Dear Interested Reader,
Nebraska farmers donate grain bins to Afghan farmers. Top U.S. Cmdr shares strategy. Forces raid terrorists compounds in the East and South, while eliminating significant threat in Pech District.
In Iraq, water sewer projects impact environment. 130th Engr Bde assumes responsibility for Mosul reconstruction. Hawijah and Baqubah receive needed food and a message of hope. Highlanders Bde hosts Cmdrs' Conference.
Joanna
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July 20, 2009
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Nebraska community donates grain bins to Afghan farmers
By Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens
Army Sgt. 1st Class Eldon Kuntzelman, center, meets with local farmers in Kapisa province, July 13, to discuss issues concerning grain bin assembly and grape vineyards.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD - Members of the TF Warrior Agri-Business Development Team (ADT) visited several villages to assess completed grain bins that once occupied farmlands in Imperial, Neb. The bins have been relocated and reconstructed to help Afghan farmers with grain storage issues.
"These completed grain bins are the first in Afghanistan, and serve as an excellent way for farmers to store their grain," said ADT Agronomist, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eldon Kuntzelman, who first thought of the idea to ship grain bins to Afghanistan, June 2008, during pre-deployment preparations. "It was reported to the ADT that grain storage was an issue in Afghanistan," said Kuntzelman, who worked last summer alongside ADT
members and community volunteers to disassemble 8 local grain bins donated by Kip Bremer, Kurt Bernhardt, and Wayne Bahler, all farmers from Imperial, Neb. Farmer Gregg Smith also offered some of his grain bins. Business owner Bob Mendenhall volunteered his time, a boom truck, and air tools to assist with the disassembly, and loading and transporting of the bins from Imperial, Neb., 300 miles away to Lincoln, Neb. They were later transported to Camp Atterbury, Ind., and shipped to Afghanistan. "It took about a week to take down the 8 bins," said Kuntzelman, crediting farmer Richard Banks for donating his time alongside the TF Warrior ADT to disassemble and load the bins.
"Once we hit the ground here in October 2008, we started assessing the area for places to put the bins up," said Kuntzelman, who assists local farmers in Kapisa, Parwan, Panjshir and Bamyan provs.
"Shir Padasha Village constructed the grain bin exactly as we trained them," said Kuntzelman, who walked on foot to the village due to heavy tree cover and narrow streets for travel. At the 2nd location, a short distance away, where a smaller bin was constructed, farmers were very happy to have something to store their grain in. They offered members of the ADT apricots and plums to eat. "They tasted great," Kuntzelman said. A larger bin was constructed at a 3rd location where a well is being drilled and a vineyard is experiencing a fungus problem on grapes.
"All the foundation pads are poured at the various locations for the grain bins to be assembled, and we expect all 8 bins to be completed by the end of the month," Kuntzelman said.
A completed grain bin pictured here, July 13, in Kapisa prov.
Members of the TF Warrior ADT travel to several villages to ensure proper assembly of grain bins and assess agricultural projects.
A member of the TF Warrior ADT assesses a grape vineyard.
Children from the local village pose for a picture.
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American Forces Press Service
Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Shares Strategy
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Carden
KABUL – Patience and time are keys to success in Afghanistan, the cmdr of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan told reporters July 15. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal discussed his views on what it'll take to bring and maintain security, and the importance of helping the Afghans establish governance throughout the provs.
So far, ops are going well, he said. Major coalition offensives have been under way in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand prov., as British troops and U.S. Marines try to flush out Taliban forces. The counterinsurgency approach is shape, clear, hold and build, with emphasis on the last 2, the general said. He stressed that the clearing phase lasts longer than people realize, and that the hold and build phase won’t be as effective with security threats looming. Patience and time from everyone involved -- SECFOR and civilians -- will be the keys to success.
McChrystal also believes it'll take time for the residents, whether in Helmand prov., or another, to have faith that CF aren’t going to leave a region as soon as the fighting is over and the insurgents are stopped. “The thing that’s really going to be different here is our commitment to hold and build, so I do not leave an area,” he said. “In my view, it’s the most significant thing.”
McChrystal’s strategy calls for constant presence to ensure the Taliban and other insurgents don’t return to “cleared” areas as they’ve done in the past, he said. Currently, enemy fighters are returning to once-cleared areas and “nipping at the edges with IEDs,” he added. “I think they’re testing the waters to see what will happen and how we’ll react,” McChrystal said. “They’re trying to show that they’re still here.” Because of the insurgency “testing the waters,” civilian and troop casualties have risen. McChrystal believes the high level of casualties will likely continue until “insurgent fighters decide that they cannot force us out.”
The insurgency’s aggressiveness can be credited to the fact that troops have a greater presence in more areas in Afghanistan, he said. He also noted that 80% of casualties are Afghans, most of whom are civilians. Roadside bombs are weapons of terror that eventually will backfire on the Taliban, he said. “As we saw in Iraq, at a certain point the Iraqi population got disgusted with suicide bombs, and I think that the Afghans will get disgusted as well,” he said. “It’s carnage they’re creating on civilians.”
McChrystal said it will take months for ISAF’s strategy to play out in Helmand prov., but stressed that the more populated areas will be the priorities as key areas. The lesser-populated areas will be secured with precision raids to keep insurgents under pressure. This will call for a lot of resources and troops, and he noted that success also relies on the ANA and police development. “As soon as insurgents are on their heels, you’ve got to bring elements that can help facilitate governance,” he said. “Military elements can help do that, civilian capacities can help do that, and Afghan govt officials can help do that. The sooner you can bring it after the start of an op, the more I think you send a message to the population that we’re serious.”
Signs of these types of resources are beginning to show. “It's starting to happen,” he said. “I think that when the civilian uplifts come in from the U.S. side, and a lot of our partner nations are bringing in more too, we will get more robust over time and get more focused. “It's the decisive point that the GoA enabled by us, gets a credible govt up and running to the point where the people believe it’s going to stay.”
McChrystal said when villagers and locals realize int'l forces are going to stick around through the hold and build -- governance and development phase, the situation really will begin to change. Then Afghans can begin to accept responsibility to govern legitimately. “In some places you see that’s already in execution,” he said.
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American Forces Press Service
Coalition, Afghan Troops Raid Terrorist Compounds
KABUL, July 17, 2009 – Coalition and Afghan forces raided several terrorist compounds in eastern and southern Afghanistan in the past 2 days, disrupting bomb networks and seizing suspects and weapons, military officials reported.
The combined forces killed several insurgents in a gun battle in Paktia prov. July 16, and a dozen militants were detained in raids in Logar, Paktika and Khost provs. in the East and Helmand prov. in the South.
Afghan and CF searched an enemy encampment July 16, in the remote reaches of Paktia prov. in an effort to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters and weapons by the Haqqani terrorist group, through the Khost-Gardez Pass along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
The force targeted the site, southeast of Gardez, after intel indicated militant activity. Several insurgents engaged the force with small-arms fire throughout the op. The force used direct fire and close-air support to repel the attacks, killing several shooters. The force continued the search and uncovered large munitions caches throughout the encampment.
In Logar prov., Afghan and CF searched a compound thought to be used by a known Haqqani cmdr as a bomb-making cell. The force targeted the compound near the village of Ebad, southwest of Kabul, after intel indicated militant activity. The force conducted the search without incident and confiscated an AK-47 rifle and a chest rack. Three suspected militants were detained.
The combined force targeted a compound north of the city of Khost after intel indicated militant activity there. The force conducted a search of the compound without incident and 2 AK-47 rifles and a shotgun were confiscated. The force detained 5 suspected insurgents.
Afghan and CF searched a compound last night in Helmand prov., thought to belong to a key Taliban cmdr believed to be responsible for directing suicide and bomb attacks in the area. The force targeted the compound in the Nad Ali district where intel indicated militant activity. The force conducted a search without incident and uncovered a hand grenade in one of the targeted buildings. The force detained 4 suspected militants.
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CJTF-82 Public Affairs Office, Bagram Media Center
ANA and ISAF forces eliminate significant anti-Afghan threat
BAGRAM AIR FIELD (July 17, 2009) - ANA and ISAF soldiers, with the assistance of Coalition Close Air Support from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield, have killed 10 anti-Afghan forces today in the Pech district after receiving small arms fire while on a routine patrol. CF in the Pech District were initially engaged by anti-Afghan forces while on patrol this morning. Contact between ISAF, ANA forces and anti-Afghan forces in the area has been interspersed throughout the day.
This is the 2nd time in a week that ISAF and ANA forces have eliminated a significant anti-Afghan threat in the Pech District.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Joint test-fire planning
(Photo by Army Sgt. Jennifer Cohen)
LOGAR PROVINCE - Members of the ANA and Marine GnrySgt. Enrique Munoz, of eTT 44, plot the coordinates of where they want to test-fire a D30 122mm field artillery weapon at FOB Kalagush, July 10. The team test-fires the weapon regularly to ensure it's functioning properly.
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American Forces Press Service
Water, Sewer Projects Impact Environment in Iraq
By Ronald A. Reeves
BAGHDAD, July 17, 2009 – Sewer projects and other capacity-building projects managed by the USACE Gulf Region Div (GRD) are positively affecting the environment in Iraq, said the cmdr of the corps’ Gulf Region Central District here.
For example, solar-powered street lights installed in Fallujah use the sun’s renewable energy, balancing the needs of the environment and communities by providing power, conserving natural resources for other uses, and improving air quality through reduced air emissions, Army Col. Ronald Light explained.
Environmental conservation was not practiced during Saddam Hussein’s regime, Light said, but he’s seen progress during his year-long command. “Many Iraqis with whom I’ve interfaced have indicated that they were in survival mode,” he said. “When all you’re worried about is feeding your family and whether they have a roof over their head, it’s hard to get excited about other issues.
“As the Iraqi security situation improves and they’re able to focus on those kinds of things, I fully expect that they will embrace a greater environmental ethic as time goes on,” he continued. “No one wants to live in an environment that is strewn with trash, an environment where children walk in open sewer drainage ditches, or an environment where you have to question the purity of your water or air.” To that end, projects built in partnership with the GoI, the U.S. govt and GRD are providing essential services that many Americans take for granted, such as clean water and sewage removal. An example of this is the Sadr City water treatment plant, now providing 200,000 Sadr City residents with clean, potable water.
Also completed is the restoration of the Khark water treatment plant north of Taji, Light said.
“That treatment plant contributes 43% of the potable water to Baghdad,” he said. “There has likewise been a dearth of potable water supply networks in both Baghdad and elsewhere,” Light said. “The problem has been particularly acute in Baghdad. We’ve addressed that, and helped double the number of people on potable water systems throughout Iraq.”
GRD sewer projects include a project in Kamaliya where about 36 miles of sewer pipe and 10 pump stations were installed. In partnership with the GoI, the GRD is completing other sewer-improvement projects throughout Central District in Doura, Adhamiyah, Mansour, New Ubaydi and Fallujah.
Begun in 2004 and about 80% complete, the Fallujah wastewater treatment plant’s revised design provides for treatment of 40,000 cubic meters per day, projected to serve 200,000 residents. The design allows for future expansion as the GoI grows its infrastructure. “That is a huge, huge undertaking given the age of the cities in Iraq,” Light said. “We’ve gone into Baghdad and Fallujah and retrofitted, in very tight quarters, those cities with sewer systems. So, that’s been a great win.”
An often-overlooked component, Light said, is waste mgt. He said the GRD’s contributions to that are landfills, both on FOBs and in Baghdad. In Rusafa, NE of Baghdad, the GRD will build a sanitary landfill. “This isn’t a sanitary landfill you’d see in the temperate regions of the U.S.,” Light said. “It's designed for this very arid climate. We’ve also built incinerators to more effectively deal with solid waste, medical waste, biological waste and routine waste.”
“In everything we’ve done, whether it’s a road project, school project, or police station, there’s been some environmental component somehow,” Light said. “As we close out FOBs, post camps, and stations we’ve established, we will certainly leave them as clean as or cleaner than when we arrived.”
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Multi-National Division - North PAO
130th Engr Bde assumes responsibility for Mosul reconstruction
CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, MOSUL - The 130th Engr Bde uncased its colors assuming responsibility of Mosul's reconstruction efforts from the 18th Engr Bde during a transfer of authority ceremony at Contingency Operating Station Marez, July 15.
The "Sapper" bde's mission focus will be reconstruction projects intended to help the people of Mosul and the Ninewah Prov. by providing essential services to the local population and to manage route clearance ops for the 25th ID.
"It's an honor and a privilege to help our brother and sister Iraqis rebuild their nation," said Lt. Col. Fabian Mendoza, Jr., 130th Eng. Bde. cmdr.
The bde participated in key leader engagements, provided technical assessments, conducted site visits and tracked millions of dollars worth of construction projects. They also worked with Mosul city leaders to develop sustainable support for essential services, and partnered with several IA Filed Engr Regts to aid the IA's engineering and info ops capabilities.
"We were moved around. We probably moved around more than most bdes have in the past few years, 3 major cities, 3 major moves. We've conducted uncharacteristic lines of ops that a normal engr bde doesn't do, but we took it on," said Col. Matthew Russell, cmdr.
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Multi-National Division - North PAO
Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers deliver hope in Iraq
FOB WARRIOR, KIRKUK - Tomato sauce, rice, canned beans. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it can be the difference between a full stomach and going to sleep hungry. Many families in the Hiteen neighborhood of Hawijah have gone hungry in the past, but 12th IA soldiers and Soldiers from 1st Bn, 8th Cav Regt, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div, brought bags of food and a message of hope to these families, July 14.
"Hiteen has been identified by the Hawijah city council as the poorest area of Hawijah," said 1st Lt. Sean Spencer, the 1st Bn. 8th Cav. Regt medical officer. "The food delivery by the ISF and U.S. military supports Hawijah residents, by fulfilling attainable goals which will make a difference for the people here," he said.
"It really made them happy, especially when they saw us with the IA," said Spc. Andrew Harris, a forward observer with HHC, 1st Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. "I think they picked the perfect town for this," he continued. "We don't really get to travel through Hiteen often, but when you come through there and give them food, it makes a big difference." According to Harris, the IA is still working to visit all of the small villages in Kirkuk prov.
"This showed the residents of this neighborhood a side of the IA maybe they didn't know," said Spencer. "It shows they're capable of helping the local residents, and also has the added benefit of helping alleviate any misconceptions there might be of the IA in the past."
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Multi-National Division - North PAO
Baqubah receives a Humanitarian Aid Drop
Iraqi men unload bags of rice, sugar and flour July 15, during a humanitarian aid drop in Diyala prov. conducted by ISF with assistance from U.S. forces with 3rd Plt, C Co, 1st Bn, 5th Inf Regt, 1st Stryker BCT, 25th ID.
(Army photos by Spc. Anthony Jones)
DIYALA - IA Soldiers and the 1st Stryker BCT, 25th ID, conducted the first humanitarian aid drop in Diyala prov. since U.S. combat forces left Iraqi cities, June 30. The drop lasted nearly 7 hours and served hundreds of local families in Mujema, a neighborhood in Baqubah. Five large trucks, filled with approximately 1,000 bags of rice and flour, 600 bags of sugar and 600 bottles of cooking oil, were unloaded.
"The ISF were in charge. Prior to us arriving, they worked with our leaders to draw up a plan and set up the logistics for the drop," said 1st Lt. Sean Pence, plt leader. "The role of the ISF was to distribute the food and control the whole situation. It's their show; we were just here to provide support."
Iraqi men wait to receive bags of rice, sugar and flour.
An IA soldier helps an Iraqi woman carry a bag of rice.
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4th BCT, 1st Armored Division RSS
Highlanders Bde Hosts Cmdrs' Conference With ISF
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Mullett
Col. Peter Newell, cmdr, 4th Bde, 1st AR Div "Highlanders" presents a group photo and DVD copy of "Mawtini," featuring heroic images of ISF, to the Iraqi command sgt maj, as a partnership gift following the ISF partnership conference July 11, at COB Adder.
COB ADDER – Key leaders of the U.S. and ISF operating in the Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Muthanna provs., met to discuss their partnership roles within the U.S.-Iraqi Security Agreement.
"We planned this conference with our ISF partners to ensure we're speaking on the same sheet of music, so our ops are well-coordinated," said Col. Peter Newell. "It's important for Iraqi citizens to know we're here to advise and assist the ISF, and that all of our movements are planned with them."
"The purpose of this meeting was to determine the movements and methods for U.S. forces and the PRTs inside cities," said Staff Maj. Gen. Al-Husseini, cmdr. "Additionally, we will specify roles for ISF assigned to provide escorts and protection to those elements."
"The relationships and procedures solidified at this conference must be conveyed to Iraqi citizens," said Newell who wants to ease the Iraqi minds by increasing public dialogue with the Iraqi military leadership. Several Iraqi reporters and cameramen attended the conference.
Newell emphasized the need to inform the public about what we're accomplishing to improve Iraq's economic, rule of law, and governance capacity. "Many Iraqi people erroneously believed that after June 30 they would not see any more Americans inside Iraqi cities," said Staff Maj. Gen. Al-Fatlawi, Dhi Qar Prov. Chief of Police. "The U.S. Soldiers will continue to advise and provide training to ISF in the city; also, the PRTs have ongoing service projects inside the cities that require their presence for implementation."
SF personnel from both the U.S. and Iraqi leadership outlined their continued relationship and discussed techniques to streamline their coordination procedures. The IP and IA had a spirited discussion on how to best collaborate their security efforts.
"The productive relationship between Soldiers and leadership in the Highlander Bde has directly contributed to the ability of a diverse group of leaders to focus their considered judgment on developing effective solutions for implementation of the security agreement," said Lt. Col. James Gallivan, cmdr of 1st Bn, 77th AR Regt "Steel Tigers," "The conference exceeded my expectations."
The attendees moved over to the coalition dining facility for buffet-style Halal luncheon. The Iraqis were presented with a DVD of their national anthem "Mawtini," sung by Sgt. Brenda Bushera, a member of the 34th ID band, and professional opera singer.
Staff Maj. Gen. Al-Husseini reviews the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement.
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MNF-I
Play Ball
GnrySgt. Brad Dean, recon plt sgt, RCT 6, hands a soccer ball to a child during a joint op conducted with IP, provincial SECFOR, and CF, June 29. IP also passed out soccer balls, rice, chai tea and blankets. (Photo by Alvin J. Parson)