Dear Interested Reader,
Headline news is AQI #2 leader killed! The 3rd ESC soldiers and the 64th Armored Regt happily distributing backpacks and school supplies. SoI are transferred from CF to GOI responsibility in Salmon Pak. The first graduating class of the literacy program in Hawijah is most promising for Iraq's future. Many suspected criminals captured.
Joanna
______________________________
Oct. 20, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Al-Qaeda in Iraq’s Number Two Leader Killed
BAGHDAD — A terrorist killed by CF during an op in Mosul on Oct. 5 has been positively identified as Abu Qaswarah. Also known as Abu Sara, he was the AQI senior leader of northern Iraq. A Moroccan native, he had historic ties to AQI founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and senior al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Abu Qaswarah took the role of the senior AQI emir of northern Iraq in June 2007. He was AQI’s second in command and AQI Emir Abu Ayyub al-Masri’s senior operational leader.
Significant intel collected in the hunt for Abu Qaswarah led CF to a building in Mosul that served as a key command and control location for AQI. Upon entering the building, forces were immediately fired upon. Coalition forces returned fire in self defense, leading to the death of 5 terrorists. It was later determined that one of the five was positively identified as Abu Qaswarah.
He was responsible for organizing and leading AQI efforts in northern Iraq, including ops against Iraqi and Coalition targets in Mosul. Abu Qaswarah oversaw the failed attempt to destroy the MosulCivic Center during the Holy month of Ramadan – an attack that could have killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis.
A foreign terrorist who trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Abu Qaswarah directed the movement of foreign terrorists into northern Iraq. Such foreign terrorists have been responsible for multiple suicide attacks against Iraqi civilians in the northern cities of Tal Afar and Mosul. Abu Qaswarah reportedly killed foreign terrorists who wanted to return to their home countries instead of carrying out attacks against Iraqi citizens.
“Abu Qaswarah is another example of how AQI has been forced to rely on foreign terrorists to carry out their vicious attacks on the Iraqi people as well as Coalition and Iraqi forces,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, MNF-Iraq spokesman. “The Iraqi people do not want them here, and Coalition and Iraqi forces will continue to work together to weed them out of the country. Terrorists who bring radical and fanatic Islam into Iraq commit murderous acts against the people of Iraq and have no place in the future of Iraq.”
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3rd ESC Soldiers supply Taji youth with backpacks and school supplies
CAMP TAJI - Sustainers from Fort Riley's 1st Sus Bde passed out backpacks filled with school supplies to children of the Somer School, near Taji, in an attempt to strengthen the relationship between Iraqi citizens and CF, Oct. 15.
"It's been a great experience getting our Soldiers out of the FOB and into the schools and classrooms to meet the children and teachers," 1st SB Chaplain, Maj. Terry Hayes. The mission allowed CF the chance to equip Iraqi children with some important tools for learning and also a chance to build relationships with their Iraqi neighbors.
"The humanitarian mission is a great aspect of what we are able to provide as American people in support of the local Iraqi populace," said Capt. Audrey Iriberri of the 1st Sus Bde Iraqi SF Cell. "Humanitarian missions enable CF to get their faces out to the Iraqi people and it helps the local populace gain support and loyalty toward the American people."
Chaplain, Maj. Terry Hayes, 2nd from left, speaks with children of the Somer School, about their future endeavors as Iraqi citizens.
(Army photos by Spc. Michael Behlin)
Capt. Audrey Iriberri hands out backpacks to young school girls.
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Iraqi children collect school supplies in Risalah
Iraqi children from the Ishtar School wave to IP and Soldiers from the 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, Oct. 14 during a school supply handout op in southern Baghdad's Risalah community. Members of both SF handed out backpacks, pencils and crayons to each classroom in the school, which has approx. 1,000 children enrolled.
(Army photos by Sgt. David Hodge)
Lt. Col. Johnnie Johnson, cmdr., 4th Bn, and Staff Brig. Gen. Yaseen, Iraqi cmdr. take a break from handing out school supplies to Iraqi children.
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First graduation of literacy program in Hawijah
HAWIJAH - The first graduation of the Hawijah Literacy Program was held at the soccer stadium in the city of Hawijah in Kirkuk Province, Oct. 15. The program, which began June 15 as a pilot program for the National Literary Campaign, graduated nearly 500 students. The 4-month course taught them basic reading, writing and math skills for employment marketability in their local areas.
"I've worked closely with the local govt leaders and watched them develop this program, through the execution of the program and now with the graduation of these students," said 1st Lt. Steven Johnson, program coordinator, to the stadium full of graduating students. "For the past 4 months the CF have sat back and watched your local leadership guide you to a prosperous future, teaching you how to read and write to help better yourselves for what lies ahead," Johnson continued.
The students enrolled in the program are SoI members who may have an interest in employment
with the Iraqi SF, or previously could not join those orgs. due to their limited education.
"The marvelous outcome in this first phase of students was the result of hard work and the blessed efforts of our teachers serving and developing this project," stated Khalaf Abdullah, the dir. gen. of ed. for the Hawijah District.
In closing comments of Iraq's first literacy program graduation, Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, cmdr. of 1st Bn, 87th Inf Regt, congratulated all the students saying "this was a pilot program resulting in a resounding success."
A stadium filled with nearly 500 Sons of Iraq members graduated from a literacy program geared to curbing illiteracy and educating Iraqi men so they can be hired for the IP or IA.
(Army photo by Lt. Col. Sean Wilson)
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Backpacks and Smiles
Sgt. Jeremy Brown, a scout, assigned to Troop C, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, provides security for the school children of the Um Al-Bahananh, Al Tahdi, Al Sedjad and Anbad Al Rahman Schools, Oct. 12 in the Rashid district in southern Baghdad. The event was coordinated by Soldiers of the 7th Sqdn.
(Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams)
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Sons of Iraq under new command in Salman Pak
SALMAN PAK - Local influential shaykhs and leaders from the IA, IP, CF and local politicians gathered at a ceremony in Salman Pak marking the official transition of the SoI program, from CF authority to the GOI, Oct. 12.
"I'm very happy and proud of the IA taking over control of the SoI Mada'in," said Thaeer Salih, a member of the SoI. "The SoI helped a lot in contributing to increased security in the Mada'in. Before, the SoI terrorists controlled the city (Salman Pak); now it is a lot safer and the people can go out in the streets."
Lt Col Michael Shrout, cmdr. of Task Force 2-6 Inf, 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div, told the crowd that there were many critics of the SoI program, and most of them were terrorists who did not want to see this day of reconciliation arrive. Shrout said many wished the program would fail, but the CF and SoIs proved the enemies of the Iraqi people wrong.
"This ceremony marks the transition of responsibility for administration and payment of the Sawah from the CF to the GOI. It also establishes a bond between the Sawah and the Iraq SF, that will be as strong and vital as with the CF", said Shrout.
Brig Gen Abdullah read Declaration 118 of the GOI marking the transition of the SoI into the IA, to end the ceremony. "We celebrate the receiving of the SoI from the friendly forces and the great improvements the SoI have contributed to, and how far we have come," said Abdullah.
Lt Col Michael Shrout, addresses local shaykhs and Iraqi SF leaders during the ceremony.
Col Pat White, cmdr. of the 2nd BCT, recognizes SoI casualties.
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MND-B Soldiers detain SG criminal in Zafaraniyah
BAGHDAD - U.S. Soldiers from 4th BCT, 10th Mtn Div (Lt), detained a suspected Special Groups criminal in the Zafaraniyah area of eastern Baghdad, Oct. 15. Soldiers from 5th Bn, 25th FA detained a suspected SG leader, whose group is responsible for IED emplacement and indirect fire attacks against CF.
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MND-B Soldiers detained suspected Special Groups criminals
BAGHDAD - Oct. 15, in Baghdad's Rashid district, just after midnight, Soldiers from HHD, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected Special Groups criminal in the Abu T' Shir community. The suspect is allegedly responsible for torture activities and roadside bomb attacks in the Hurriyah area.
Approx. 2 hours later, Soldiers from HHT, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained a suspected Special Groups criminal in the Hadar community. The patrol moved the individual suspected of making car bombs for attacks against Iraqis to a CF COP for further processing.
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ISF captures 10 suspected criminals in separate operations
BALAD - Al Hillah SWAT arrested 7 suspected criminals in the Muhandasin neighborhood on Ministry of Interior (MoI) warrants for criminal activities in the Babil Province, Oct. 11. The suspected criminals were members of a cell actively working out of Hillah.
In another op Oct. 15, the ER Bde arrested a suspected mid-level criminal leader in Baghdad on a MoI warrant, who is believed to be the leader of extra-judicial killing activities. He is also suspected of indirect fire attacks against CF, financing criminal ops and weapons trafficking.
The IA captured a suspected criminal leader whose cell is said to be responsible for IDF attacks in
Diwaniyah, Oct. 14.
Iraqi SOF captured a criminal Oct. 13, suspected of being involved in extra-judicial killings, kidnapping and IED attack ops in Huriyah.
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Puppy Love
Army SSgt. Michael Hall, takes a minute to pet a puppy while on patrol in the Owja Desert of Iraq, Oct. 10, 2008. Hall is assigned to the 101st Abn Div's, 327th Inf Regt.
Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Micky M. Bazaldua
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