Dear Interested Reader,
COB Q-West brings desks, chairs and school supplies to the Zalila Elementary School. The Dagger Bde surgeon looks to improve local clinics. The IA and CF register SoI in Qadisiya province, while IA soldiers take our cue and build positive relationships in communities. CF continue devastating blows to AQI networks, and continue to seize weapons caches.
Joanna
__________________________
Nov. 10, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Guardsmen, Sustainers deliver desks to Iraqi school
ZALILA - Guardsmen from COB Q-West brought desks, chairs and school supplies to the Zalila Elementary School, Nov 5.
Soldiers of the 16th Sus Bde, which is comprised of the 81st Bde Special Troops Bn and the 76th BSTB, brought nearly 50 desks to the school, that sits in the small town of Zalila, just a few miles outside of COB Q-West.
"We are very thankful for the desks," said Nada Mohamed, principal, through an interpreter, "but, we wish you could bring more supplies. We have requested more supplies from the government in Mosul, but we never get anything from them because we are too far away."
Although the school is in need of more supplies, the desks will help keep some students off the floor and in school. "I wanted to quit because I didn't have a seat," said 6th-grader Ahmed. "Thank you very much for your support, and I hope that you can bring more things."
"If we can change someone's life," said Sgt. Chris Addington, team leader, Alpha Co., 76th BSTB, "it makes me feel like I've accomplished something." Addington who is in his final month of his 15-month deployment, said it's important for Iraqis to have an understanding of what the Soldiers are doing here. "The next generation will have a better idea of what we're like and what we stand for."
Sgt. Chris Addington hands out desks to school children.
(Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Adam V. Shaw)
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Dagger surgeon visits local clinics
BAGHDAD - Capt. Kenneth "Trip" Johnson, the Dagger Bde surgeon, along with his counterpart, Maj. Bhavsar, visited 5 medical clinics in the northwest Baghdad area, Nov. 5.
The doctors made assessments of equipment and capacities for each clinic in order to determine the staffs needs to be successful at saving lives, Johnson said. Bhavsar introduced Johnson, his replacement, to some of the staff at each clinic. "Maj. Bhavsar has done a great job building a relationship with the local clinics here," said Johnson. "I want to continue building on that connection without missing a step."
An important portion of the mission was establishing an understanding with the leaders of the clinics, to focus on gaining a better relationship with the Iraqi Ministry of Health. "One of our main priorities is to get the medical facilities to rely on the U.S. Govt as little as possible," Bhavsar said. "The MOH must tend to the needs of its clinics, and we will facilitate that process as much as possible."
He also noted that the MOH is a crucial system, and one in need of specific oversight and guidance by the GOI, to address challenges in the current system. Johnson added that the current system was flawed, and assisting the MOH in addressing the issues is high on the list. "Stabilizing govt systems such as the MOH are the checkmate moves of winning this war," Johnson said. "I'm just glad to be a part of it."
The surgeons also checked on new equipment recently delivered by the MOH to the clinics, such as generators and portable ultrasound machines. They also took advantage of the opportunity to ensure that the staff had the proper training to operate the new equipment. Johnson added that he and the 12 other doctors he works with were willing to provide classes to exchange insight on medicine and the equipment.
"Of course, the lives of our Soldiers are the number-1 priority for us, but I'll do my best to help the local facilities as often as my job permits," Johnson said. "Saving lives is what I'm all about, and we hope in the future to work together to make these clinics better."
Capt. Kenneth Johnson, surgeon, 2nd Heavy BCT, 1st ID, drinks tea and discusses clinic staff concerns with Dr. Hussein, dir. of Dakhil Clinic.
(Army photo by Spc. Dustin Roberts)
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IA, CF register SoI in Qadisiya province
By Sgt. Rodney Foliente
CAMP ECHO - IA and CF Soldiers conducted registration for the SoI in Qadisiya province at the 8th IA HQ, Oct. 21-23, and 25-27. More than 2,000 SoI members showed up to register.
"This shows that the people of Iraq are stepping forward and they want progress and want to do it for themselves," said 1st Lt. John Mullany, plt leader, Co B, 2 CAB, 8th Inf. Regt. One of the main purposes of the registration was to establish a database of the SoI personnel. The program was originally created by CF to help establish stability by placing more security responsibility upon the Iraqi populace and providing employment opportunities for citizens.
The stability and lack of attacks in Qadisiya province can be largely attributed to an active, aggressive patrol schedule by joint security teams of CF, Iraqi SF, and the participation of concerned citizens in the SoI program, said Capt. Cash Freeman, Co. B, cmdr. "We have a very firm partnership that we have been able to establish with the 8th IA in a short period of time since arriving here. They have capable leaders who are able to manage this program effectively."
Each sheikh participating in the program is in charge of his individual section. The SoI are armed, manning checkpoints or providing roving guard for security.
"In Qadisiya, (the program) also allows us to provide and increase security for rural areas. It's a win-win situation for everybody," said Freeman, but warns that "it's not the final answer. Ultimately, what we'd like to do is transition a portion of these individuals from the SoI program into the Iraqi SF, and both the IA and IP." When that time comes, plans are considered to provide vocational training for those who do not join the ISF, said Freeman.
An 8th IA soldier takes info from sheikhs during Qadisiya province SoI registration.
(Army photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente)
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Iraqi SF capture 14 suspected AQI during separate ops in northern Iraq
BALAD - Nov. 6, in Mosul, IA elements captured a suspected IED cell leader and 3 more individuals. The cell is allegedly responsible for manufacturing and emplacing IEDs targeting civilians, Iraqi and CF.
During a separate op in Tal Uwaynat in northwest Iraq, IA elements captured 5 suspected AQI weapons facilitators. The cell members were believed to be supplying weapons to AQI terrorists throughout Ninewah Province.
In the Jedaydah Village of Diyala province, Baqubah SWAT team captured a suspected AQI cell leader and 4 cell members. The individuals are believed to be responsible for providing logistical support and safe housing for AQI terrorists in the Bani Sayd area. The cell leader is also believed to be leader of a sniper cell.
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IA building positive relationships
IA Soldiers visited students at the Al Sahaba School for a good-neighbor mission in Mosul, Nov. 5. The Mosul neighborhood around the school has gone through a great amount of change over the last few years. "This neighborhood used to be very bad," said Iraqi Col. Adeziz, EO. "A lot of VBIEDs and terrorists were here."
Progress has been seen with the citizens of Mosul, because the citizens are now helping out and calling the Iraqi SF when they see terrorist activities. "We've built a relationship between us and the civilians here," Adeziz said. "All the civilians now make good relationships with us. They warn us about any terrorists that come here and it's very, very safe now. We came here and you see, nothing happened to us, so the relationship is working. Believe me, the civilians in Mosul are very, very good people. All the problems came from outside of Mosul, outside the boundary of Iraq."
Mosul is in a difficult situation, different from some other areas of Iraq. The communities of Mosul have a large variety of diversity. Communities contain Kurdish, Arab, Turkish and other nationalities all living together. "I am from Mosul and I am Sunni," Adeziz said. "My neighbor is Kurdish. In 2003, my neighbor protected my family. When problems started for the Kurdish in Mosul, I protected his family. We are brothers, eating from the same dish and working together. I have a message to all the world that all of Iraq is working together. Almost 90% of the terrorists have been caught. There is nothing that will make us stop working with our people. All are shaking hands and helping each other."
Col. Adeziz hands out school supplies to students.
(Army photo by Spc. Cynthia S. Teears)
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Tips lead IP, MND-B Soldiers to seize weapons in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - IP on a joint mission with the 411th MP Co, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, discovered a cache north of Baghdad at approx. 11 a.m, which included 1,280 rounds of 7.62 mm ammo, 2 AK-47s, a .22-caliber pistol and a pair of binoculars.
A tip from a SoI led to the seizure of a 120 mm mortar round and an oxygen tank by IP north of Baghdad at approx. 6 p.m.
At approx. 7:15 p.m., a local citizen turned in 7 fragmentary hand grenades he found in an open field to MND-B Soldiers at JSS Ameriyah in the Mansour district of Baghdad.
Soldiers serving with Troop C, 4th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn Div (AASLT), seized a cache at approx. 12:30 a.m., Nov. 8., which included a Dragonov rifle with scope, 9 sticks of explosives, 5 82 mm mortars, 5 Dragonov mags, 7 RPG propellants, an 82 mm illumination round, a rocket of unknown size, 10 artillery fuses, 3 canisters of C4, 7 rifle grenade rods, 4 grenade fuses, 21 MP5 magazines, 3 PKC belts of ammo, 5 M-203 rounds, 125 sniper rounds, an M-19 round, 3 project boxes, 100 feet of detonation cord, a spool of wire, a periscope, a RPG site, a potential pipe bomb, a washing machine timer with blasting cap, and 2 wireless doorbell clickers.
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Gen. Odierno visits FOB Kalsu
By Spc. Sophia R. Lopez
Gen. Ray Odierno, Cmdr. MNF - Iraq , meets with IA soldiers prior to an award and re-enlistment ceremony, Nov. 1.
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MND-B Soldiers detain Special Groups leader
BAGHDAD - Nov. 7 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, at approx. midnight, Soldiers from Co B, 4th Bn, 64th Armor Regt, attached to the 1st BCT, 4th ID, detained the known criminal while conducting a combat patrol in the Risalah community.
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Coalition Forces Continue Destroying Al Qaeda in Iraq
BAGHDAD — During another round of devastating blows to AQI) networks, CF captured 22 suspects Nov. 7 and 8, throughout Iraq.
CF operating in the vicinity of Tikrit, about 160 km north of Baghdad, targeted terrorist networks in the Tigris River Valley, Nov. 7. One man believed to be associated with a local terrorist leader was detained for additional questioning.
Nov. 7, in Kirkuk, CF captured one wanted man believed to have ties with AQI leaders in the region. Four additional suspects were detained during the op.
About 160 km south of Mosul in the village of Bayji, forces detained 3 men Nov 7, assessed to have connections to a suspected terrorist associated with the city's IED networks.
AQI foreign terrorist facilitation networks were hit hard again Nov. 8. A suspected terrorist, who reports suggest, smuggles foreign terrorists and weapons into Iraq, was captured by CF during an op outside of Mosul. Two additional suspects were detained for further questioning.
Nov. 8, CF continued to pressure AQI car bomb and suicide bomber networks. In Al Yusifiyah, about 35 km southwest of Baghdad, CF targeted and captured a suspected terrorist believed to be associated with car bomb terrorists. Four additional suspects were detained during the op.
CF captured 2 suspected AQI operatives in Baghdad, who are reportedly involved in the city's suicide bomber ops. Three more suspects were also detained for further questioning.
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