Dear Interested Reader,
The 1st of 100 greenhouses is erected at Radwaniyah. Medical professionals meet at the newly renovated Beida Health Center to continue their medical education. Leaders continue SoI successful coordination and integration. Throughout Baghdad numerous weapons caches seized. In Afghanistan, CF forces disrupt IED network in Zabul, while the Dept. of Agriculture and the Konar PRT collect soil samples, aiming to increase fertility.
Joanna
____________________________
Jan. 26, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Leaders break ground at Radwaniyah greenhouse
FOB FALCON - Jan. 22, leaders from Troop B, 7th Sqdrn, 10th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, witnessed the
Radwaniyah greenhouse ground-breaking ceremony with their Iraqi SF partners, as the Radwaniyah farmer's cooperation assn. erected the first of 100 greenhouses.
Raad Hanna, the 1st BCT ePRT's agricultural advisor, said the benefits of the greenhouses will impact the future of this area. The new agriculture practices of using greenhouses will increase the farmer's vegetable crop yields to make the harvest more productive, and earn the farmers more money when they sell their products in
Baghdad's market places, Raad explained. The seeds and fertilizer to stimulate plant growth will be furnished by the farmer's organization for use in the greenhouses, he said. The farmers will receive training to teach them new techniques designed to boost their crop production with new technologies.
The farmers plan to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, watermelons, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, okra, beans and other vegetables in the greenhouses, explained Hussein, who is the chairman of the Ma Baynaa Al-Nahreen, or The Land Between the Two Rivers, Farmer's Co-op Assn.
During the ceremony, Shaykh al-Jabour, the Radwaniyah Tribal Support Council Chairman, thanked MND-B leaders for attending. "We thank the CF for their help," Ayad said. "Day after day, we work together on construction to improve Iraq for the sons of Radwaniyah. We're building the greenhouses to help the farmers of
Radwaniyah support their families."
"The greenhouse project is a great thing for the Radwaniyah people," said Sgt. 1st Class Eric McCoy, Co D, 404th CAB (Abn) civil affairs team leader. "It shows what the farmer's co-op association can accomplish."
Shaykh al-Jabour describes the plan for another civil affairs project with 1st Lt. David Lisovich, Troop B, 7th Cav Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID EO, and Sgt. 1st Class Eric McCoy. The men met at Shaykh Ali Alash's house in SW Baghdad after the ground-breaking ceremony.
(Army photos by Maj. Dave Olson)
Shaykh Ali Alash, the chairman of the Ma Baynaa Al-Nahreen, explains the triangle window in the adobe building he built 25 years ago, before the greenhouse ground-breaking ceremony. The triangular shape is stronger and can support the weight of the adobe bricks better than a square window.
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Baghdad medical professionals meet, talk shop in Beida
BAGHDAD - Medical professionals from the Rusafa area of Baghdad met at the newly renovated Beida Health Center, Jan. 19 to seek continued medical education to advance in their fields.
Approx. 25 doctors and pharmacists from the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad and the Istaqlal Qada met for the first time in the new facility in northern Adhamiyah to share knowledge on Rheumatic Fever, Hemorrhagic Fever, and internet studies as part of a continued education program for doctors of eastern Baghdad. The topics on the docket were just a few of many the medical professionals will entertain during future seminars expected to be held monthly at the facility.
"Some clinics don't have computers or internet, and this is a forum where doctors can come together and share what they've seen and learned in the area," said 1st Lt. William Mennis, medical officer for 1st Bn, 27 Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID. Mennis, whose battalion is currently attached to the 3rd BCT, 4th ID, said the seminar was a grand opening of sorts for the new health clinic completed just 3 months before.
Dr. Mahmood Salman, director of the Beida facility and 11 other health clinics in the Rusafa area, said the new facility will provide primary health care needs to the community, as well as serve as an administration office and a convention center for medical seminars like this one. "It will elevate the knowledge and studies in primary health
care for the community and improve prevention and treatment," Mahmood said.
"The gathering of colleagues in the field of medicine will help spread valuable health and medical knowledge in an area where continued medical education has been largely non-functional," said Capt. Scott Tebo, bde surgeon for 3rd BCT, 4th ID. "To see Iraqis pick it up on their own, take their own initiative to educate each other is a terrific step," Tebo said. "It's similar to the model we use in the U.S."
More than half the doctors at the seminar were women physicians and pharmacists, from the Shaab neighborhood of Adhamiyah, partnering with their male counterparts in an educational environment. Dr. Nadia Ghazi was asked by Mahmood the day before the seminar to present her thesis on Rheumatic Fever and she graciously accepted. Nadia said Shaab has a high level of infectious disease due to overcrowding and a socially underprivileged population. She said the new facility and the monthly seminars will greatly improve the region's
level of care. "It is very important to refresh our info, to see what is happening in the world," Nadia said. "Here we can get a full description of the disease, study new cases, and learn advances in medicine we can discuss."
Dr. Nadia Ghazi presents her thesis on Rheumatic Fever to a classroom of doctors and pharmacists.
(Army photos by Maj. Mike Humphreys)
Renovation of the Baghdad Dept of Health and health clinic building.
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Leaders Continue Sons of Iraq Coordination, Integration
By Sgt. Rodney Foliente
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, MND - Center dep. comm. gen. for ops, speaks to Lt. Gen. Oothman, 8th IA Div. cmdr., during an SoI coordination meeting at the 8th IA Div. HQ, Jan. 21, 2009.
DIWANIYA — Lt. Gen. Oothman, host of the meeting, discussed the importance of the transition and his confidence in the 8th IA Div. and the local govt to take control of the program, which is scheduled to be entirely under GoI control in March.
“This is one more thing where we can step back, and you can step forward in taking over the security of Iraq,” said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan. A large number of SoI will eventually transition into Iraqi SF positions, which makes oversight by the 8th IA Div. a logical step, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Outlaw, 2nd BCT, 4th ID targeting officer. “It allows the SoI to transition easily into the ISF or into govt jobs."
The 8th IA Div. is in charge of security for approx. 25% of Iraq and encompasses 5 provinces, and approx. 10,600 registered SoI members will fall under the 8th IA Div.’s area of ops. “Lt. Gen. Oothman is ready to support the GoI in the transition of the SoI program,” said Capt. Adam Cmerek, fire support officer, 2nd CAB, 8th Inf Regt, 2nd BCT, 4th ID. Cmerek expressed his confidence in the Iraqis’ ability to take over responsibility of the program, and ultimately, of the country’s security.
During the December meeting, leaders also discussed the eventual dissolution of the SoI program, and the GoI plans to offer approx. 80% of the SoI members vocational training and govt job placement assistance. The remaining 20% is slated to transition into positions within the ISF.
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ISF, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Jan. 24, acting on a tip, IA soldiers discovered a cache that contained approx. 200 7.62 mm rounds of small-arms ammo, and 14 RPG rounds at approx. 11:15 a.m., west of Baghdad.
IA Soldiers, and Soldiers with Co C, 1st Bn, 21st Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID, seized a weapons cache at approx. 1:30 p.m., west of Baghdad. The munitions included 29 60 mm mortars, a 120 mm mortar, 2 130 mm mortars, 3 RPG boosters, 9 RPG rounds, 3 155 mm projectiles, 4 shotgun flares, 3 grenades, an anti-aircraft machine gun, and a box of anti-aircraft rounds.
The arrest of 2 suspects captured for emplacing an IED at a funeral, led to the discovery of a weapons cache in one of the detainee's homes. IP and Soldiers serving with Co A, 1st Bn, 14th Inf Regt, 2nd SBCT, 25th ID seized the cache in Tarmiyah at 3:45 p.m. The cache included 2 IEDs, a 57 mm projectile, 30 pounds of unknown bulk explosive, and 30 washing machine timers.
IP confiscated weapons during a clearance mission in West Rashid at approx. 4 p.m. The mission, conducted to ensure a safe environment for the upcoming elections, turned up 23 AK-47 rifles, an SKS rifle and a sound pistol used for firing blanks.
Two hours later, IA soldiers seized 6 57 mm rockets. A Mansour resident contacted authorities when he discovered the rockets hidden in an old septic system while making repairs.
SoI members turned in a weapons cache to a local Sheik north of Baghdad at 9 p.m. The cache included 5 73 mm heat rockets, 6 RPG charges, a 40 mm grenade, 5 30 mm rifle grenades and 6 grenade fuses.
At approx. the same time, IA soldiers found 3 60 mm mortars in East Rashid. Also at 9 p.m., a concerned citizen's tip led NP and Soldiers serving with Co A, 1st Bn, 22nd Inf Regt, 1st BCT, 4th ID, to a cache in a West Rashid home. The cache included 62 rockets, 23 RPGs, 26 RPG boosters, 5 RPG launchers, 23 miscellaneous launchers, 28 missiles, a mortar base plate, 2 land mines, approx. 20 sticks of TNT, 14 blasting caps, detonation cord, and 2 possible EFPs.
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IA, MND-B Soldiers keep Baghdad safe
FOB WAR EAGLE -
An IA officer speaks to Capt. Andrew Farina, Co B, 1st Bn, 27th Inf Regt, 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID cmdr., currently attached to 3rd BCT, 4th ID, during patrols conducted along a highway in the heart of Baghdad, Jan. 16. (Army photos by Spc. John Ahn)
An IAy soldier patrols with Pfc. James Lohuis, infantryman with Co B, during a combined dismounted patrol in an urban area of Baghdad, Jan. 16.
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Army SSgt. Buddy, an explosive detection and attack dog, stands tall to sniff a suspicious scent as Army Sgt. Tyler Barriere, military working dog handler, 163rd MP Det., based out of Fort Campbell, Ky., and attached to STB, 2nd BCT, 4th ID, looks on during a search demonstration at Camp Echo, Jan. 7.
Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente
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Working Together
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason A. Obermuller of 3rd Bn, 29th FA, 3rd BCT, 4th ID conducts a radio check before he and his platoon, along with IA Soldiers conduct a market cordon and search on Jan. 18, 2009 in Baghdad.
Photo by Sgt. Edwin Bridges
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Friendship
Iraqi children watch as U.S. and IA Soldiers conduct a market cordon and search on Jan. 20, 2009 in Baghdad. Photo by Sgt. Edwin Bridges
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Headquarters United States Forces Afghanistan
Coalition forces disrupt IED network in Zabul
KABUL, Afghanistan – CF killed 6 armed Taliban militants and detained a suspected militant during an op to disrupt the Taliban’s foreign fighter and roadside bomb network in Zabul province, Jan. 21.
In Daychopan District, approx. 150 km northeast of Kandahar City, CF targeted a Taliban cmdr. wanted for his ties to the roadside bombing network along Highway One, and recent attacks against CF in Zabul province. He is also known to traffic foreign fighters into the region.
As CF prepared to search the targeted compound, they gave specific instructions for all individuals to exit peacefully. Armed militants from surrounding compounds responded to these instructions by engaging CF with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire, killing 5 armed militants during the engagement, while protecting 23 women and 31 children.
During the skirmish an armed militant exited a building and took up a fighting position on a nearby hill, engaging the CF from behind large rocks. Unable to neutralize the threat with small-fire and while taking effective enemy fire, CF engaged the militant with precision air strikes, killing him.
A search of the targeted compound revealed multiple AK-47s and other weapons.
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USDA collects soil samples in Konar
by U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. James Dietle Konar PRT Public Affairs Office
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (January 16, 2009) — The U.S. Dept of Agriculture and the Konar PRT began an ambitious project aiming to increase the fertility of the soil in Konar province, Afghanistan. Konar valley has a rich culture of farming. However, this culture has faced many setbacks, including infrastructure damage during 30 years of warfare and harsh terrain. “In order to help the people of Konar grow crops more efficiently, we need to know what they have to work with,” said Bruce Dubee, USDA and Konar PRT member. “Through lab analysis, we can find out what they are working with.”
Soil samples are being collected throughout the province to be added to a database that documents soil types from around the world. Currently, Afghanistan has no info in this database. Jason Nemecek, USDA and Konar PRT member, summarizes the importance of the project. “In the US, with our knowledge of agriculture, we can produce 100 bushels of wheat per acre of land. Here, they can only produce 30 bushels. If we want to improve their lives, we need to simply shrink that gap.”
Local Afghan workers are helping with the process by digging 7 foot holes to allow the soil to be sampled in layers. Once examined and labelled, some samples are prepared for the journey back to the U.S. Half of the samples are sent to the USDA’s Nat'l Lab in Lincoln, Neb. for analysis; while the other half are kept in Afghanistan to be tested in local labs, in hopes to one day provide analysis on a more individual scale.
With the combined efforts of the USDA and Konar PRT, soil samples have been collected from Khas Konar, Watapor and Asadabad, the capital of Konar province. Although the soil in each region has its own unique characteristics, they are all very similar in one aspect. “There is a lot of really good soil,” said Ed Tallyn, USDA and Konar PRT member. “In the US, this would be classified as prime farmland. We would pay people not to develop on it.”
In the years to come, the info gathered here could be the catalyst for an agricultural resurgence in Konar province, providing a greater understanding of agriculture throughout not only Afghanistan but throughout Asia as well.
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