Dear Interested Reader,
Pres. Bush makes his final presidential visit to service members. Women's newspaper target issues for women in Southern Iraq. 1st BCT leaders gets a dose of culture when participating in the Eid al-Adha holiday preparations. MND-C Soldiers along with personnel from Texas A&M aid Iraqi veterinarians. Basra's 2.5 million residents gets a boost in clean water. Tips lead to huge munitions cache in Baghdad. In Afghanistan, narcotics, weapons and bomb making caches seized. Also, Marine Col. Jeffrey Haynes believes that rural development will weaken Afghan insurgency.
Joanna
__________________________
Dec. 17, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Women's newspaper 'tackles' issues in Southern Iraq
BASRA - Honor killings, high numbers of widows and a need for a women's prison are among the topics covered in a new publication targeted toward women in the Southern Iraqi region.
The Southern Woman newspaper, Al Jenubia, hit the streets of Basrah, Nasiriya and Amarra with its first edition last month. "This is the first newspaper in Basrah that tackles women's issues," said Dr. Julia Yousif. "If we look at these serious issues, and if we express this sector of society's opinions, these conditions might change."
Yousif, who holds a doctorate in linguistics, is the editor-in-chief of the new publication and a professor at the University
of Basrah, as well as the Dir. of the Basra Society for Research and Media on Women. She said that other Basrah newspapers might offer a page of women's issues, often taken from the Internet, but that they no longer reflect women's interest and needs.
Yousif attributes many of the sufferings to what she calls "backwards thinking." She said these are the religious extremists. "In Basrah the effect is Iran" Haynes said. "Since the Islamic revolution, Iran has been exporting non-progressive ideas about women and society, but women are affected the most." Yousif, who was born in Basrah in 1956, said it was much better for women before the Iran-Iraq war in the 1960's and into the 1970's until the revolution took hold. She identifies these revolutionaries as the same influencers of the militias that formed in Basrah after the recent Coalition invasion of Iraq.
However, this issue is beginning to change shape for the better. A 2007 IP report, was created with mentorship of British
civilian police, states that 147 women were murdered for various reasons. That is a large contrast with the 2008 report up to Dec. 1 that identified 72 murders, 6 of which were honor killings. Yousif said that people are beginning to feel safer as they attend city shops, have picnics, hold celebrations and, for some women, take off their veils. "We feel optimistic that we can make a change," she said.
Dr. Juliana Yousif
(Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Thacker)
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1st BCT leaders observe Eid al-Adha preparation
FOB FALCON - Leaders from the 1st BCT participated in preparations for the Eid al-Adha holiday feast at a school compound in Baghdad, Dec. 10.
Col. Ted Martin, cmdr., 1st BCT, 4th ID, and other senior leaders witnessed Dr. Muayad Hamed donating 4 young bulls to the Abu T'shir community to help the local citizens celebrate the festival in Baghdad's Rashid district. Muayad, a cardiologist and business owner from Doura, explained the significance of his gift to the people. "The people need help," he said. "We have rules in Islam. One-third of the gifts go to your family, one third goes to relatives and close friends and one third goes to poor people."
The Festival of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, is celebrated as an Islamic holiday to commemorate Ibrahim's obedience to God when God commanded him to sacrifice his son. Only when Ibrahim demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice his beloved son did God provide a ram to take his son's place.
"It is important for the people to see (the slaughter) of the cows, so they know where their meat comes from," Muayad said. It is also important in Islam for the people to see the sacrifice, added Muayad, who provided gifts for many of the children who came to the event. Giving gifts to children is one way Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha.
Muayad explained the importance of the progress in Doura and Abu T'shir during the past 18 months, and said there are many positive changes happening in Doura, to include numerous reconstruction projects, such as school and roadway repairs. Money is being invested in the marketplaces, he said. People are rebuilding and returning to their homes, and the security situation has drastically changed for the better in Doura and life is returning to normal.
"I get help on security from Col. Smith," Muayad said. Lt. Col. Troy Smith, cmdr. of 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, is partnered with units from the Iraqi NP, which provided security for the event. "We vigilantly provide security to protect the people of Abu T'shir and this event," said Smith, who attended the event. "This is my third tour in Iraq, and I've seen a lot of progress with the Iraqi SF. We have a great partnership with the ISF."
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Pres. Bush makes final presidential visit to deployed service members
By SSgt. Joy Pariante
BAGHDAD - Camp Victory service members had the opportunity to spend time with their cmdr. in chief during the holiday season, when Pres. George W. Bush visited Al Faw Palace, Dec. 14. This will be Bush's last visit to deployed troops as the Pres. of the U.S.
Pres. Bush, who arrived to thunderous applause and chants of "USA", spoke to more than 1,500 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines about the incredible job they've done in Iraq. "Congratulations on your inspiring accomplishments here in Iraq and above all thank you very much for volunteering to defend our country in a time of danger," Bush said. "Thanks to you the Iraq we stand in tonight is dramatically freer, dramatically safer, dramatically better than the Iraq we found 8 years ago. As a result of the sacrifices of our troops, America is safer and more secure."
He also brought holiday wishes from the states, letting the troops know they are not forgotten even though they're serving far from home. "Laura and I have been having a lot of Christmas parties at the White House, so I thought it'd be kinda neat to change the scenery," Bush said. "I'd rather be with the men and women of the U.S. military than anyone else."
"I bring greetings from a proud and grateful nation. Merry Christmas to you and happy holidays," Bush continued. "This is the time of year to give thanks for our many blessings. The greatest blessing we have is freedom, and the fact that we've got a U.S. military to defend that freedom."
1st Lt. James C. Benson, HHC, Special Troops Bn, XVIII Abn Corps, said he's been in the military for 12 years, and this is the first time he's been able to see the president in person. "It's nice to see the cmdr. in chief. It gave me purpose in what I'm doing here; It drove my purpose home," he said.
"I think it really meant a lot to everyone that was here," said 1st Lt. Damien Butel, Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Sqdrn 2. "It was really good for them to see him in his final days in office, and know that we're still on his mind as we're fighting out here. We're continuing to do the job that we're scheduled for," Butel said. "We're not dropping our packs for anything. We're just going to continue to press on."
President George W. Bush signs items for service members and poses for pictures.
(Army photo by Spc. Eric J. Martinez)
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MND-C Soldiers aid Iraqi veterinarians
COB ADDER - Coalition Soldiers are partnering with the Iraqi Dept. of Veterinary Medicine to improve the Samawa Veterinary Hospital, and a nearby slaughterhouse. The improvements will help the veterinarians diagnose and treat
livestock, while improving the slaughterhouse's cleanliness in the southwestern Iraqi province.
The Muthanna PRT and Soldiers of the 4th BCT, 1st Cav Div delivered a new livestock generator, which will greatly enhance ops at Samawa Veterinary Hospital. The troops have also partnered with the local Muthanna farmers union to dispense 500 tons of barley and wheat seeds to local Iraqi farmers.
The Muthanna PRT worked with the troops of the 43rd Medical Detachment, 1st Medical Bde, III Corps, from San Antonio, and personnel from Texas A&M University, to train local veterinarians on some of the latest methods and procedures to diagnosis and treat sheep, cattle and camels. The teams used video teleconferencing to connect local veterinarians with the professors at Texas A&M.
The PRT and 43rd Med. Det. also vaccinated, de-wormed and dipped 28,000 sheep and treated more than 150 cattle during a 3 day period. The medical detachment analyzed animal blood and tissue samples provided by the Muthanna Veterinary Dept. to diagnose livestock diseases in the province. The evaluations will help local veterinarians determine preventive and treatment strategies for the region's livestock.
Maj. Howard Gobble, 43rd Medical Detachment dep. cmdr., holds one of the animals for which his unit provided veterinary care in the Muthanna Province.
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Basra Receives Boost in Clean Water
By A. Al Bahrani
Gulf Region South district
BASRA — Basra Province will soon see a dramatic increase in the availability of clean water. The project will increase the Qurmat Ali water facility’s capacity from 4,000 to 16,000 cubic meters per hour.
Mahmood Lafta, Basra water directorate’s design team chief, says the facility’s production will be sufficient to meet the needs of most neighborhoods throughout the province.
“We are very satisfied with the construction quality and our engineers are getting more experience by working side-by-side with the contractor’s staff which will ensure a successful transition once the project is finished,” Lafta said. “This is an important improvement for Basra’s 2.5 million residents."
Providing contract over-watch for this project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engrs, Gulf Region Div is helping to jump start Iraq’s economy, and to build a strong foundation for the country’s success, by hiring locals to perform the work and purchasing materials for the project within the country. Since the project began in January 2008, about 70 local Iraqis were employed on the construction crew and the materials were purchased from businesses in the area.
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Tips lead IA, SoI, MND-B Soldiers to weapons caches in Baghdad
A tip from an Iraqi citizen led to the seizure of a munitions cache by IA Soldiers, Dec 15, which included 120 pounds of ammonium nitrate, an 82 mm mortar round, a half pound of propellant, a 130 mm high explosive round, and 2 PG-7s.
Later that day, IA Soldiers found a large cache including 300 57 mm rockets, 2 82 mm rockets, 8 75 mm rockets, 40 boxes of ammo, a 120 mm mortar tube with tripod, 8 120 mm mortar rounds, a 60 mm mortar tube with tripod, 4 60 mm mortar rounds, 2 anti-aircraft machine guns with tripods, 4 SKS rifles, a 103 mm projectile, 7 bags of M6 RPG warhead tips, 6 boxes of M6 RPG warhead tips, 7 RPD launchers and 2 RPG rounds.
SoI members responded to a tip where they found a cache which included an IED, 6 PG-7s, 4 PG-9s, 3 S5K rockets, 6 improvised rockets, 19 82 mm mortar rounds, 8 57 mm rocket warheads, 5 personal defense weapons sticks, 8 TNT boosters, 2 100 mm mortars, a 100 mm projectile, a 130 mm mortar round, a 120 mm projectile, multiple bags of homemade explosives and various IED components.
A tip from a local citizen led Soldiers from Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, 3rd BCT, 4th ID to a cache at approx. 12:30 a.m., Dec. 16. The weapons included 2 Russian-manufactured 73 mm PG-9s, and a French-manufactured 68 mm type 26-P rocket.
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School Supplies
Army 1st Sgt. Jonathan White hands out pencils to students at an all-girls school in Saab al Bour, Dec. 6, 2008. White is assigned to the 25th ID's 66th Engr Co, 2nd Stryker BCT.
(Army photo by Spc. Daniel Turner)
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US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs
12/1/2008 - KABUL, Afghanistan
Afghan commandos from the 205th Kandak and CF conducted a search in southern Afghanistan Sunday that yielded narcotics, weapons and bomb-making caches.
The combined forces air assaulted into an area near Maywand District, Kandahar province, about 75 kilometers west of Kandahar city. Their search discovered more than 100 pounds of opium and more than 50 pounds of heroin; machine-gun rounds; IED making materials; an aluminum boat; and a truck. These materials were all destroyed on the site. Commandos also confiscated several automatic weapons.
"It's clear that these militants finance their activities by illegal drug trade," said Col. Jerry O'Hara, U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman. "Well, today Afghan commandos took some of their funding away."
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Rural Development Will Weaken Afghan Insurgency
By Kristen Noel
Special to American Forces Press Service, Dec. 12, 2008
More emphasis on “holistic development” of rural Afghanistan is needed to weaken the enemy, a recently redeployed officer told bloggers in a teleconference. Marine Corps Col. Jeffrey M. Haynes participated in the Defense Dept’s bloggers roundtable program Dec. 9, to share observations from his 9-month tour in Afghanistan, where he led the Regional Corps Advisory Command Central.
Haynes pointed to rural populations as a source of strength for the insurgency in Afghanistan. “Sometimes I think we’re a little bit too focused on the urban areas,” he said, “but this is a rural … insurgency.” The majority of his observations centered on a recommendation for a holistic approach -- addressing security, governance, info and economic growth -- to developing rural areas so insurgents can be rooted out. “We need to synergize resources for a permanent transformation of the environment to permanently isolate the insurgent from the population,” Haynes explained.
Under the mentorship of the Regional Corps Advisory Command Central, Haynes said, the Afghan National Army's (ANA) 201st Corps began implementing such an approach in the rural Tagab valley of Afghanistan’s Kapisa province during his deployment. “We chose Tagab valley in Kapisa province to start this transformation process,” he said. “If we could transform, strategically, our well-picked valleys, I think we could start to transform the environment and turn this fight around.”
Haynes offered 9 other observations from his deployment, which included:
-- Good leadership contributes more to the ANA’s ability to excel in the counterinsurgency fight than equipment and supplies.
-- The ANA should conduct more independent ops because they intuitively understand counterinsurgency and excel when they own the problem.
-- Regional advisory commands should mentor the ANA to develop and execute campaigns that transform rural areas and win the population to defeat the rural insurgency.
-- A clearly articulated plan to transfer battlespace to the ANA is needed, because they are ready to assume ownership in some areas.
-- The ANA needs to be given access to counterinsurgency enablers, such as various ministries and U.S. Agency for Int'l Development assistance, to better synchronize developmental resources with security ops.
-- Provincial reconstruction teams should migrate under the control of the ANA, along with battlespace.
-- The coalition must enable the population to be part of the solution for achieving a sustainable level of prosperity and security for them to be motivated to fight for it.
-- An expeditionary forward-operating base concept is key for allowing the ANA to influence the rural insurgency.
-- Over-partnering between coalition and ANA forces can lead to a “needy” Afghan army.
(Kristen Noel works for the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
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