Dear Interested Reader,
Reconciliation comes to Tikrit. Our Army Engineering Cos. are successfully training Iraqis in using engineering equipment. US Special Forces conduct training in Samarra. Large weapons and munition caches seized throughout Baghdad.
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
June 29, 2008
Leadership discusses reconciliation in Tikrit
TIKRIT - A meeting to discuss reconciliation in the city of Tikrit took place June 26 between CF Soldiers and local Iraqi leadership.
The Gov. of Salah ad Din Province, Hamad Shekti, and Col. Michael S. McBride, cmdr. of the 1st BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), met with local and military leadership to discuss the way forward for those wishing to reintegrate into Iraqi society.
The long time governor said the reconciliation is a window of opportunity that men who find themselves wanted by ISF and CF should not pass up.
The governor describes the window as a period of pardon, which is meant to give those who have felt marginalized, a chance to rejoin the budding political processes.
Those seeking to wipe the slate clean will be treated fairly and justly by Iraqi SF, said Shekti. However, those who have committed crimes will continue to be pursued, he said.
"Coalition forces will not actively target men on the wanted lists during these 10 days unless we have credible intel that these men are still conducting hostile actions against CF, Iraqi SF or Iraqi citizens," said McBride.
During the press conference, McBride said he expects hundreds of Iraqis from in and around Tikrit to use this as an opportunity to clear their names.
The meeting comes on the heels of a massive reconciliation effort in the city of Balad, where more than 500 Iraqis pledged loyalty to the Iraqi govt by signing a cease fire agreement as a component to the formal reconciliation process. Since the effort began in May, dozens of weapons caches and munitions have been turned into Iraqi SF as a result of info gained from reconciliation.
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U.S. Army engineers teach IA soldiers vital skills
TIKRIT, Iraq - The 58th Combat Engs. Co. and the 232nd Eng. Co. worked with IA soldiers to train them on several types of engineering equipment at COB Speicher in Tikrit, June 26.
"We train the IA soldiers to allow them to be more capable to do projects by themselves," said Capt. Abigail Cathelineaud, the co. cmdr. of 232nd Eng. Co. "It is a goal that we've already met in some cases, but widening those capabilities is something we would like to accomplish."
Cathelineaud spoke about the importance of training the soldiers on different types of equipment to evolve them for the future of the Iraqi people in the Tikrit area. "Each piece of equipment has different abilities that the IA soldiers can use to build roads, check points and to enable them to do their own force protection."
By training the Iraqi Army soldiers to operate the huskies, they will be able to, at first assist the U.S. with route clearance missions so they can provide stability within their own individual sectors, said Staff Sgt. Mike Garza, a 58th CEC squad leader.
"I've seen a great improvement on their operating skills and their knowledge on the equipment," said Sgt. 1st Class David Sullivan, 232nd Eng. Co. plt. sgt.
"It is wonderful that we're seeing the Iraqi people interested in learning how they can improve their own country," said Amanda Michael, a 232nd Bn squad leader. "They are very eager to learn, hardworking and they're motivation is outstanding."
Spc. Jon Staib, a route clearance driver and gunner with the 18th Eng. Bde trains an IA soldier to lower and raise the arm on a husky engineer vehicle so he can detonate possible IEDs during route clearance missions.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Opal Vaughn)
Sgt. Amanda Michael, an eng. squad leader for the 232nd, looks on as IA soldiers use the skills taught to them by the U.S. Soldiers to drive a dozer.
Sgt. 1st Class David Sullivan, took a moment to give IA soldiers a review of their work on a dozer after each soldier took what they learned and put it into action.
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National Police find weapons cache in Rashid
BAGHDAD - June 28 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, at approx. 2 a.m., the police found 6 rockets, 10 boxes of plastic explosives, 3 IEDs, 40 AK-47 assault rifles, approx. 5,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammo, a 120 mm mortar round, 2 RPGs, a PKC machinegun and a sniper rifle.
"Many of the successful missions within the Rashid district can be attributed to the hard work of our Iraqi SF partners and the Iraqi Security Volunteers," said Maj. Dave Olson, the spokesman for the 1st BCT, 4th ID.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons, munitions throughout Baghdad
BAGHDAD - IA and MND - Baghdad Soldiers working to secure Baghdad seized weapons and munitions throughout the area, June 27.
Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th Inf Div, seized 9 120 mm mortar rounds, 7 80 mm mortar rounds and 3 60 mm mortar rounds west of Baghdad.
Soldiers from the 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div, found 3 AK-47s, a bolt-action rifle and an aviation helicopter breach kit.
Soldiers from the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), found 5 pounds of homemade explosive material in the Mansour area of Baghdad.
Soldiers with the 1st BCT, 4th ID, found 2 hand grenades, a smoke grenade, 2 RPG boosters, an AK-47 assault rifle, 3 AK-47 mags, and an unknown amount of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm ammo.
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U.S. Special Forces operators visit village in Samarra
U.S. Army SF conduct training with IP in Samarra, June 24.
(U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Miguel Angel Contreras)
U.S. Army SF visit with local children after conducting an op and assessing a civil affairs project.
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