Dear Interested Reader,
A boost for the Iraqi economy is the Iraqi-owned container repair facility that has opened at Joint Base Balad. Very capable IA medical personnel work
alongside U.S. counterparts, while IA soldiers take the lead in supporting Sadr City clinic. Kudos to Sgt. Michael Fredrickson, who at the age of 53 is mail clerking at FOB Liberty, joining the Arkansas National Guard the day after 9-11. Pressure continues to rid Iraq of AQI.
Joanna
_______________________________________
Aug. 22, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraqi-owned container repair facility opens at Joint Base Balad
Rear Adm. Kathleen Dussault, cmdr. of Joint Contracting Command, Iraq, congratulates Mr. Hashim Mahdi, owner of the Miran Company and operator of the new Joint Base Balad Container Repair facility, Aug. 21. Thousands of large shipping containers throughout Iraqi are in need of regular maintenance, and the Miran Company will hire Iraqi workers and train them to maintain the containers.
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Les Newport)
Mr. Hashim Mahdi shares a light moment with Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Crabtree of the 76th Inf BCT, Aug. 21. Crabtree is the Iraqi Based Industrial Zone project mgr. for the Joint Base Balad Container Repair Facility and has been working with Mr. Hashim. The facility is yet another project the IBIZ initiated that provides Iraqis with economic growth opportunities on the perimeters of CF installations.
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IA medical personnel work alongside U.S. counterparts
CAMP TAQADDUM - Camp Taqaddum Surgical, 1st Supply Bn (Reinforced), 1st Marine Logistics Group, has partnered with Iraqi medical personnel at Camp Habbaniyah and brought them into the operating room for the first time, Aug. 21.
Lt. Cmdr. John A. Lynott, senior orthopedic surgeon with TQ Surgical, worked with IA Maj. Muallah, medical officer from Camp Habbaniyah, to remove fragmentation from the leg of an IP.
In less than 2 hours, the fragmentation was removed and the IP was recovering from the surgery. "It's the first time we've scrubbed in with any Iraqis," said Lynott, who felt confident in Muallah's abilities and noticed in the operating room how well-trained he was.
With progress like this, it's only a matter of time before the new medical facility at Habbaniyah is up and running, staffed with well trained and experienced Iraqi surgeons. Both sides see the benefits as the relationship continues between the two forces. "Anything we do to help build their medical capacity is a good use of our time and facilities," said Brig. Gen. Robert R. Ruark, comm. gen. of 1st Marine Logistics Group.
Lt. Cmdr. John A. Lynott and IA Maj. Muallah, surgically remove fragmentation.
(Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler B. Barstow)
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Iraqi Army takes lead to support Sadr City clinic
BAGHDAD - The IA delivered medical supplies and provided treatment to the citizens of the Thawra 1 neighborhood of the Sadr City district, Aug. 20.
Co C, 1st Bn, 35th AR, attached to Task Force 1st Bn, 6th Inf Regt, who currently supports the 3rd BCT, 4th ID, provided security for the op, while IA soldiers and medical personnel met with Iraqi families in need of treatment.
The IA took the lead to provide supplies for the 2nd Health Clinic of Sadr City, as well as additional medical attention to the surrounding community, putting an Iraqi face on the op.
"We are just glad to be able to help and let the IA take the lead with the combined medical engagement," said Capt. Andrew Slack, the cmdr. of Co C. "Hopefully every clinic in Thawra 1 will get repeated visits from the IA as they are operating with more independence every day."
The clinic administrator and staff welcomed the visit and were glad for the additional medical support and supplies. "We are grateful for the efforts of the IA and friendly forces. The supplies they have brought will be put to good use of the people of our neighborhood," said Dr. Thaer, the 2nd Health Clinic senior administrator.
Iraqi Soldiers meet with doctors and staff members prior to the Combined Medical Engagement.
(Army photo by Sgt. Philip Klein)
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ISF, MND-B MPs confiscate multiple passports
BAGHDAD - Iraqi SF, along with MP Soldiers from the 191st MP Co, 18th MP Bde, confiscated more than 20 passports and detained 2 suspects during checkpoint ops near Thawra in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Aug. 18.
While assisting ISF and observing check point ops, the combined forces were searching a truck and confiscated the passports, which appeared to be from Iran, Jordan and Syria.
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Blackanthem Military News
Mail Clerk working hard at Liberty
By Spc. Jimmy Parker
Sgt. Michael Fredrickson, mail clerk, loads mail into a military container. He joined the Arkansas National Guard on the 12 September, the day after 9-11. Fredrickson is a member of Alpha Btry, 1st Bn, 206th Field Artillery, 168th BSB, 1st Sustainment Bde. At the age of 53, he is known to many as "Grandpa" for being the eldest member in his unit.
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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
PRESS DESK
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Pressure continues to expel al-Qaeda in Iraq (Baghdad)
BAGHDAD – In Baghdad on August 21, CF captured a man assessed to be plotting an attack against a SoI group that protects Iraqi civilians. He is suspected of associating with an alleged AQI cell leader captured Jul. 2.
A suspected AQI leader was captured in Mosul with 2 additional detainees August 21. The wanted man allegedly coordinates car-bombing and indirect fire attacks, and was reportedly behind the Oct. 22 attack on an IP station that killed 5 policemen. Another op in Mosul targeting elements of the AQI financial network Thursday netted 4 suspects.
About 90 km south in Sharqat, CF detained 3 suspected terrorists August 21, including an alleged AQI leader there. The alleged leader is believed to oversee an illegal terrorist court system that imposes extremist ideals on Iraqi civilians.
CF captured a wanted man Thursday in Bayji, about 160 kilometers south of Mosul. The man is reportedly linked to several AQI leaders and may have a leadership role in Kirkuk’s terrorist network.
August 20, in Bayji, CF detained 3 suspects who allegedly operate in the overlapping foreign terrorist networks and bombing cells in the Tigris River Valley.
In a remote area near the Sinjar Mtns in northwest Iraq, CF identified and destroyed an AQI hideout August 20.
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