U.S. Troops Restore Base to Hand Back to Iraqis

Defend America News ^ | Spc. L.C. Campbell

[SandRat]

U.S. Troops Restore Base to Hand Back to Iraqis

U.S. soldiers are restoring the main palace on Forward Operating Base Courage
in preparation to hand it back over to the Iraqi people later this summer.

By U.S. Army Spc. L.C. Campbell
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq, May 26, 2006 — U.S. soldiers assigned to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team are restoring the main palace on Forward Operating Base Courage, Mosul, Iraq, in preparation to hand it back over to the Iraqi people later this summer.

From squad automatic weapon gunners, to rifleman, to grenadiers, these soldiers have been pulled from their jobs in the infantry to complete the task of restoring the grounds on the forward operating base. Their main focus for now is tearing down all the offices and cubicles to restore the inside of the main palace.

“Currently we have been breaking down the main palace,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Logan Vann, mayor cell clearing team and noncommissioned officer in charge. “We have been breaking down walls, offices, and furniture.”

According to Vann, the main focus point for the past month and half is the main palace, and they plan to have the palace finished by next month.

“We need to ensure that it is in the same condition as when we arrived,” said Vann. “We are doing our best to make sure that it looks good."

The palace was first used in 2003 as the headquarters for
the 101st Airborne Division. The palace served as the last

“We need to ensure that [the palace] is in the same condition as when we arrived. We are doing our best to make sure that it looks good."

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Logan Vann

A U.S. soldier assigned to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team takes apart office cubicles in preparation of hand handing Forward Operating Base Courage over to the Iraqi army. U.S. Army photo by Spc. L.C. Campbell

U.S. soldiers assigned to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team take apart office cubicles in preparation of hand handing Forward Operating Base Courage over to the Iraqi army. U.S. Army photo by Spc. L.C. Campbell

command post for the Multinational Force-Iraq–Northwest. Now the 101st is back to see the closure of this historic forward operating base.

“This palace will be returned to the Iraqis and they want the palace to resemble what it once was,” said U.S. Army Spc. Paul Tschiffely, Company C, 2nd Battalion 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. “It is important to Iraqi citizens because it shows the progress of what they have accomplished, from going to a country that needs complete support from coalition forces to a country that is supporting itself.”

[SandRat]

Engineers in Iraq

[Marine_Uncle]

Surely Iraqi in that region should appreciate these efforts. Our men continue to show all forms of good will. Iraqi must be coming to the conclusion that their lands and people are better treated and respected by these so called conqurers then they where by the brutal regime that ruled over them for so long. For many Muslims in this land they must by now realize America is not the great satan but quite the opposite.

[aviator]

We did that kind of thing in Vietnam. The first building in the base was gone over by the receiving Vietnamese party with a fine tooth comb......every wastebasket, light bulb, etc. in working order. A real pain.

That night, the second building to be handed over mysteriously burnt down. Inspections were easier after that.

[Sundog]

They cite Germany, Japan, and Korea.

They know full well those three were defeated by America and given democracy.

They are fairly convinced that if we can stop the terrorists, they can have something like them for their Iraq.

[Marine_Uncle]

"They are fairly convinced that if we can stop the terrorists, they can have something like them for their Iraq."
So much goes un-said and important things seldom addressed in the L/MSM crap shoot.
In most Islamic countries we always see the same pattern. If the monarchy for instance, is benevolent, then for the most part the one sees most of the population does not cause trouble. It is always just the minority radical groups that stir things up and use the well established propagandist machinery.
If the Iraqi in general wanted to boot the US and coalition out, we certainly would have seen a horrible conflict.
The majority of Iraqi just want peace, and eventual better living conditions.

[Sundog]

Germany took three years after surrender before the last of the Nazi groups with active efforts to defeat the Allies gave up. Then it became totally peaceful toward the allies. I was there as a child in 1956 - 1958, Ramstein, and Germany was devastated but totally dedicated toward rebuilding.

Iraq is going to be similar. I simply hope the Women find liberation from the worst tenants of Islam so they can raise a generation of men capable of defending Iraq. That might be about the end of my lifetime tho.

[Marine_Uncle]

"I simply hope the Women find liberation from the worst tenants of Islam so they can raise a generation of men capable of defending Iraq."
As you indicated it took a number of years to de=nazify Germany. We can't expect all Iraqi to come around on the drop of a dime.
Yes. Much has to be done in the land between the two rivers. And surely new attitudes more liberalized, come to mind. They need time. Usefull change is as you well understand often a long drawn out process. And we have to realize there are sections of the Iraqi population that will not change. They have no reason to do so. Just follow their tribal leaders in accordance with the new laws, and stay peacefull and tend, lets say their farms. Many are a simple people who really don't even want modernization. But that is fine. As long as the government rules in a secular way with the good intentions of rebuilding a Iraq that can prosper for all who seek the modern convienances of the western world.

[McGavin999]

I have great hope for this new leader of Iraq. If he can get the militias under control, Iraq will make it.

[Marine_Uncle]

"... If he can get the militias under control, Iraq will make it."
In my mind. It has reached the point, where I have no doubt Maliki and his government are going to go fall steam ahead on figuring just what best can be done to end this insurgency. If they can stop all but the al Qaeda and main Saddamist from engaging in the insurgency. Then it will be clear just who to concentrate on.
Just the potential the Iraqi have of modernizing their oil industry and opening up huge areas for drilling. They can if it is handled carefully, really vastly improve the whole country. And the people will as they see real improvements, and at least temporary social aid, come to realize they can have a future under a secular national unity government that all can benefit from.
Of course we must understand this is not going to happen in a year. It may take five or more years for them to as a nation actually see how far they have come and what they can expect as the rest of the world starts doing business with them. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar is rolling in the dough, low crime rates, work for all who want it, etc..
So it can be with Iraq.

[Sundog]

Hi Again, M.U.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1639369/posts

Take the time to head over to commentary magazine, cited in the post above, and read the entire article. It is by someone who has followed Iraqi politics and history since 1968, has been in-country and apparently speaks the language natively, and has an extremely upbeat assessment. Here is the author's bio:

Amir Taheri, formerly the executive editor of Kayhan, Irans largest daily newspaper, is the author of ten books and a frequent contributor to numerous publications in the Middle East and Europe. His work appears regularly in the New York Post.

I was fascinated by his observations.

[Marine_Uncle]

Yo Sailor. Thanks for the article by Amir Taheri. I often go to the following web site, Benador Associates, where all his op-eds are posted. I have been reading him for going on two years, and he always seems to be right on, or not out of the box. Here is the web site if you wish to bookmark it:
Benador Associates

[Sundog]

Thanks.

With an author that good, I'd like to catch up on his prior articles.

[Marine_Uncle]

"With an author that good, I'd like to catch up on his prior articles."
Undoubtably there are writers of equal credentials, but he has guided my thinking on things Iraqi and Islamic for some time.
It appears there are not archives available at this site for non members.