Operation Phantom Fury--Day 142 - Now Operation River Blitz--Day 37

U.S. Air Force Capt. Robert Frees, Col. Abdul Hadi, Brig. Gen. Shams Ahmad, and Mr. G.K. Madhu Kiran conduct a site survey on TV Hill overlooking Kabul, Afghanistan, March 17, 2005, to locate a new microwave radio antenna tower that will link all Kabul area Afghan National Army facilities for data and voice communications. Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by Senior Airman Michael Payne

U.S. Air Force Capt. Robert Frees, strategic network consultant for the Office of Military Cooperation - Afghanistan, congratulates an Afghan National Army soldier and hands him his Super User certification during a graduation ceremony at Kabul University, March 12, 2005. Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by Master Sgt. D. Keith Johnson

Afghan National Army Joins Information Age

As the Afghan National Army continues to grow and decentralize some operations, a robust communications network becomes ever more crucial.

By U.S. Army Maj. Rick Peat, Kansas National Guard 
Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, March 28, 2005 — “We are building a communications infrastructure starting from virtually nothing,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Robert Frees, a strategic computer network consultant for the U.S.-led Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan, regarding construction of a viable and sustainable computing infrastructure for the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the Afghan National Army.

As the Afghan National Army continues to grow and decentralize some operations, a robust communications network becomes ever more crucial.

Prior to September 2004, all Afghan National Army operations were controlled by either the Central Corps in Kabul or coalition units with whom the Afghan National Army operated. Since then, the Afghan National Army has set up four additional regional Corps around the country, each capable of commanding and controlling operations in their assigned area of operations.

Remarking on the importance of a strong communications infrastructure for the new army, Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan Chief of Communications Army Lt. Col. Mark Baxter said, “The (Afghan National Army) must have a comprehensive strategic network to allow effective centralized command and control of the Army. Without effective centralized command, tribal rule will dominate the future of Afghanistan.”

“I’m excited to take what I’ve learned during this training and go to work wherever the (Afghan National Army) needs me,” Afghan National Army soldier Mohammed Saber

Through tremendous effort by Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan and the Afghan Ministry of Defense Communications Directorate, computers and networks are being installed at the Ministry of Defense, at all five corps headquarters and at all training facilities. Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan is carrying out a $31 million comprehensive plan for initial stand-up, intermediate automation and permanent sustainment of communications systems connecting all echelons of the Afghan National Army with their first-ever automated command and control systems.

Frees indicated the financial support comes from the U.S. Department of State as well as funds allocated to foreign military assistance in support of the global war on terrorism. The funds have so far been spent on the design and implementation of 17 communication network contracts linking more than 30 Afghan National Army facilities throughout Afghanistan.

A large investment in human resources is also necessary. The base of knowledge and experience Afghan National Army soldiers have with computer technology is very limited. Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Mohammad Amin Norestani, chief of legal affairs for the Ministry of Defense, recognized the importance of computer technology early in the development of the new Afghan National Army.

“The world has become a small village through use of computers,” Norestani said. “In the past, a person with a high school degree was called a literate person. Now a person who doesn’t know how to use computers is considered not educated; it has become a life requirement for everyone.”

The next project in the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan comprehensive plan is to set up eight computer labs at the Kabul Military Training Center so new recruits can learn about computers before they get to their first assignment.

To run the new Afghan National Army computing infrastructure, Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan contracted out computer maintenance and network administration to a regional civilian computer consulting firm. The long-term solution, as for all aspects in the reconstruction of the Afghan defense sector, is for the Afghan National Army to be self-sustaining.

“To achieve this, soldiers must be trained and afforded the opportunity to work hands-on with experienced system administrators,” said Brig. Gen. Shams Ahmad, deputy communications director for the Ministry of Defense.

To provide the necessary training, Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan and the Ministry of Defense partnered with Kabul University’s Computer Science Department to design a training program for Afghan National Army soldiers to becomecomputer system administrators. Five instructors from Kabul University’s Computer Science Department are now involved in teaching the Afghan National Army students.

Members of the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan configure the Afghan National Army network hub at the Ministry of Defense building in Kabul. Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by Terry Spanier

Along with the department head, Prof. M. Homayounnaseri, they teamed up with Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan and the Ministry of Defense Communications Directorate to create a curriculum that would produce soldiers capable of carrying out the Ministry of Defense long-term network administration needs.

“From the beginning, students had no experience with computers,” said Homayounnaseri. “So we had to consider this in deciding what to teach them and where to start.”

The first class of 48 soldiers, drawn from the Ministry of Defense Communications Directorate and the five corps headquarters, reported for class at Kabul University Sept. 18, 2004, for a 14-week training program. The inaugural program faced many challenges early on, including having only a few Pentium II personal computers available in the classroom, sporadic electrical service, and no heat during one of the coldest Afghan winters in decades.

The instructors faced another significant challenge. Many of the soldier-students had never touched a computer before and did not know English, the universal computer language. According to Homayounnaseri, the most successful students in this class were familiar with English, had completed high school and had completed several math and science courses while in school.

Instructor Hassan Adelyar added, “It is different teaching the (Afghan National Army) than our university students. We are only teaching the (Afghan National Army) for a relatively short time on very specific subjects. The ages of the (Afghan National Army) are different too, ranging from 18 to over 50 years old.”

Brig. Gen. Shams Ahmad, deputy communications director for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, congratulates one of his soldiers and hands him his Super User certification during a graduation ceremony at Kabul University, March 12, 2005. Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by Master Sgt. D. Keith Johnson

In overcoming these challenges, Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan provided the university with a generator and enough new PC’s that every student had their own in the classroom. Modifications were also made to the curriculum, lengthening it, adding some basic English instruction, and dividing it into two semesters.

The first semester includes training in English computer terms, typing in English and Dari, Microsoft Office, Internet concepts and computer anatomy. Graduates of the first semester are certified by Kabul University as “Super Users” and are qualified to work on the Afghan National Army computer help desk.

The best Super Users continue on through a 12-week second semester and are certified as System Administrators upon successful completion. They are qualified to install cable, establish peer to peer connections and other networking responsibilities. Additionally, several of the best second semester students participate in a cooperative education program that Frees arranged with the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has a relatively advanced information technology department.

The revised training plan will put the first 25 of 100 required System Administrators in the field by July 15, 2005. The Afghan National Army is projected to have the infrastructure and trained personnel in place to sustain itself by May 2006.

Graduates of the first semester participated in a simple but prideful ceremony attended by Ministry of Defense and university officials on March 12 at Kabul University. The soldiers were excited to receive their Super User certificates, and each poured over his certificate in detail and with great interest after he returned to his seat.

“I’m excited to take what I’ve learned during this training and go to work wherever the (Afghan National Army) needs me,” said Mohammed Saber in his native language.

Truman Strike Group Heads Home, Vinson Strike Group Takes Watch

By Journalist 3rd Class (SW) John Stevens, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group concluded operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and maritime security operations (MSO) March 19, after being relieved by the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf.

MSO is aimed at setting the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment. Illicit activity at sea has a global impact. MSO pressurizes the maritime environment and is the single most significant component of the conventional maritime effort against terrorism.

Truman and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 launched 2,577 sorties, totaling nearly 13,000 flight hours, in support of OIF and MSO since relieving USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Nov. 20. Truman and CVW-3 kept an eye on U.S. and coalition forces in country during the Jan. 30 Iraqi elections.

“I’m very proud of the close cooperation and esprit de corps on the ship, air wing and throughout the strike group,” said Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 Rear Adm. Michael C. Tracy. “I know for a fact that the troops on the ground appreciated our ability to provide close air support.”

Shipboard leadership mirrored Tracy’s approval.

“For all the people in the mission - absolutely superb job,” said Truman Commanding Officer Capt. James P. Gigliotti in an all-hands address. “We’ve done an outstanding job all the way through this evolution for the past four months.”

Truman had the privilege of visiting Manama, Bahrain, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where Sailors and Marines enjoyed what the local culture had to offer during the brief periods of rest and relaxation.

“I went on the Sunset Safari,” said Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class (SW) Jill Harris, “and it was one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Four-wheeling and sand boarding were my favorite parts.”

Underway between Arabian excursions ashore, the ship and air wing team hit the deckplates hard when it came to the daily grind of flight operations, general quarters training evolutions and underway replenishments.

Truman’s Supply Department won Ship’s Store Best in Class Award and their fourth Capt. Edward F. Ney Award for excellence in food service, an honor that now encompasses the entire Navy rather than the East and West Coasts separately.

“We are recognized as the best food service organization in the United States Navy,” said Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Susan Reece, Truman’s food production chief. “It’s a privilege to work for this supply team and bring the Ney back to [Truman].”

CVW-3 witnessed the end of an era this deployment with the final combat flight of Fighter Squadron (VF) 32’s F-14 Tomcats, which will be replaced by F/A-18 Super Hornets later this year. While there are some heavy hearts within VF-32, they know it’s a necessary step forward in their mission.

“It’s a little sad,” said VF-32 Maintenance Officer Lt. Cmdr. Randy Stearns, who’s flown Tomcats for 14 years, “but it’s good to know we’re introducing the Super Hornet and pressing on.”

VF-32 has already begun the transition to the new platform and will rejoin CVW-3 in early spring 2006.

Bolstering Truman’s ability to complete its mission, a supporting cast of surface ships conducted MSO to protect not only Truman but also the interests of regional allies.

“We’ve done a lot of significant regional engagement,” said USS Mason (DDG 87) Commanding Officer Cmdr. Gene Black. “We’ve acted as air defense commander, and we’ve done [MSO] to deter international terrorism and protect the maritime industry.

Although one stage of the mission is now complete, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group's transit home will still be busy.

Before the team reaches its home port, Fleet and Family Support Center representatives will come aboard and conduct preparation training for new parents and those just preparing to return to family life.

“This is something we’ve done traditionally since my first cruise,” said Truman Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Clarence Frye. “They’ve actually put together a very good and comprehensive program for those who are returning from a deployment.”

Frye said the classes will include parenting skills, relational intimacy and handy tips for those buying cars with their savings from the cruise.

The strike group, consisting of Truman, Mason, USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Monterey (CG 61), USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) and CVW-3, deployed Oct. 13 for its second deployment in support of OIF and anti-terrorism operations.

For related news, visit the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn75.

They’re overcoming barriers to protect one U.S. and Azerbaijani troops work together at Iraq's massive and critical Haditha Dam

By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer

HADITHA DAM, Iraq — Even before Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, U.S. military planners knew that this mammoth hydroelectric dam about 150 miles northwest of the capital was important to Iraq's future.

To prevent retreating Iraqi troops from destroying the dam and flooding the region, Army Rangers seized the site on the night of April 1, 2003, a week before the fall of Baghdad, while warplanes hammered an Iraqi army unit nearby.

Nearly two years later, as U.S.-led forces battle an insurgency that has targeted much of the war-ravaged country's infrastructure, protecting the 10-story dam that provides electricity for a third of the country remains a priority.

The job is split between U.S. Marines and a company of soldiers from Azerbaijan.

The Marines, notoriously tough in their evaluation of other military forces, say the Azerbaijanis have been impressive with their discipline, respect for authority and careful handling of their weapons.

"If the Marines are an 8, the Azerbaijanis are at least a 4," said Sgt. Refugio Llamas, 38, of San Jose. "The Iraqis, well, they're not on the scale."

The Marines, members of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Regiment, a reserve unit from Houston, provide security to the area's towns and roadways. The Azerbaijanis, in their crisp tan and green field uniforms and pith helmets, are responsible for security inside the dam and within its fenced perimeter.

Each day, the Azerbaijanis search Iraqi dam workers as they arrive and leave. Some of the workers have made their displeasure known, but the soldiers appear unmoved.

"They don't like us," said Maj. Elkhan Shalbuzov, the top Azerbaijani officer. "Our soldiers tell them nothing. We are not here to talk to Arabian people but to catch terrorists."

Since gaining independence in 1991 from the former Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has made military service mandatory for young men and sent troops to Kosovo and Afghanistan. The U.S. has responded with military aid for the nation of about 8 million people.

Haditha, Iraq's second-largest hydroelectric dam, was a showpiece for the Hussein government. The structure was designed by Soviet engineers and built by 2,000 workers from Eastern Europe. After eight years, the first phase was completed in 1984.

During construction, the course of the Euphrates River was altered and archeological sites and small villages were flooded.

Before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, American officials worried that Iraqi forces would blow up the dam to swamp the region and slow the advance of coalition troops.

Officials now fear insurgents may strike Haditha to signal their determination and intimidate the populace.

No serious attempts to attack the dam have been made, though insurgents are active in the region, especially after a U.S.-led offensive in November drove many fighters out of Fallouja, 100 miles to the southeast.

Militants occasionally fire mortar shells at the dam, but the rounds fall hundreds of yards short.

A raid on an insurgent stronghold uncovered a diagram of the dam, its checkpoints and patrol routes.

Marines from the 4th Platoon of the Small Craft Company patrols the Euphrates and the dam's immense reservoir, Lake Qadisiya, in small watercraft. They recently discovered several caches of weapons and explosives along the banks of the river, within striking distance of the dam.

Days later, a squad was ambushed by insurgents while on patrol.

A lance corporal was killed and a captain lost an arm.

The river unit is constantly on patrol while the Azerbaijanis staff the lookout towers.

The two military units live on opposite sides of the dam but share a chow hall and Internet room.

The Azerbaijanis are polite but reserved, and there's little interaction between the two groups, as the chasm of language and culture appears to be too wide.

On the Marine side, signs of Texas are plentiful: a state flag above the dam and a "Texas Born, Texas Proud" sticker on the gun turret of a Humvee, among others. The Azerbaijanis watch their national equivalent of MTV.

The Americans and Azerbaijanis must use stairs: 290 of them in the structure.

Like much of the dam's internal operations, the elevators do not work.

Haditha shows the deterioration common to Iraqi infrastructure during the final years of Hussein's rule. Walls are moldy, some cracked and crumbling, and offices and workspaces smell of sulfur.

By one account, the structure was functioning at 30% capacity when the Army Rangers descended and rounded up the workers.

A $12-million improvement project was administered by Colorado-based CH2M Hill and overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers. Two turbines were rehabilitated and by last June, the dam was functioning at capacity for the first time since 1990, providing 660 megawatts of electricity.

The presence of the Azerbaijanis allows the Marines to launch missions in the countryside without worrying that insurgents might use their absence to attack the dam.

"No problem, we are here," said Azerbaijani Lt. Rashad Garayev.

New Radios Improve ANA Communications and Enhance Military Operations

Story and Photos by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mack Davis, Office of Military Cooperation – Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan—The Afghan National Army can now talk freely—from Kandahar, to Kabul, to Herat—thanks to recently received communication equipment that replaced Soviet-era radios and systems.

Implementing the new communications system was a complex task. Attempting to set up and manage all the different aspects of the country-wide tactical communication network was even more difficult, requiring the procurement and deployment of various equipment types; installation into different environments; and training for administrators, operators and maintainers.

The Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan assigned that task to its communication section in Kabul.

According to Sgt. 1st Class David Miller, an Army Reservist with the 3rd Battalion Signal Command, Anderson, Ind., and head of the OMC-A tactical communication section, “We are on track with what we have to complete. This is a challenge, but of a good sort. I thought I would be repairing radios here, and was surprised that I was honored to have such a high level of responsibility.”

In the past the ANA relied on older, Soviet-style radio equipment, the R130 and the R123 for high frequency and very high frequency communication. They also used the PRC-77—a man-pack short-range VHF radio the United States deployed during the Vietnam War era.

The difficulty was finding someone to conduct the training and maintain the radios once deployed.

According to Capt. Stephen Robinson, Alabama Army National Guardsman and embedded trainer during Coalition Joint Task Force Phoenix II, the Romanian Army used to provide some communications training and repair at the ANA’s Pol-e-Charki site.

“The biggest challenge for them was making daily repairs on the Soviet radios while trying to conduct training at the same time,” said Robinson. “Repair parts were almost non-existent, and the U.S. embedded trainers had never seen the radios before.”

Mixing Afghan soldiers, U.S. trainers, Romanian instructors, several interpreters and Soviet radios presented some challenges.

The first mission for the OMC-A communications team was to find a company that had some experience with similar circumstances. They assembled a summary task list of equipment and initiated a bid process in the United States. U.S. company Datron World Communications Inc. won the contract to provide communication equipment and training to the Afghan Army.

OMC-A chose four types of radios and repair part kits to give the army both long-range communication capabilities and squad-level abilities. The Datron RT7000 long-range high-frequency radio and the PRC-1099 man-portable HF radio will replace the R130 Soviet-style radios. These radios have the capability to communicate between Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Gardez and back to Central Corps in the Kabul area.

The Datron PRC-1077 man-pack radio and the PRC-1070 hand-held radios will be very high frequency and will complement the U.S. PRC-77. The ANA will use these radios for platoon and squad-level communications.

Maj. Brad Letner, Materiel Officer for OMC-A, said the U.S. government has spent $46.5 million dollars on radios and $1.7 million on repair parts for the Afghan National Army. The British Government provided an additional $6 million dollars.

Each of the repair part packets was put together to give the radios a 10-year serviceability.

After the equipment started arriving in Afghanistan it was time to begin the training process.

Robert Fable is the project coordinator for Datron in Afghanistan. A retired Marine master sergeant in the communication field, Fable has worked for Datron for four years.

Fable’s first visit to Afghanistan was in March 2004, when he set up Datron’s program. His first step was to develop administrator-level training, which focused on how to program the radios and properly deploy them for optimum use. Training included choosing the appropriate antenna, setting up communication networks and procedures for handling radio traffic. He also initiated operator-level training, primarily a non-technical approach to equipment use.

At the same time Fable was trying to get his training program off the ground, the U.S. embedded trainers and the ANA were deploying throughout Afghanistan.

Said Fable, “During the day I would teach one-week classes to the ANA on how to use the different types of radios, and at night I’d meet with the ETTs to bring them up-to-date on the equipments’ capabilities.” One key difference between the older radios and the new Datron equipment was the new radios are digital.

Fable continued to work almost around the clock in Afghanistan until June 2004, training 100 ANA soldiers and many U.S. advisors. While “a lot of the Afghan men do not have a formal education,” said Fable, “They are really sharp and pick up on the equipment. They have a genuine interest on learning the radios so they can do their jobs.”

Because of the tremendous growth in the Afghan Army, Fable has returned again to train the ANA soldiers. During the next five months, Fable will concentrate on intermediate and depot-level maintenance courses.

To maintain the equipment throughout its lifespan, the Afghan Army and the Ministry of Defense will have to be able to troubleshoot and repair the Datron radios. Saad Forouk, Afghan Ministry of Defense Communication Officer, said, “I welcome the training we are receiving. It will be my office that will be responsible for the fault identification and advanced trouble repairs, and I want to learn all I can while the instructor is here.”

The ANA has used the radios in Afghanistan since March 2004, allowing Fable to concentrate repair training on faults appearing in the field environment. He has prepared the ANA to sustain the equipment in the future, through train-the-trainer programs. While the Ministry of Defense will provide some future training, future communication mobile training teams from the United States will include classes on the Datron radio as part of their Signal Course.

Whether calling in reports from Kandahar to the Central Corps in Kabul, or calling for additional troops when quelling a riot in Herat, the Afghan soldiers will have the equipment to enable their efforts to provide peace and security to the people of Afghanistan.

The Bayji power plant supplies 270 megawatts of power to the Iraqi power grid. Photo by Harry Weddington

Engineers Work Together to Improve Iraq's Power Production

American Forces Press Service

March 28, 2005 – As March draws to a close, temperatures in Iraq are on the rise. Getting more electricity on the national grid is of foremost concern as the summer months draw near. An international team of engineers and technical professionals at the Bayji power plant has spent the past nine months working to get an additional 270 megawatts of power on the grid, which is enough energy to power more than 200,000 Iraqi homes and businesses.

The Bayji power plant supplies 270 megawatts of power to the Iraqi power grid. Photo by Harry Weddington (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

In April 2004, a $64 million contract was awarded to Odebrecht-Austin, Joint Venture to rehabilitate two gas turbine units, each capable of generating 135 megawatts of power. After months of hard work, the units had “first fires” Feb. 25 and March 11 and started applying power to the national grid March 3 and 16. Final reliability tests are being performed, and the project will be transferred to the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity this month, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said.

OAJV began work at Bayji in June 2004. The plant, which is located along the Tigris River, is a central location for oil lines and 400 kilovolt transmission lines that feed electricity to various parts of the country.

“This site is ideal for refurbishing and increasing the reliability of current power generation,” said Bob Kennedy, resident engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Kennedy’s background in electrical engineering was heavily utilized during the rehab. As the resident engineer, he provides construction oversight and quality assurance. The project’s intent was to restore the two units to a level where power could be generated on a reliable basis, he explained.

“The overall objective is to increase power output and capacity through immediate rehabilitation of this plant,” Kennedy said. “The project includes the assessment, replacement and rehabilitation of all essential generation components, fuel infrastructure, substations and transmission lines, subordinate equipment, transformers, electrical switchgears and other devices necessary for the production of reliable power for Iraq.”

When the contractor’s personnel arrived, they found only a shell, Kennedy explained. The turbines were only partially constructed, and the plant had been abandoned for four years. Project materials sat unused for several years, and some had been removed and used elsewhere.

The project has employed as many as 1,100 Iraqis, and workers from all around the world have contributed. The project has been an international effort among Americans, Brazilians, Canadians, Chileans, Colombians, English, Germans, Indians, Iraqis, Irish, Jordanians, Scots, and Turks, Kenney said. “Together they have all worked as a team, fully committed to Bayji. They turned many obstacles around and overcame daily challenges.”

The Bayji area and the pipeline around the plant have been targets for the insurgency, Kennedy explained. When insurgents attacked an oil pipeline near Bayji, a picture Kennedy took of the resulting fire reached the Pentagon several hours later and was used to brief President Bush. The oil fire burned through a 400-kilovolt line, which fell into the river and created a cascading effect, causing 90 percent of the power in the country to “trip off line,” Kennedy said.

Company officials expressed pride in their work on the project. “We are proud of our contribution to the improved living conditions of so many people, as well as the trust of our client on our ability to deliver in such a harsh environment,” said Paulo Suffredini, executive vice president with OAJV.

Completion of the contract required expertise in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as tenacity and lots of hard work. The contractor was able to move around the axiom, “You can’t do things quickly in Iraq,” Kennedy said.

“The Odebrecht materials manager could get almost anything from anywhere to this plant in several days,” he said. “On several occasions he got replacement electronic modules from Germany in less than 24 hours. The project team constantly adapted to meet the needs of the moment and had a great management team.”

Now that the project is complete, Kennedy, who arrived at Bayji in September, is preparing to leave for his next assignment. “This is exactly what I was looking to do to help the Iraqi people,” he said. “When I get home after my 13 month tour, I will go home knowing I have done something useful for mankind and my Iraqi friends. This was truly an experience of a lifetime.”

Since the “Restore Iraqi Electricity” mission began in late 2003, over 1,900 megawatts of power have been added to the national grid, enough to service 5.4 million Iraqi homes. Over 1,400 electrical towers and 8,600 kilometers of transmission lines have been installed and over $4 billion have been allocated from the U.S. supplemental to address the electrical system improvements.

The successful rehabilitation of units 3 and 4 has added an additional 10 percent to the Iraqi grid, Suffredini said. “The project will provide for substantial easing of living conditions for the Iraqi people,” he said. “We are proud of what we have accomplished here.”

(Nicole Dalrymple works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Northern District.)

U.S. Army Col. Michael Chesney, director of the Joint Effects Assessment Cell for Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, hands a young Afghan boy a backpack full of school supplies during a March 27, 2005, visit to Khoshal Khan Boarding School in Kabul, Afghanistan, while the school's principal, Gul Ahmad Waziri, right, checks the boy's name off from his list. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel

Coalition Efforts Benefit Kuchi Students

After two decades of war, enrollment at the Khoshal Khan boarding school for boys fell to five students; now, however, the school boasts an enrollment of 1,030 students.

By U.S.Army Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel
105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KABUL, Afghanistan, March 28, 2005 — Representatives of the Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan Joint Effects Assessment Cell set out March 27 to effect change for some students of the Khoshal Khan Boarding School here.

And if smiles, handshakes and hugs were any indication, their mission was a tremendous success.

Nine members of the Effects Cell, which includes Information Operations, Psychological Operations and Political Military Operations, joined with representatives from the Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan Operations Department and the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan to deliver 275 backpacks filled with school supplies as a gesture of goodwill and to learn more about the Afghan culture.

“Many of us have children back home and miss our time with them,” said Capt. Chris Crosby of Castle Rock, Wash., one of the event organizers and a member of the Effects Cell.

“Opportunities to share with other children help us to suppress our feelings of being away from our families. In addition, we are only here a short while and desire to make an enduring difference in the relations between the United States and the people of Afghanistan,” Crosby added. “How else can we demonstrate our goodwill than by assisting the children and the helpless?”

Khoshal Khan is an all-boys boarding school for students in grades six through 12 on the outskirts of Kabul. It was established in 1948 for children of the Kuchi tribe, a nomadic people whose tribes are scattered throughout Afghanistan.

“I sincerely appreciate your help and your assistance with the school,” school principal Gul Ahmad Waziri

The Kuchi children attend school from March through December, while their parents travel the countryside allowing the families’ livestock to graze.

More than 5,000 students attended the school from 1948 through 2004. But more than two decades of war took their toll; toward the end of the wartorn period, the school was serving only five students.

Today, the school boasts an enrollment of 1,030 students with another 600 arriving soon, according to Gul Ahmad Waziri, the school’s principal.

“I sincerely appreciate your help and your assistance with the school,” Waziri told the U.S. servicemembers soon after their arrival. “As you are aware, the war has torn apart our country and we are trying to get through this transition period the best we can.”

Col. Michael Chesney of Carlisle Barracks, Pa., the Effects director, told the principal he looked forward to meeting some of the students and faculty because “we believe this is where the future of Afghanistan lies.”

“We’d like to see educational opportunities available to everyone eventually,” he said.

Last summer, the National Provincial Reconstruction Team, a civil affairs operation based in Kabul and belonging to Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan, conducted an assessment of the Khoshal Khan Boarding School and later donated $700,000 for improvements to the school.

Those improvements included the installation of electricity and running water, three newly remodeled dormitories with indoor bathrooms and showers, 15 classrooms that can hold up to 80 students each, a library, an administration building and a dining facility.

The efforts of the National Provincial Reconstruction Team culminated with a grand reopening of the school on Jan. 15. Since then, the school has become part of the command's community outreach program, where servicemembers volunteer their personal time to serve the community.

Crosby said he and a colleague, Maj. Rob Earl of Brandon, Fla., gained interest in the project after attending a community outreach meeting about four weeks ago.

Members of the Joint Effects Assessment Cell from Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan hand out stuffed animals to faculty members of the Khoshal Khan Boarding School to be given away to their to their students during a March 27, 2005, humanitarian assistance mission to the school in which 275 backpacks full of supplies were also given away. The stuffed animals were donated by the students of Gwin Oaks Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Ga. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel

“We chose the Kuchi School because we call ourselves Kuchis,” he said. “Since our arrival at Camp Eggers, we have moved five times and have shared desks and worked out of the coffee shop.

“From this experience, we have some affection for the nomadic wanderers of Afghanistan. As it turned out, our cultural advisor also worked with this school after its near destruction following years of war.”

Not only did Crosby and Earl volunteer to assist the Kuchi School, they also proposed the Effects Cell adopt the school as a community outreach project. Chesney would later vow his complete support for the entire directorate.

Once onboard, Effects personnel set aside time on Thursday nights to pack the school kits in the Pool House Conference Room.

By involving others such as Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan Capt. David Betz of Spring Grove, Pa., and Maj. Jimmie James of Wasilla, Alaska, Sgt. 1st Class Reggie Cyrus of Oakland, Calif., and Staff Sgt. Richard Silvano of Albany, N.Y., all from the Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan Operations Department, Crosby said he hoped to create a desire in the servicemembers to take on other volunteer projects like this one.

“There are a number of schools, orphanages, hospitals and daycares in need of support,” he said. “The time spent by our soldiers interacting with the children and needy will break down cultural stereotypes and demonstrate the good hearts of the American people.”

Sher Ahmad, cultural advisor for the Effects Cell, said all the materials given away on the March 27 visit were donated from individuals and family members of servicemembers from the United States.

Crosby said those gifts have created a conduit between the families and friends back home and the people of Afghanistan. “We are all working together to restore Afghanistan,” he said. “These efforts will make a direct impact on the minds of children that may be swayed by extremist organizations in the future.

“The goodwill of our service members ties our cultures togetherwith a bond of friendship.”

Also participating in the humanitarian mission from the command were: Staff Sgt. Greggory Zeliff of Whitefish, Mont.; Sgt. Joel Tavolacci of Fredericksburg, Va.; Sgt. Buffy Schmidt of South Haven, Minn.; Maj. Donald P. Taylor of Stafford, Va.; and Maj. Allison Stewart of Zephyr Hills, Fla.

Army National Guard Retention Rate Increases

3/28/2005 - National Guard Bureau News

By Master Sgt. Bob Haskell

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard has retained 73 percent more soldiers during the past three months than it retained during the same period last year, officials reported on Good Friday.

That was the good news from people like Army Guard Maj. Gregg Bliss and Maj. Ronald Lee Jr. who are responsible for keeping Soldiers in the Guard. Bliss is chief of the Retention Branch for the Army Guard. Lee is the Incentives Program Manager for the Strength Maintenance Division.

They are among the Recruiting and Retention people who are striving to make sure the Army Guard meets its goal of 350,000 Soldiers by Oct. 1.

Those men credit this year’s significant increase in reenlistment bonuses and the retention teams currently serving with Guard Soldiers in combat zones as among the reasons why many more men and women are remaining in the Guard during the global war on terrorism.

The bonuses (related story) have been increased from the maximum amount of $5,000 to as much as $15,000 for Soldiers who reenlist or extend their periods of service by six years.

“We want to keep our Soldiers. We’re putting our money where our mouth is,” said LTG H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, when he announced the increase in bonuses in mid-December.

The retention numbers have more than doubled since then. Lee reported that 3,106 more Guard Soldiers reenlisted from Dec. 14, 2004 to March 25, 2005, than reenlisted during the same time in 2003-04.

The total was 5,388 reenlistments for the most recent quarter, when the maximum bonuses have been $15,000, as opposed to 2,282 reenlistments for the same quarter during the previous year, when the maximum bonuses were $5,000, he said.

“The new bonuses have been a great tool for retaining our force,” Lee said. “The impact is about on line with where I thought it would be. I suspected we’d get a pretty high reenlistment rate. A lump sum payment of $15,000 is pretty significant.”

The Army Guard now offers a lump sum payment of $15,000 to Soldiers who reenlist or extend for six years. It also offers an option of two, three-year bonuses. Reenlisting Soldiers can receive a lump sum of $7,500 for the first three years and $6,000 for the second three years.

“Our challenge is to get the bonuses where we need them and not break the bank,” Lee added.

He cited three reasons for the success.

-- The maximum bonuses have been increased from $5,000 to $15,000.

-- The maximum number of years of service for which Guard Soldiers are eligible for these bonuses have been increased from 14 to 16.

-- Soldiers who have already received one reenlistment bonus can get another bonus for reenlisting again.

More money is available for other incentives, such as the G.I. Bill for Soldiers who wish to continue their education, said Lee who explained his budget for all incentives is $307 million for this fiscal year compared to $229.5 million for 2004.

Most of the Soldiers who reenlist are considered careerists, men and women who have stayed in beyond their initial eight-year obligation because they like serving their country and because they can eventually collect retirement pay.

“Historically, we have retained 80 percent of our careerists and 65 percent of our obligors,” Bliss reported.

He cited other factors that are also working in the Army Guard’s favor.

The number of recruiters has been increased from 2,700 to 4,100. That means there are more people on duty to recruit new Soldiers and work with those who are thinking about leaving the Guard.

Cells of retention Soldiers have been deployed to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan to encourage Soldiers whose enlistments are nearing an end to remain in the Guard after they return to their homes.

Leaders are listening to the families’ comments about why the Soldiers are getting out, and they are addressing those concerns.

“It helps with retention to identify and do something about the factors that keep people from reenlisting,” Bliss said.

“We’ve gotten a lot smarter about keeping Soldiers,” he added. “Therefore, more are staying in to take advantage of the incentives that are available to them.”

Gunnery Sgt. Arthur Avitia, II, CMOC operations chief, 5th CAG, (center) checks ID cards on March 26, 2005 while Chief Joe Segar, Navy Seabee project manager (left), waits to escort an interpreter and an Iraqi.

Reserve Marines Reach out to Fallujah

Story by Capt. Julianne H. Sohn

CIVIL MILITARY OPERATIONS CENTER, Fallujah, Iraq -- The line of local Iraqis sometimes stretches to the main street in front of the Civil Military Operations Center, but the Marines, soldiers and sailors here do their best to address their needs.

Gunnery Sgt. Arthur Avitia, II, a Flagstaff, Ariz., resident and the CMOC operations chief, 5th Civil Affairs Group, greets everyone at the door with a smile.

“I’m like the ramrod during working hours,” said Avitia, 40, who is a reserve Marine and is an Arizona Highway Patrol trooper. “I greet people at the hatch, direct them to meetings and set things up. I kind of do a little of everything.”

The CMOC is a hub of activity on most days. It is a meeting hall for local leaders, an identification badge center and a venue where residents go for help. Recently it was the site of the first compensation payments for those whose homes were damaged during Operation Al Fajr.

“There are important meetings going on here with people trying to govern their city,” said Avitia, who has spent a total of 22 years in the Marine Corps. “It shows how important the CMOC is to help rebuild the city.”

Avitia supervises the day-to-day operations at the CMOC and works with Marines like Lance Cpl. Jacob H. Rodrigues-Pereira, 23, a Springfield, Va. resident.

Rodriguez-Pereira, who joined the Marine Corps due in part to September 11th, stands near the door one morning and is one of the Marines who provides security for all the people using the compound.

“We get to have a lot of interaction with the local Iraqis,” Rodrigues-Pereira, who majored in Economics at George Mason University prior to deploying with 5th CAG. “We get to meet the movers and shakers.”

Like most of the Marines at the CMOC, Rodrigues-Pereira said he enjoyed working here.

“I think everyone is learning a lot out here,” he said. “I’m even learning a little Arabic.”

The Marines get lessons in Arabic by interpreters like Raad Yousif, 49, a Baghdad resident. Interpreters facilitate the work between the Marines, soldiers and sailors at the local Iraqis.

“We can’t go the next step until we work together,” said Yousif, who learned English by watching movies.

And that is what Lt. Col. William M. Brown, CMOC director, 5th CAG, is working to build.

“The people of Fallujah wouldn’t come here if they didn’t think we would listen, help them and keep the safe,” said Brown, 40, a Milford, Ct. native.

Brown is responsible for all the CMOC does and fails to do and his biggest focus is on safety for those in the building and being available to the locals. Iraqis have a clear sense of structure because everyone belongs to a tribe and so if someone wants something done, they go straight to the chief, said Brown.

Lt. Col. William M. Brown, CMOC director, works on his computer in the center's Combat Operations Center.

“We want them to have direct access to me, because they understand our rank structure,” said Brown, who spent about seven years on active duty and is now a reserve Marine and assistant U.S. Attorney.

And many people do come to Brown to help solve problems and to get things done. He attends all the major meetings and works with the local Iraqi community leaders such as sheiks, lawyers, judges and government officials to rebuild Fallujah.

But before all this happens, the local Iraqis have to come through the front door where Avitia stands like a traffic cop at the gate with the Marines of 5th CAG.

“The CMOC is a focal point,” said Avitia. “It brings together people to rebuild the city.”

MWSS-271 techs make it happen on the tarmac

Submitted by: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story Identification #: 200532683410
Story by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 26, 2005) -- The expeditionary airfield technicians of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 work daily to ensure every aspect of the airfield, from arresting equipment to runway lighting, is operational to support the aircrews here.

"We do anything and everything on the airfield," said Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Fox, expeditionary airfield technician and native of Rio Linda, Calif. "Everything from the lighting and markings, to maintaining the recovery equipment and repairing the surface of the runway. We have even chased wild dogs off the runway and out of the path of jets taking off."

Although the runways and taxi strips are now suitable for most types of aircraft in the military, expeditionary airfield Marines from different squadrons have worked extremely hard to take the dilapidated airfield to where it is today.

Lance Cpl. Barrett A. Crow, who is on his second deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, said the airfield has come a long way since his time here last year.

"At that time, there was only one section of the runway that was usable," said the expeditionary airfield technician and native of Mesquite, Texas. "Since that time we have repaired numerous holes and cracks, set up permanent lighting and remarked most of the runways and taxi strips."

One of the most critical roles the Marines play in supporting the airfield is maintaining and operating the expeditionary arresting gear, a machine that acts as a catching device for drop-hook aircraft. Like a jet landing on an aircraft carrier, the gear allows aircraft to land on expeditionary airfields in emergency and poor weather situations.

"When you have a human life depending on that gear to stop their jet, you do everything you can to ensure it is going to work," Crow said. "We check and maintain our systems every day."

In addition to the arresting gear, the Marines contribute by spraying dust abating materials to prevent "brown-out" conditions from airborne dust and debris caused by aircraft landing and taking off.

"The dust-abatement treatments greatly improve the visibility and safety for pilots," said Cpl. Brian D. Van Gilder, expeditionary airfield technician and native of Adamstown, Md. "Since we've been here, we have sprayed thousands of gallons to ensure that the pilots can see and have safe conditions to land in."

With all they do for the airfield in support of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), the expeditionary airfield Marines are vital to the success of the mission.

"I'm proud to be out here, this is what we have trained to do," Van Gilder said. "What we do is necessary to the success of the mission here, and it's great to be doing my part."

Sunni Arab lawmaker Meshaan al-Jubouri speaks with reporters after leaving the National Assembly session in Baghdad, Iraq Tuesday, March 29, 2005. Shouting from their seats, lawmakers failed to agree on a parliament speaker during their second-ever National Assembly meeting Tuesday, with wrangling over bringing in Sunni Arabs, a step officials hope will quell the Sunni-led insurgency, prolonging already tortuous talks on forming a new government.(AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Iraq Lawmakers Fail to Agree on Speaker

By MARIAM FAM, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's fledgling parliament failed Tuesday to agree on who would be its speaker, with the interim prime minister and president storming out of the chaotic session that exposed deep divides among the National Assembly's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish members.

The short session — mostly held behind closed doors after leaders kicked out reporters and cut off a live television feed — adjourned until this weekend.

Hussein al-Sadr, a Shiite cleric and member of interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's coalition, said the parliament speaker likely would be chosen Sunday, giving Sunni Arab lawmakers time to come up with a candidate.

"We saw that things were confused today, so we gave them a last chance," al-Sadr said. "We expect the Sunni Arab brothers to nominate their candidate. Otherwise, we will vote on a candidate on Sunday."

Nearly two months after Iraq's historic Jan. 30 elections, negotiations to form a new government have stalled over Cabinet posts and how to include the fragile nation's Sunni minority — dominant under former dictator Saddam Hussein and believed to make up the core of the ongoing insurgency.

The bickering exposed tensions in the newly formed parliament, with Allawi storming out of the session, followed by interim President Ghazi al-Yawer, a Sunni Arab who turned down the speaker's job.

"What are we going to tell the citizens who sacrificed their lives and cast ballots on Jan. 30?" al-Sadr said earlier.

Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni representatives were trying to come up with a Sunni Arab candidate that legislators promised would be announced during Tuesday's session.

Once it began after a three-hour delay, however, lawmakers immediately began arguing over whether to delay their decision, and the leader of the session decided to kick reporters and cameras out and close the meeting to the public.

"We demand to know the details of what's happening behind the scenes!" one woman shouted before the live television feed of the gathering went blank.

Sunni Arab lawmaker Meshaan al-Jubouri called for a decision, saying: "There are voices calling for electing the speaker today. This cannot be."

"This is ridiculous," he said as he left the meeting hall.

Negotiators were lobbying al-Yawer to take the speaker's job.

"We have apologized for practical reasons," said al-Yawer, who is seeking one of the country's two vice presidential spots. "With the small number of Sunni Arabs in the assembly, this post won't put us in a position to strike a balance."

Critics of the process say the Sunni Arab candidates being discussed for government posts have no influence on the insurgency, and their participation is unlikely to affect it.

Some explosions were heard in Baghdad on Tuesday, where officials had warned residents to prepare for stepped up insurgent attacks. It was unclear if they caused any damage. During the first National Assembly meeting, on March 16, militants lobbed mortar rounds at the heavily fortified Green Zone in the city's center, where lawmakers held their meeting.

Violence also continued in the rest of the country, with a car bombing in the northern city of Kirkuk that killed one person and injured more than a dozen others, police said.

Three Romanian journalists were kidnapped Monday near their hotel, their employers said. They were identified as reporter Marie Jeanne Ion, 32, and cameraman Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, 30, of Bucharest-based television station Prima TV, and Romania Libera newspaper reporter Ovidiu Ohanesian, 37.

The three disappeared shortly after an interview with Allawi, said Petre Mihai Bacanu, managing editor of Romania Libera.

Romanian President Traian Basescu made a surprise visit Sunday to Iraq, where the country has 800 troops.

French authorities, meanwhile, have received "reassuring information" about a French journalist and her guide who are being held hostage, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told lawmakers in Paris.

"We now have contacts that appear to have stabilized, which allows us to have some hope," Raffarin said.

Florence Aubenas, of the daily newspaper Liberation, and her Iraqi guide, Hussein Hanoun, were kidnapped Jan. 5. The first public sign of life came March 1 with the release of a video showing a pale Aubenas pleading for help.

The Shiite-led United Iraqi Alliance and the Kurdish coalition, which finished first and second in the landmark elections, have reached out to the Sunnis and to members of Allawi's coalition, hoping to form an inclusive national unity government.

But haggling over the level of participation of the Sunnis, as well as jockeying for Cabinet posts and efforts to resolve differences between the various groups, have left Iraq without a government almost two months after the 275-member National Assembly was elected. Lawmakers have until mid-August to draft a permanent constitution.

The assembly will name a president and two deputies, who in turn will nominate a prime minister. The presidency is expected to go to Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani and the prime minister's post to Shiite politician Ibrahim al-Jaafari — but the exact timeline is unclear.

Some Iraqis have expressed frustration with the drawn-out talks, which critics argued reflected the nature of sectarian politics in the new Iraq. Many Sunnis boycotted the election or stayed away out of fear of attacks. But some have had a change of heart after the vote was touted as a success.

Naseer al-Ani of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a main Sunni group, said the limited options facing the Sunnis — who only have a few members in the assembly — contributed to the delay.

Al-Ani's party dealt a blow to the election process when it withdrew from the race, but it is now participating in talks and wants to help draft the constitution.

Issues such as how many and which ministries should go to the Sunni Arabs, as well as the names of candidates for these posts and for vice presidents, remained unresolved. Some Sunni legislators want the same number of Cabinet posts as the Kurds.

Together, the alliance and the Kurds have 215 seats in parliament — enough to make key decisions. But their members say it would be shortsighted to go it alone, adding they are against marginalizing any of the country's groups.

___

Associated Press reporter Sinan Salaheddin contributed to this report.

Outgoing Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (L) speaks with his deputy Barham Salih. Iraq's parliament, meeting for only the second time since landmark elections two months ago, failed to pick a new speaker as Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish politicians bickered over cabinet posts.(AFP/Karim Sahib)

Iraqi Parliament fails to agree on Speaker

Iraq's Parliament erupted in acrimony at its second sitting on Tuesday and journalists were thrown out after lawmakers berated leaders for failing to agree on a new government, just two months after historic elections.

When parliamentarians were told that despite last-minute talks that delayed the session no agreement had been reached, even on the post of parliamentary Speaker, several stood up to say leading politicians were letting down the Iraqi people.

"The Iraqi people who defied the security threats and voted, what shall we tell them? What is the reason for this delay?" Hussein al-Sadr, a politician in the bloc led by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, asked the Assembly.

As the meeting grew heated, the Interim Speaker ordered journalists to leave and Iraqi television abruptly switched to Arab music.

Mr Allawi walked out of the session shortly afterwards.

"You can say we are in a crisis," Barham Salih, a leading Kurdish politician, told reporters.

Ahead of the meeting blasts echoed across central Baghdad and a militant group said in an Internet statement it had fired four mortars into the fortified Green Zone where politicians were meeting.

There were no reports of damage.

Two months after more than eight million Iraqis braved suicide bombers and insurgent threats to vote in the January 30 polls, many are increasingly angry that despite intensive haggling no agreement has been reached on forming a government.

"It is a farce," 30-year-old taxi driver Mohammed Ahmed Ali said.

"If they couldn't form a government 'til now, how will they lead a country?"

Fighting

The mainly Shiite Islamist alliance, which holds just over half the seats, and the Kurdish coalition that came second in the polls, have been arguing for weeks on a Cabinet line-up.

They have been trying also to involve Sunni Arabs, who dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein but have been left with little representation because most voters in Sunni Arab areas stayed away from the polls due to intimidation and anger.

But no deal has been reached.

Several government officials say the delay has stalled key projects, deepened chaos and hampered efforts to defeat the mainly Sunni insurgency.

Political chaos also dents Washington's plans to increasingly hand over security to Iraqi forces and cut back foreign troops.

Officials said Parliament would meet again to try to agree on a Speaker next week, possibly on Sunday.

The Shiite Islamist alliance and the Kurdish coalition have agreed that the Speaker should be a Sunni Arab, to give the Sunni minority more involvement in politics.

Most of the 17 Sunni Arabs in the 275-member Parliament favour Adnan al-Janabi as their candidate, but he is an ally of Mr Allawi.

Mr Allawi is a secular Shiite who has so far declined to join the Government, saying his bloc will move into opposition.

The Shiite Islamist alliance is backing Fawaz al-Jarba, a Sunni who joined their bloc.

But other Sunnis are against this as he is seen as too close to the Shiite alliance.

Some Sunnis Arabs said that if Mr Jarba was pushed through as Speaker, which the Shiites could do with their parliamentary majority, they would walk out of Parliament, leaving attempts to draw them into politics in tatters.

Long road ahead

Once a Speaker is agreed, the National Assembly's next task will be to elect a president and two vice presidents.

A two-thirds majority is needed for that, which will mean the Shiites and Kurds must reach a deal to muster enough votes.

The presidential triumvirate will then have two weeks to choose a prime minister, who will then appoint a Cabinet.

The Shiites and Kurds have broad agreement that Shiite Ibrahim Jaafari will be the next prime minister, with veteran Kurdish politician Jalal Talabani taking the president's post.

But officials have not agreed on the distribution of Cabinet posts.

The Kurds are expected to retain the Foreign Ministry, with the Defence Ministry going to a Sunni Arab.

But the key Oil Ministry is a source of disagreement. The Kurds covet it, but the Shiite alliance insists it should get the ministry.

Violence

Meanwhile, insurgents have pressed on with their campaign of violence.

Three Romanian journalists - Marie Jeanne Ion and Sorin Miscoci of Prima TV and Ovidiu Ohanesian of Libera newspaper - were kidnapped in Iraq on Monday.

Ms Ion's mother told Romanian television her daughter sent a text message from her mobile telephone saying: "We're kidnapped. This is not a joke."

In Kirkuk, a car bomb has exploded near an Iraqi army patrol and the convoy of a local official.

One person was killed and 15 were wounded.

- Reuters

The head of the Iraqi National Congress Ahmad al-Chalabi listens to a reporter's question during the second session of the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, March 29, 2005. Prime Minister Iyad Allawi walked out of a meeting of Iraq's parliament on Tuesday after angry scenes erupted, with assembly members berating Shi'ite and Kurdish leaders for failing to agree on a government. REUTERS/Ceerwan Aziz

Iraqi Finance Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi arrives at the parliament's session in Baghdad, March 29, 2005. Iraqi politicians delayed the start of a session of parliament on Tuesday for last-minute talks to try to overcome a damaging impasse over forming a government two months after historic elections. The Shi'ite official Abdul Mahdi is expected to be the country's next President. REUTERS/Ceerwan Aziz

Hussein al-Shahristani, a Shi'ite nuclear scientist, speaks to reporters regarding the delay of the Iraqi parliament session in Baghdad March 29, 2005. Iraqi politicians delayed the start of a session of parliament on Tuesday for last-minute talks to try to overcome a damaging impasse over forming a government two months after historic elections. Al-Shahristani, who spent 12 years in Saddam Hussein's jails, was expected to be named as one of the deputy speakers. REUTERS/Ceerwan Aziz

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