Dear Interested Reader,
It's a proud day for Iraq, as they take over control in the Green Zone, and celebrate the beginnings of a sovereign nation. Success after success marks the New Year, as the Airport in Basra transitions to civil authority, and many JSSs assume Iraqi control. IP tactical training still continues, as well as weapons caches seized. In Afghanistan, the big story is of the U.S. readying for a south Afghan surge against the Taliban.
Joanna
____________________________
Jan. 3, 2008
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraq takes control of Green Zone
Iraqi SF at the handover ceremony, Baghdad, Jan. 01, 2009
Iraq has taken control of security in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone after a UN mandate for troops expired. The end of the UN mandate - put into place soon after the invasion in March 2003 - means Iraq will now take greater control of its own security.
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki welcomed the move as Iraq's "day of sovereignty" at the handover ceremony.
"I'd like to congratulate you and the Iraqi people on this day for which we have waited for more than 17 years," Mr Maliki said at the handover ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the former home of ousted leader Saddam Hussein. "We have the right to consider this day as the day of sovereignty and it is the beginning that Iraq will regain every particle of its soil as well as all of its will and sovereignty."
Iraqi forces will take over responsibility for the security of the zone, the fortified area which houses the GoI, CF HQ, and most embassies.
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Airport transitions to civil authority in southern Iraqi province
BASRA - Iraqi authorities took control of the Basrah Int'l Airport from Coalition supervision today in a ceremony in the southern city of Basra. This transfer of authority comes after 4 years of operation, since it closed after the start of the war in 2003.
"This is a very positive time for Iraqis," said Basrah Gov. El Wa'ili, through an interpreter. "I thank the coalition for all of the effort they have put into this project."
CF will continue to assist BIA with its transition into an Iraqi operated int'l airport until they leave this summer. They will focus on communications support runway ops, fire and rescue services, business planning and infrastructure delivery.
Currently, there are 12 airlines that fly in and out of Basrah, but airport officials said they are hoping to expand. Most flights to and from the airport are within Iraq; however, external flights are becoming more common from locations like the United Arab Emirates.
British Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, Basrah Int'l Airport Dir. Abdul Ameer, Basrah Gov El Wa'ili and Dir. Gen. Iraqi Civilian Aviation Admin. Al Shebany meet at the transfer of authority ceremony at the Basrah Int'l Airport, Jan. 1.
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Iraqi flag flies over Joint Security Stations in northwest Baghdad
The Iraqi flag flies above JSS Washash in Baghdad's Mansour district, Jan. 1. The IA assumed control of JSSs throughout Baghdad in accordance with the recently signed security agreement between the GoI and CF.
IA Soldiers pose by the newly placed sign in front of JSS Khadra in Baghdad's Mansour district, Jan. 1.
Iraqi Soldiers and a Soldier from the 4th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, attached to the 2nd HBCT, 1st ID, raise the Iraqi flag above JSS Adl in Baghdad's Mansour district, Jan. 1.
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Iraqi national flag flies above JSS Salamiyat
BAGHDAD -
The IA, Iraqi NP and Soldiers from Co C, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, attached to 1st Bn, 21st Inf Regt 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, watch the Iraqi national flag as it is raised above JSS Salamiyat, west of Baghdad, Jan. 1. The raising of the flag symbolizes the implementation of the new Security Agreement which took effect Jan. 1. Under the Security Agreement, all combat ops are now combined ops between ISF and CF.
(Army photo by 1st Lt. Christopher Smith)
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ISF takes control of JSS Sheik Marouf
BAGHDAD -
IA soldiers and IP from the Ju'aifer local police station, hold up the Iraqi National flag before raising it over JSS Sheik Marouf in Baghdad's Karkh district, Jan. 1. The flag was raised in a morning ceremony to mark the base now falling under Iraqi control as Iraq begins the transition to full independence.
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Iraqi Police Tactical Training Continues
By Staff Sgt. JB Jaso III
Spc. Jeremy Mingle shows an IP officer how to safely and properly enter a building during a training session.
ISTAQLAL — As CF here continue to transition operational responsibility to the Iraqi SF, Soldiers continue to ensure the IP in the Istaqal Qada are ready to protect the residents of this northeast Baghdad region. To that end, 4th ID conducted tactical training with their IP counterparts, Dec. 29.
“We taught them entering and clearing rooms and buildings, sensitive site exploitation and searching individuals,” said Spc. Joshua Lewis, who was one of the instructors for training. “We taught them the tips and tricks you need to know. It was important to teach them to ensure that they stay alive and safe.” Lewis continued.
When planning the course, the NCOs responsible for the training had to overcome the language barrier when trying to implement the finer details of this training. “It was difficult trying to explain the way to do the maneuvers in simple words,” said Sgt. Tony Macias, an infantry squad leader, who used an interpreter to train the IP. “It went good, though. We are trying to teach them the basics.”
An Iraqi Police officer agreed that the training went well. “It was good training,” said the IP officer. “I look forward to more training by the CF.” As the Iraqi SF take on more responsibility for the security of their nation, the Soldiers remain dedicated to ensuring that their counterparts are prepared.
“The security environment in Istaqlal Qada and northern Adhamiyah fosters coordination between members of the Al Zahour IP Security District, the 6th ERUB and members of Iraqi NP,” said Lt. Col. Richard “Flip” Wilson. “We, as a security force, on any given day honorably serve our respective nations with great discipline and teamwork.”
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Joint Security Station Sab Al Bour Now Under GoI Control
By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis
JSS SAB AL BOUR — MND – Baghdad Soldiers bore witness to an historic event here as the national symbol of Iraq was raised over the Governance Center, Dec. 30. The raising of the flag formally symbolizes the transition of control from CF back to the Iraqi govt in the area.
Before officially raising the flag, several items were buried in a time capsule underneath the flag pole. Among the items buried were several compact discs, which contained pictures of all the Nahia and Iraqi SF leaders. Memos explaining what happened in Sab al Bour, and the accomplishments of the new Iraqi govt were also included. Buried along with the CDs were (15) 9mm rounds: one for each block in Sab al Bour. “The 9mm rounds being buried represent the end of violence in Sab al Bour,” said Jaffar. “It [the 9mm rounds] also represents the fact that we are ready to leave the bad times buried in the past.”
The honor of raising the flag was given to Thamir, a man who spent 13 years in prison under Saddam Hussein’s regime for refusing to join the Baath party. Thamir raised the flag slowly, as his eyes welled up with tears of joy. “This is one of the proudest days of my life,” Thamir said. “This is truly a great occasion as it symbolizes a new beginning and the end to many years of depression.”
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IA, MND-B Soldiers find weapons caches west of Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Dec. 30, at approx. 10:46 a.m., IA Soldiers along with Soldiers with Co C, 1st Bn, 21st Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, seized a large cache including 177 73 mm heat rockets, 19 73 mm projectiles, 119 rocket mortars, a 106 mm illumination mortar, an 82 mm mortar, 3 40 mm projectile grenades, 20 120 mm mortar primers, 6 mortar fuses, 40 rocket point detonating fuses, 200 14.5 mm cartridges, a partially constructed IED, and a variety of bomb-making materials.
Later in the day, at approx. 1:20 p.m., soldiers from the same units seized 22 120 mm mortars and a 155 mm mortar north of Abu Ghuraib in west Baghdad.
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Thumb's Up
Staff Sgt. David Ni hands out candy to children during a patrol in the Rashidiyah Nahia, Dec. 28, 2008. Ni is an inf squad leader with Co B, 52nd Inf Regt, attached to the 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker BCT "Warrior," 25th ID, currently attached to 3rd BCT, 4th ID,
(Photo by Brad Willeford)
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US readying south Afghan surge against Taliban
By JASON STRAZIUSO and RAHIM FAIEZ, AP Writers
U.S. soldiers wait for flight at the airfield in Kandahar province south of Kabul, Afghanistan on Dec. 29.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Afghanistan's southern rim, the Taliban's spiritual birthplace and the country's most violent region, has for the last 2 years been the domain of British, Canadian and Dutch soldiers. That's about to change. In what amounts to an Afghan version of the surge in Iraq, the U.S. is preparing to pour at least 20,000 extra troops into the south, augmenting 12,500 NATO soldiers who have proved too few to cope with a Taliban insurgency that is fiercer than NATO leaders expected.
New construction at Kandahar Air Field foreshadows the upcoming infusion of American power. Runways and housing are being built, along with 2 new U.S. outposts in Taliban-held regions of Kandahar province.
For the first time since NATO took over the country in 2006, an experienced U.S. general, Brig. Gen. John Nicholson, is assigned to the south. He says U.S. Gen. David McKiernan, NATO's cmdr. in Afghanistan, has made the objectives clear in calling the situation in the south a stalemate and asking for more troops, on top of the 32,000 Americans already in Afghanistan.
Military officials say they have enough troops to win battles but not to hold territory, and they hope the influx of troops, plus the continued growth of the Afghan army, will change that. U.S. officials hope to add at least 3 new brigades of ground forces in the southern region, along with assets from an aviation brigade, surveillance and intel forces, engrs, MP, and SF. In addition, a separate brigade of new troops is deploying to 2 provinces surrounding Kabul.
NATO forces are well positioned in 3 key areas of northern Helmand, said British Lt. Gen. J.B. Dutton, dep. cmdr. of the NATO's Afghan mission. "What we have not yet achieved is to join those areas up, so there is a security presence that allows locals to drive safely between those areas. That's the sort of thing we are going to want to improve," he said.
Since 2006, the U.S. has concentrated its forces in eastern Afghanistan, along the border with Pakistan, while the south is policed by 8,500 British troops, 2,500 Canadians and 2,500 Dutch. Their overall cmdr. is Dutch Maj. Gen. Mart de Kruif — who would also have command of any incoming U.S. forces in the south next year. By the fall of 2010 the top officer in the south will be American.
The infusion of U.S. power risks Americanizing a war that until now has been a shared mission of 41 coalition countries. But Dutton, the British general, suggested there was no choice. "It has to do with national capacity and a number of political considerations in those countries," he said. In Canada and many European countries, govts face low public support for keeping troops in Afghanistan combat zones. Dutton said the British contribution is "significant," as well as that of Canada, which he noted has lost more troops per capita in Afghanistan than any other nation.
Nicholson, the U.S. general, said the Canadians have fought "heroically," but simply don't have enough forces to secure all of Kandahar. The Canadian Embassy declined to comment. "If we get the troops, they're going to move into areas that haven't been secured, and when we do that, the enemy is there, and we're going to fight," said Nicholson, who spent 16 months commanding a brigade of 10th Mtn Div troops in eastern Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007. That fighting should eventually clear the way for security and governance to take hold, he said.
"If you want to summarize that as it's going to get worse before it gets better, that's exactly what we're talking about," he said.
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