Posted on 11/23/2005 3:23:33 PM PST by SandRat
TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 23, 2005) -- The Iraqi government took control of Saddam Hussein’s palace complex in Tikrit from U.S. coalition forces during a ceremony Nov. 22 which continued despite a dud round fired by terrorists.
Terrorists fired what officials called "unidentified explosive ordnance" that impacted about 300 yards from the ceremony. The projectile failed to explode, and no one was injured in the incident, officials said. The ceremony halted only briefly, they said, and was completed without further disruption.
This was the 25th coalition operating base turned over to the people of Iraq so far, officials said, adding that the Tikrit palace complex is the most significant. The complex is on more than 1,000 acres of land along the Tigris River. There are 136 buildings on the property, with a combined 1.5 million square feet of administrative and living space.
The palace complex has been used by three different U.S. Army units as a forward operating base since 2003.
“Now it is the property of the Iraqi people,” said Hamad Hamood Shekti, governor of the Salah Ad Din Province. “Tourists will be allowed to see the palaces.”
Col. Mark McKnight, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, handed the “key to the palace” to Shekti during the ceremony, signifying the release of U.S. control.
“The passing of this facility is a simple ceremony that vividly demonstrates the continuing progress being made by the Iraqi government and their people,” McKnight said.
“Two years ago, coalition forces fought to rid this nation of an oppressive regime. Since that time, coalition forces… have resided on FOB Danger, working alongside Iraqis to protect the four provinces of north-central Iraq,” McKnight added.
The province was and will stay “a symbol of national unity and brotherhood in Iraq” Shekti said.
“[Today], we celebrate the transfer of the presidential palaces to the patriotic Iraqi hands, signifying the many aspirations and goals of the great citizens of the Salah Ad Din province,” Shekti said.
Shekti said he looks forward to Iraq’s independence, when all multi-national forces are able to leave Iraq, and wants to prove the people of Iraq can manage their issues independently.
“These palaces are owned by not one person anymore,” he said, “and no one will be prevented from entering them in the future, because now it is the property of the Iraqi people.”
The palace complex was initially secured by the 4th Infantry Division in 2003 and designated as Camp Iron Horse during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Saddam Hussein was captured near Camp Iron Horse in December 2003.
The base was redesignated FOB Danger once it came under the control of the 1st Infantry Division out of Wurzburg, Germany.
The 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit based in New York, took over the FOB Feb. 14, and in July, began the process of returning the complex to the Iraqi people.
Many Iraqi officials attended the momentous event, including Lt. Gen. Shahid Aziz, commander of the 4th Iraqi Army; Rasheed Ahmad, chairman of the Salah Ad Din provincial council; and Judge Abd al Hussein Shandal, the minister of justice. U.S. Ambassador Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. George Casey, commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq were also in attendance.
(Editor's note: Information provided by Task Force Band of Brothers, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs and a report by the American Forces Press Service.)
Tikrit under Iraqi Control; the Good ones on our side.
Our guys are doing an EXCELLENT job. The people inside the beltway that want to cut and run can go to #$%%. God Bless America and ALL of our people in country.
Obviously, we are in a deep quagmire.
Fantastic news....the Iraqis have been taught how to get their land and lives back....now they need to put those lessons to good use. Thanks to the 4th Infantry Division, the 1st Infantry Division out of Wurzburg, Germany, and the 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit based in New York.
Isn't that the truth. IMO the left is scared to death that by election day 2006, we'll be 75% out of Iraq headed for 100% My how that's going to deflate the disinformation campaign.
25 coalition bases now under Iraqi control. Anybody know how many bases we have there total? (probably classified, guess I'll have to ask Scooter Libby)
I was wondering the same thing myself.
I honestly don't know how many bases there are.
What I think is interesting, is that it might tick off a lot of Iraqis if this base were attacked by the terrorists and damaged.
I think that a lot of people--especially the ones who only follow MSM--will have a pleasant surprise next year when even the worst of the worst of the critics are forced to admit that this war was actually won. Not only won, but we'll be leaving the area with a much more reasonable form of government.
That may be a bit optimistic, but I bet you will be at least 50%
Their next "talking point" will be why are we not at 100% out.
The truth is, we will never be out 100% aka: Germany, Japan, Korea, Bosnia. As compared to the current "occupation" Iraq is a place we need to stay for about 20 years
That Old axiom will always apply to the dims: ""history starts all over again every day and people are whatever they say they are".
50% may be more like it. That's okay with me. As for 100%, I agree. That's okay as well. We won't be there if the Iraqi government doesn't want us there. And they won't, if the general poplace doesn't.
I really do hope we have troops there for 20 years or more (like Germany & Japan). What I would also like to see is that Iraq turns out to be a duty post where the troops can have their families with them (again, like Germany & Japan).
And, yes, I do know that some Germans and Japanese are ready for us to leave completely. But the argument is diplomatic, not threatening.
Staying in Japan makes sense do to the Taiwan / China situation
Germany makes sense only for the beer!!!
I'm sure this made the lead story on all the network news.
Murtha will see this as further evidence that we are losing the war.
That's probably not to far off.
Their next "talking point" will be why are we not at 100% out.
The truth is, we will never be out 100% aka: Germany, Japan, Korea, Bosnia. As compared to the current "occupation" Iraq is a place we need to stay for about 20 years 50 % sounds about right to me, with most of those being air assets operating from bases in Iraq as well as bases in neighboring countries. In this article, I contend that the situation in Iraq will soon be changing, and that the Democrats and the MSM know this and are trying to turn victory into defeat because they know it is a fatal blow to them as the situation in Iraq changes. Troops coming home, causalities coming way down and Iraqis taking control of their country will all be arriving just as the 06 elections start to ramp up.
All of them are bad for the Dem's.
This is gonna be gooooooood.
Cheers,
knews hound
http://knewshound.blogspot.com/
BTTT
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