Dear Interested Reader,
Iraqi doctor's gift to Camp Liberty says "Thank You." Top cmdr. Gen. Odierno tours the Matanabi Book Market. Numerous weapons caches seized and suspected terrorists detained. JSS Salmyiat returns to MoT control, once again to be a rail and rail car production facility. The Iraqi transportation network taking over more sustainment ops throughout Anbar province. In Afghanistan, air corps officers complete first ever Afghanistan Command and Control Center course. Humanitarian aid distributed in Oruzgan province.
Joanna
_________________________
Feb. 7, 2009
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
Iraqi Doctor's Gift Says ‘Thank You’
(By Sgt. DaleAnne Maxwell, Multi-National Division – Baghdad)
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond (right), comm. gen. of 4th ID and MND – Baghdad, artist Laith al-Turk (center), a renowned local artist, and Dr. al-Jaburri (left), an Iraqi cardiologist and humanitarian, unveil a gold eagle-head statue in front of div HQ on Camp Liberty, Feb. 5.
CAMP LIBERTY — Dr. al-Jaburri, an influential Iraqi cardiologist and humanitarian, donated the gold eagle-head statue to all the Soldiers of MND-B, in admiration for their sacrifices while working to make Baghdad a safer place.
“The Eagle represents a little bit of mixed culture, knowing how important the eagle means to Americans and knowing that in the Arabic culture we have been putting eagles on top of the castles for thousands of years to show power and protection,” said Jaburri. The statue also symbolizes the basic rights Soldiers, Iraqi SF and local civilians have been striving to spread across the nation. “The eagle is a symbol of freedom,” said 1st Lt. Hunter Wakeland, who serves as a platoon leader with MND-B.
The eagle is also a token of Jaburri’s appreciation to the division and the Soldiers for what they went through to help the Iraqi citizens. He recognized and showed appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made for the citizens of Baghdad, specifically in Doura. Two years ago, the Doura neighborhood of southern Baghdad was a dangerous place; as an AQI stronghold there were numerous murders, and violence was a daily occurrence.
“Now I can walk the streets and see the children playing at the park and going to school,” said Jaburri. “My mother can go shopping without fear, and my wife can safely go to work.”
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Top U.S. commander in Iraq patrols with ISF, Paratroopers at famed book market
FOB LOYALTY -
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Al-Izi (right), cmdr. of the 1st NP Div leads Gen. Ray Odierno (center), cmdr. of MNF-Iraq, during a patrol inside the Matanabi Book Market, Feb. 4 in the Rusafa District of eastern Baghdad. Iraqi PM Al Maliki proclaimed the market a symbol of strength and hope for the future of Iraq, when it reopened last Dec.
(Army photos by Spc. Ryan Higgins)
Col. Timothy McGuire (right), cmdr., 3rd BCT, 82nd Abn Div, talks with Gen. Ray Odierno, during a patrol inside the Matanabi Book Market. During the patrol, Iraqi and Coalition leaders took time to speak with shop owners, greet customers and discuss the need to maintain recent security gains.
Gen. Ray Odierno (right), thanks Paratroopers assigned to the 5th Sqdrn, 73rd Cav Regt, 3rd BCT, for their hard work and service after a patrol. Paratroopers assigned to the 5th Sqdn., partner on a daily basis with their Iraqi SF counterparts to ensure the security of the Rusafa district and its citizens.
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Citizen's tip leads ISF, MND-B Soldiers to surface-to-air missiles, multiple caches
A sizable amount of munitions, including 3 surface-to-air missiles.
BAGHDAD - IA partnered with Co C, 1st Bn, 21st Inf Regt, 2nd BCT, 25th ID acted on a tip from a concerned local citizen to seize 5 weapon cache sites west of Baghdad, Feb. 5.
The day-long op confiscated a combined cache of an RPK light-machine gun, 2 rifles, an RPG launcher, 1000 PKC rounds, 5 cans of 12.7mm rounds, 14 14mm anti-aircraft rounds, 41 60mm mortar rounds, 8 high explosive anti-tank rounds, 10 mortar tubes, 12 12 gauge shotgun rounds, 53 fragmentation grenades, assorted mortar equipment, 2 RPG high explosive anti-tank rounds, 3 anti-personnel rounds, an RPG booster, 3 surface to air missiles, 23 43mm anti-aircraft rounds, 6 RPG anti-personnel rounds, a case of 25mm ammo, an RKG-3 grenade, 3 RPG rounds, and 13 RPG armor piercing rounds.
This joint op illustrates the determination of Iraqi citizens, IA and MND-B Soldiers to fight those who seek to undermine Iraqi stability and security progress.
Fragmentation grenades.
High explosive anti-tank rockets lay side by side
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Iraqi forces arrest 3 terrorist suspects in central Iraq
BALAD - Iraqi SOF, with CF advisors, arrested 3 suspected terrorists on warrants during ops in central Iraq, Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.
The individuals allegedly provided terrorist cells with IED and other weapons used to attack CF. They also allegedly laundered money; led counterfeit ops, participated in kidnapping and non-judicial killing of local civilians, Iraqi forces and CF.
"The captures should reduce terrorist cell financing, counterfeit ops and kidnap-for-ransom activities in the vicinity of Baghdad," said a CF advisor.
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ISF arrest 11 suspected terrorist-cell leaders in northern Iraq
BALAD - Iraqi SOF, with CF advisors, arrested 11 suspected terrorists on warrants during ops in northern Iraq, Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.
The individuals are allegedly involved in activities including the emplacement and facilitation of IEDs, running false checkpoints, kidnapping and murdering IA and IP members as well as attacks on Iraqi and CF.
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Iraqi SWAT units discover, destroy weapons caches
BALAD - Iraqi SWAT, with CF advisors, discovered and destroyed weapons caches in western and northern Iraq in separate ops Jan. 28 and Feb. 1.
The combined caches consisted of 153 PE-4A plastic explosives; 32 blasting caps; an electric wire roll; a copper wire roll; 4 82 mm-mortar rounds; 13 mortar primers; 26 rocket fuse boosters; 7 RPG-propellant tubes; a propellant charge; 3 RPGs; a 73 mm projectile; an RPG launcher; 73 7.92x30 mm, German-made KZ-43 rounds; 109 7.62 mm rifle grenade ignition cartridges; a German Sturmgewehr, World War II era assault rifle; 44 shotgun flares; and 2 mortar, sight-in tools, 4 RPG-7 launchers; 10 anti-personnel RPG rounds; 15 7.62x39 mm loaded mags; a 60 mm-mortar round; 4 fused AP grenades; 12 anti-tank RPG rounds; 2 RPG boosters; a PKC machinegun barrel; 2 extra grenade initiators and assorted other items.
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JSS Salmyiat returns to the Ministry of Transportation
Col. Todd McCaffrey and the Iraqi Deputy Minister of Transportation, sign documents to transfer JSS Salmyiat to the MoT during a ceremony, Feb. 5.
(Army photo by Capt. Cory Angell)
CAMP TAJI - JSS Salmyiat once housed a rail and rail car production facility, which are now idle. The transfer of JSS Salmyiat is more than a symbol of returning control of facilities to the Iraqi people. It provides capability in production and employment.
"This is a great day for Iraq," said A'mir Ismael, Iraqi Dep. Minister of Transportation. "One of the most modern facilities to produce rail ties in the Middle East will bring many jobs to the Iraqi people. The production facility will also produce sleeper cars that will transport the Iraqi people on the 'backbone of transportation' in Iraq."
"Today marks an important and visible milestone in application of the security agreement," said Col. Todd McCaffrey, cmdr., 2nd Stryker BCT, 25th ID. "In passing control of this JSS to sole Iraqi control, we see a small but very important application of the agreement." McCaffrey reiterated that CF will continue to be part of the sustained security that facilitated the security agreement.
"Our brigade has forged deep and lasting relationships with the people of Salmiyat and Agur Quf; and while we depart this JSS, we will remain partnered to assure continued security throughout this critical area."
Col. Todd McCaffrey receives a bouquet of flowers before the transfer ceremony.
(Army photo by Maj. Al Hing)
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Sustainment
Iraqi drivers wait in a queue to load their trucks with cargo destined for CF at Al Asad Air Base, Jan. 23. The Iraqi transportation network, with its fleet of trucks owned and operated by Iraqi tribes, is taking over more and more sustainment ops throughout Anbar province.
(Photo by Spc. Kiyoshi Freeman)
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Pretty Polling
An Iraqi woman decorates a polling site prior to the Iraqi provincial election in Kadhimiya, Jan. 30.
(Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert J. Whelan)
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AFCENT Combat News Team
Afghan Army Air Corps members graduate
By Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson
Members of the Afghan Army Air Corps. sit through a graduation ceremony for the first ever Afghan Command and Control Center Course.
(AF photo by SSgt. James L. Harper Jr.)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- As the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) continues to grow in both size and ability, 16 senior Afghan Air Corps officers graduated from a 4-week long course on command and control ops, Jan. 24 at the Kabul Int'l Airport.
The course was taught by U.S. AF advisors from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. "These officers were formerly air defense and radar operators in the past, and I have to say I was initially concerned about whether or not they were going to keep moving forward as we transition to the Air Corps Control Center mission with them," said Gen. Darwan, ANAAC cmdr. "However, these officers are very experienced and talented and we are pleased with their progress. We will grow this function, just as we are growing the Air Corps as a whole."
The Afghan officers -- who range in rank from brig. gen. to capt. -- will form the initial cadre who will be charged with training the Afghan Air Corps members who come after them, according to Maj. David Milner, an advisor with the 438th AEG, who had a significant role in training the group. "Having an Air Corps Control Center (ACCC) will give the Air Corps the capability to control all Afghan airpower within the country's boundaries and eventually internationally," said Major Milner, who is a C-17 pilot deployed from Hickam AF Base, Hawaii. "What we have essentially designed here is a small-scale version of a Combined Air and Space Ops Center. The Afghan Air Corps obviously has a way to go towards getting that capability, but this is the first step."
Though the officers were very experienced, there were some challenges that had to be met by Major Milner and the other AF advisory staff. "They were taught a lot of what they know through old Soviet-era doctrine," he said. "In order to make them effective, we had to show them the Western perspective, and they really learned from it."
By having a centralized location to control all of its air assets and a group of highly trained and skilled Air Corps leadership, the govt of Afghanistan will be able to effectively deploy airpower to its far expanses to support a variety of missions, whether that be troop movements, medical evacuation or humanitarian relief.
"This (the ACCC) is so important to make the Air Corps the effective and powerful instrument it can be in the future," Brig. Gen. Walter Givhan, 438th AEW cmdr., told the graduates in English after addressing them in their native Dari language. "Let's go forward together."
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U.S. Forces - Afghanistan
Humanitarian aid distributed to more than 400 Afghans in Oruzgan province
Afghan National SF and village leaders discuss with local villagers the security measures being taken in their village in Deh Rawood district, Oruzgan province, Jan. 30.
An Afghan National Army soldier distributes humanitarian assistance to a local villager.
An Afghan child holds his younger sibling while receiving humanitarian assistance items from ANSF and CF.
KABUL - The combined forces distributed 200 bags of coal, 125 hygiene kits, 100 bags of rice and beans, 100 pairs of children's shoes and socks, 80 boxes of tea, 60 men's jackets, 40 children's jackets and 35 pairs of men's shoes to aid villagers and their families.
A small medical clinic was also established to provide medical treatment for villagers. "The Afghan people saw firsthand today that the ANSF and CF truly do all they can to help make Afghan lives a little easier," said a CF spokesperson. "We will continue to aid Afghans in their efforts to improve their quality of life and to rebuild their nation."
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