TROOP SCOOP:

Dear Interested Friends,
A most informative story as Defense Secretary Gates notes shift in mission as success and progress continues in Iraq. Our medics do what they do best, caring for people. With stability in Baghdad, CF works closely with the GOI to improve the quality of life. Q-West leaders promote Iraqi economic opportunity and self-reliance.
Joanna
_________________________

September 17, 2008

Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

All Eyes

U.S. Army Spc. Marcel Roth, a medic, examines an Iraqi child in Meshahadah province, Iraq. Roth is assigned to 225th BSB, 25th ID.
Photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. William Greer.

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Medics strengthen U.S., Iraqi relations at local clinic

IBRAHIM KHALEEL - Medics from the 16th Sustainment Bde provided immunizations to local Iraqi children, Sept 10 at the Ibrahim Khaleel Health Clinic near Habur Gate.
"It was an excellent visit," said Staff Sgt. Daniel De Luna Jr., NCO in charge, Habur Gate Aid Station, Logistics Task Force Alpha, 16th Special Troops Bn (STB). "It strengthened our relationship with the nurses, physician assistants, and the community."
The medics treated nearly 70 Iraqi children, ranging from ages 10 days to 4 years old. They also treated another 10 Iraqi mothers. De Luna and his staff not only gave immunizations to their patients, but they also handed out stuffed animals, which served as a distraction from the needles. "I gave an immunization to one girl who was very calm, cool, and collected up until the shot was given, and then she started crying. We gave her a stuffed animal and she put all her attention on the toy and calmed down," said De Luna.
De Luna said that initially the local Iraqis were very friendly, but curious as to why there were American Soldiers at the clinic. "They looked at us with questions when we first showed up," De Luna said. "When they found out we were there to help with immunizations and give out toys, they could not wait to get in the room." This is the second time that De Luna and his team assisted the staff at the clinic and he hopes it won't be the last.
"The physician's assistant invited us back any time to help out any day of the week," said De Luna. "I loved the experience that I had and I am looking forward to returning and doing what we do best, helping people feel better so that they can live a prosperous life."

Staff Sgt. Daniel De Luna Jr. gives a local Iraq child an immunization.

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Gates Notes Shift in Mission as Iraq Command Changes Hands

By Jim Garamone

CAMP SPEICHER — Tomorrow’s MNF - Iraq change of command also signifies a shift in the Coalition mission in the country, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said while en route to Iraq to participate in the ceremony.
Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who has commanded forces here since February 2007, will turn the reins over to Army Gen. Ray Odierno. Petraeus will become cmdr. of U.S. Central Command on Oct. 31.
“We now have 11 provinces under provincial Iraqi control, … and there will probably be a couple of more by the end of the year,” Gates said. So it’s a transition from the focus on the surge brigades and the surge strategy to more Iraqi units in the lead, and the U.S. [units] in support and overwatch." Though this does not signal the end of U.S. involvement in Iraq, he said, “the areas where we are seriously engaged will continue to narrow.”
Petraeus has played a historic role in Iraq since taking command, Gates said, adding that the general would be the first to give credit to servicemembers who actually made the surge strategy work. “They are the ones who put their lives on the line,” Gates said. “We’ve lost a lot of lives, but it’s really been an extraordinary translation of a great strategy into a great success in a very difficult circumstance.”
The selection of Odierno to succeed Petraeus was made to ensure continuity. As cmdr. of MNC - Iraq, Odierno implemented the surge strategy. The new cmdr’s challenge will be to work with the Iraqis to preserve the gains that already have been achieved while expanding upon them, even as the number of U.S. forces in Iraq continues to shrink. Some 8,000 American forces – 3,400 combat service and combat service support troops and a BCT – will leave Iraq by the end of February without being replaced.
Any further reduction in U.S. troops in the country will be the responsibility of a new administration. Gates said he wants the next U.S. leaders to continue to listen to the cmdrs. about the pacing of withdrawals, “so we don’t put at risk the successes we’ve had.”
“The continuation of the political reconciliation is absolutely critical to Iraq’s success,” Gates said. Noting that Iraq is a rich country with an educated work force and some infrastructure, Iraq has a bright future if its political leaders can work together. “There are still people who would like to see this fail, and so the important thing is going to be to keep the pressure on all of them,” he said. The GOI must increase its effectiveness in bringing services to its citizens, and the people must “have a vested interest in the success of this democratically elected govt,” he added.
Gates said another priority for the visit is to learn about efforts in intel, surveillance and recon. “We have spent a lot of time and effort over the last 8 months increasing ISR assets in theater,” Gates said. “More plans under way, and I want to see how it’s going. I want to see how it is applied on the ground, and take measure of all of that and see what more we might be able to do.”

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MND-B Soldiers detained criminals in Baghdad's Rashid district

FOB FALCON - Sept. 14, at approx. 12:50 a.m., Sept. 14, a local SoI leader provided a tip to Iraqi NP about the location of 2 reputed Sunni criminals known to use AQI terrorist tactics, living in the Masafee community.
The Iraqi NP will transfer the detainees to coalition authorities for further questioning regarding Baghdad-area sniper ops, training, and remaining AQI organizational structure and leadership.

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MND-B Soldiers detain 2 suspected Special Groups criminals in Baghdad

FOB FALCON - At approx. 2:30 p.m., Sep. 14, Soldiers from Co A, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected special groups criminal in the Shurta community. The detainee is accused of sectarian violence and emplacing EFPs in the Aamel community.
At approx. 1:15 a.m., Sep. 15, Soldiers from Co D, 2nd Bn., 4th Inf. Regt., attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected special groups criminal in the Aamel community. The detainee is accused of attacks against CF and Sunnis in the Aamel community.

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MND-B Soldiers, GOI work to improve quality of life for Baghdad citizens

By Sgt. Jason Thompson

BAGHDAD - For citizens of a war-torn city, often the smallest things that help make life easier are the most welcome of sights.
MND - Baghdad Soldiers are working hand in hand with GOI officials to help the local Baghdad citizens return to a more normal way of life by improving essential services throughout the region with a program focusing on sewer, water, electricity, agriculture, trash and health.
The goal of the SWEAT-H program is to help MND-B Soldiers and Iraqi govt officials identify areas in Baghdad neighborhoods that require additional support, which will help the overall quality of life, said Lt. Col. Gerry Messmer, chief, Civil Military Ops, G-9, 4th ID.
One of the bigger benefits is the program helps coordinate and synchronize different projects between what MND-B Soldiers and GoI officials are working on. Lt. Col. Dave Hickey, chief of ops, SWEAT-H, G-9 said, "Everyone from the GoI and PRTs to the Soldiers and the Baghdad citizens are all doing a great job working together to get this city back into a livable condition," said Hickey. "But all this work would not have been possible had it not been for the security situations on the ground, with the help of the IP, IA and the SoI."

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Q-West leaders promote Iraqi economic opportunity, self-reliance

COB Q-WEST - CF are working to help Iraqi entrepreneurs learn the skills needed to earn the money to remain successful after CF leave.
The Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone initiative is currently helping 14 Iraqi owned businesses, 6 industrial and 8 retail, operating on Q-West.
The businesses were awarded land-use agreements to operate on the COB, and sell goods and services to Soldiers, contractors, local nationals and foreign nationals. Some are also awarded a contract.
"As the local population becomes more invested in the growth and prosperity of their local economy, they are less likely to join the local insurgency," said Sgt. 1st Class Sean Shanahan, events and communication NCO in charge, and IBIZ asst.
coordinator, Mayor's Cell. Shanahan added that many of the more than 150 Iraqis that work on Q-West are also learning job skills, like heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair, vehicle and generator maintenance and welding, which will allow them to be successful after CF leave.
Officials here are currently in the process of awarding a land-use agreement for an Iraqi-owned gas station to be built on Q-West, said Capt. Todd Howell, events and communication officer in charge, and IBIZ coordinator, Mayor's Cell.
The base is also negotiating a cell phone tower and concrete batch plant, Howell said.

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Operation nets 63 suspected AQI

NINEWAH, Iraq - Sixty-three suspected AQI members were detained during an Iraqi SF led op in the Ninewah Province, Sept. 14.
The op was conducted in response to the kidnapping of one Iraqi journalist and murder of 4 Iraqi journalists, Sept. 13.

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Soldiers, IPs learn and live together

By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson,

FOB DELTA, Iraq - Playing chess with the IP is one way that the Soldiers of Btry A, 2nd Bn, 20th FAR spend their free time with JSS Five, just outside of Numaniyah. Two groups of IPs rotate out to the JSS every week.
"The most important thing we do is work with the IPs," said Sgt. Nicholas Weisenberger, Btry. A. "We learn a lot from them. They're real good at identifying what is normal and what isn't out at the traffic control point." The IPs insightful knowledge of the area and people helps the Soldiers differentiate between what could be perceived as a threat and a normal action, said Weisenberger. "They know what they're doing," he added.
Soldiers at the JSS also spend evenings playing volleyball with the IPs, which improves the camaraderie and friendship. "They're eager to learn and they bond real well with our Soldiers," he said.