Dear Interested Reader,
Opportunities increase through literacy program for women and children in Ramadi. The main stories of the day are the successful ops by the Iraqi Army in capturing AQI terrorists, other criminals and weapons caches. Their successful independent ops show how capable the Iraqi Army has become, thanks to the excellent training by our troops.
Joanna
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Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
July 11, 2008
Literacy Program Key for Iraqi Women
By Lance Cpl. Casey Jones
Women’s Literacy Program classes are held daily at 4 locations in the city of Ramadi, and are designed to teach illiterate women how to read and write Arabic, while also teaching more educated women the basic fundamentals of English. The program is open to any female. Nearly 400 women and young girls attend classes.
RAMADI — A middle-aged Iraqi woman, widowed and a mother of 2 young children, walks into a cream-colored concrete classroom filled with women of all ages. The woman, draped in a black abaya, sits down in a wooden desk-chair and gazes at the instructor with a look of determination and conviction. She knows, along with the other women in the classroom, she must learn to read and write if she is going to continue to support and properly care for her 2 children, and has taken the initial steps in bettering her family and herself.
The program, while mostly attended by older Iraqi women, is open to any female, regardless of age. Some of the young girls enrolled in the program have missed various amounts of school due to the violence that engulfed Ramadi for much of the last 5 years. The program allows them to catch up on any lost time.
While it focuses mainly on educating the women on the Arabic language, the program also has several other benefits that will boost the women’s opportunities, said 1st Lt. Emily Grant, the EO of Civil Affairs Detachment 2, 1st Bn, 9th Marine Regt, Regimental Combat Team 1.
The program allows women the opportunity to rise above their past misfortunes and allows them to take a more active role in their community and local govt, while also stimulating the local economy. “An increased female literacy rate empowers the women of Ramadi to participate in elections and the govt process,” Grant said.
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Operation Iron Round-up uncovers caches, detains suspected terrorists
TIKRIT - Coalition and Iraqi forces discovered weapons caches and detained three suspected terrorists as part of Op Iron Round-up II, a MND-North op in pursuit of AQI. The week-long op wrapped up July 6 and resulted in several weapons caches from provinces north of Baghdad-Diyala, Salah ad Din, Kirkuk and Ninewa. Mortars, grenades and jugs of explosives, as well as jugs of urea nitrate were found.
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MND-B Soldiers detain key suspect in New Baghdad
BAGHDAD - July 10, Soldiers from the 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div (Lt) detained the suspected criminal while conducting ops specifically targeting him in the Oubaidy area of New Baghdad. The suspect is believed to be a criminal leader with ties to indirect fire and other attacks in eastern Baghdad this year.
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Tip leads MND-B Soldiers to weapons cache
BAGHDAD - July 9, a tip from an Iraqi citizen led Soldiers with 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div, to a weapons cache consisting of 2 Katyusha rockets and 30 60 mm mortar rounds in the Kadamiyah area of Baghdad. The Soldiers continued their search and found 28 60 mm Iranian mortar rounds, two 107 mm Iranian rockets and 2 Chinese rocket fuses.
In a separate incident, Soldiers serving with the 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, found 14 82 mm mortar rounds, 2 81 mm mortar rounds, and 200 14.6 mm DSHK ammo north of Baghdad.
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MND-B Soldiers net eight detainees, three munitions caches
BAGHDAD - In the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, at approx. 3:30 a.m. July 8, Soldiers from the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 2 suspected criminals wanted for evicting and murdering innocent Iraqi citizens in the Zubaida neighborhood.
The same unit detained 4 suspected criminals July 8 at approx. 2 p.m. in the Masafee community. One of the suspects is believed to be an AQI criminal involved in multiple IED attacks and the murder of Iraqi citizens.
Through the night, concerned Iraqi citizens provided tips to help retrieve hand grenades, a 120 mm mortar round, and 2 RPGs.
Soldiers from the 64th AR, attached to the 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained 2 known criminals July 9 in the Bayaa neighborhood.
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IA soldiers seize weapons in Sadr City
BAGHDAD - IA soldiers working to secure the area in the Sadr City district of Baghdad uncovered weapons caches, July 9, consisting of 4 120 mm mortars, an 82 mm mortar, a 60 mm mortar, 4 30 mm rockets, and 171 copper blocks.
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ISF detain five suspected Special Groups criminals in separate operations
BALAD - The CSWAT detained a Special Groups criminal suspected of being an IED cell leader in Kut, July 7. During his transition to a holding facility, the criminal admitted to attacking Americans.
ISOF detained 3 suspected Special Groups criminals, believed to have been planning EFP attacks targeting CF. The cell members are also suspected of murder, kidnapping, torture, weapons smuggling and indirect fire attacks since 2006.
Also in Baghdad, the National ERU detained a suspected Special Groups criminal leader on a Ministry of Interior warrant. He is a guard with the Facilities Protection Service, who is suspected of using his position to carry out criminal activities. He is also suspected of assassination, killing, kidnapping, extortion and intimidation. The detainment of this individual supports the GoI's efforts to remove corrupt officials.
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ISOF captures suspected ISI leader, nine cell members
BALAD - Iraqi SOF detained a suspected cell leader and 9 other members of the ISI, a front organization for AQI, in Mosul, July 9.
ISOF conducted the operation to detain the leader of this terrorist cell who is suspected of killings, kidnapping, and attacking Iraqi SF.
"Mosul is believed to be an ISI stronghold," said Col. Bill Buckner, MNC-I spokesman. "Eliminating this cell should reduce ISI's ability to conduct terrorist activities in Ninawa province while providing a more secure environment for the local Iraqis."
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Iraqi Army disrupts criminal activity in northern Iraq
BALAD - The IA Soldiers conducted an op July 8-9, in Taji Shores to detain 3 individuals believed to be the leaders of a local AQI cell. The cell is believed to be recruiting civilians from nearby mosques and conducting training locally. They are also accused of making and supplying IED devices to other cells in Baghdad and Tarmiyan.
In another op in Mosul, July 6, IA Soldiers detained a suspected cell leader for the ISI, a front org. for AQI, and detained 2 others. The suspected criminal, whose operational area appears to be in Tal Afar with reach into Mosul, is believed to be involved in weapons trafficking and IED construction and emplacement. The suspect is also linked to rocket attacks in Tal Afar and foreign fighter facilitation.
In another op south of Mosul, July 7, IA Soldiers detained 2 suspected ISI criminals believed to be preparing for a chemical mortar attack on a CF FOB. One of the suspected criminals is believed to be a chemical specialist who reportedly brings in chemicals from Syria. The IA detained another associate, and also confiscated a small weapons cache consisting of anti-tank mines, various high explosive rounds for RPGs, sulfur powder and mortars.
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