and foreign terrorist facilitator Abu Yasir al-Saudi, also known as Jar Allah, who was killed by Coalition forces Feb. 27. Reports indicate the targeted individual is involved in coordinating attacks and kidnappings in the area.
CF followed a vehicle associated with the targeted suspect to a nearby house, where they observed the driver and passenger get out. As the ground force arrived in the area, one of the individuals attempted to shoot at them. CF engaged the hostile threat, wounding him. The suspect, who was armed with pistols and a grenade, was subsequently detained, treated on site and transported to a military medical facility for further care.
CF returned to the same area today and captured an alleged senior leader for the terrorist network operating on the east side of the city. Intel indicates the suspect is involved in the facilitation and distribution of weapons throughout east Mosul, and oversees several other AQI members. One of his subordinates is reportedly responsible for the production of VBIEDs. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained 2 other suspected terrorists.
CF conducted an op north of Tall Afar near Tall Wardan today, targeting an alleged senior level foreign terrorist facilitator associated with numerous AQI senior leaders operating inside and outside of Iraq. During the op, the ground force called for the suspected terrorists occupying the target building to come out. They did not comply with instructions or heed warnings. CF perceived hostile intent from the noncompliant suspects and engaged, killing one and wounding another.
“Iraqi and CF will continue to pressure al-Qaeda in Iraq’s networks, diminishing their ability to make indiscriminate attacks,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Our ops are continuing to erode the terrorists’ resources and helping to improve safety and security for Iraqi citizens.”
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East Rashid Goes to Voting Booth
By Spc. Nathaniel Smith, 4th Brigade Combat Team
Voters from Southeast Rashid raise their hands in favor of a candidate during elections at Joint Security Station (JSS) Doura in southern Baghdad, March 5. The elections were the first of their kind, providing the people with 7 representatives to the Govt of Iraq.
BAGHDAD — In the United States, “Decision ‘08” is getting into full swing with political parties holding primaries and caucuses in states around the Nation. In southern Baghdad, the story is no different as the people of East Rashid held elections this week to determine who will represent them to the Govt of Iraq.
The people voted on 7 representative positions: chief, first vice, second vice, terrorist casualties, security, essential services, and a mediator for the people.
On March 5, Southeast Rashid held its elections, and the 10th IA Div Cmdr., Lt. Col. Hadar, had advice for the elected officials. “Take care of your people and serve the people in your neighborhoods,” he said. “Today is a big step toward bringing reconciliation to everybody in the neighborhoods.”
Saad, whose unit is largely Shia operating in a Sunni area, said his police will now serve as an intermediary between the people and the Govt of Iraq, which will help the representative council.
Even though the newly-appointed representatives were the winners of the elections and it is still a process in progress, Hadar told the people of his area they were the real winners. “Today is a great day, and it does justice to the people living in the area. The Iraqi govt, Iraqi SF, CF, and the good people living here have already sat down together for reconciliation,” he said after the elections were complete. “This is a big victory for all of you because you will have the people from your area represent you and take your voice to the govt. This gives you the power to solve your problems.”
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Coalition disrupts al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, 22 suspects detained
March 05, 2008
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
BAGHDAD – CF detained 22 suspects today during ops to disrupt al-Qaeda networks operating in northern and central Iraq. West of Biaj, in the western part of Ninawa Province, CF detained 2 suspects. One of the suspects is an alleged associate of al-Qaeda networks in northern Iraq. He is reportedly responsible for the facilitation of finances to networks throughout the Mosul area and associated with several senior level foreign terrorist facilitators.
In Mosul, CF captured another alleged associate of the wanted individual near Biaj. The Mosul suspect is reportedly connected to foreign terrorist facilitation and smuggling networks in the city. Three suspected terrorists were detained in Mosul in addition to the wanted individual.
Also in Mosul, 2 suspects were detained while targeting an alleged al-Qaeda-in-Iraq associate involved in attacks against CF and connected to Abu Yasir al-Saudi, also known as Jar Allah, the Saudi AQI leader killed Feb. 27. During coordinated operations in Samarra, Coalition forces captured an alleged facilitator involved in the AQI network in the city. The suspect is reportedly associated with two leaders in the network involved in terrorist military and administrative operations. In addition to the wanted man, the ground force detained two suspects during the operations.
In Baghdad, CF detained 3 suspected terrorists during ops targeting an alleged associate of the senior leader for the southern belt AQI network, and a financial facilitator with direct ties to AQI senior leaders in the Baghdad area.
West of the Hamrin Mountains, in Albu Bakr village, CF conducted an op Sunday through Tuesday targeting an AQI propaganda cell and meeting location. During the op, the ground force detained 8 suspected terrorists and discovered a cache of weapons and military equipment, including military style assault vests and equipment belts, signal rockets, grenades, machine gun magazines, various ammo and anti-aircraft rounds.
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