Posted on 08/09/2006 4:14:31 PM PDT by Gucho
Story by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt Lucia Newman - Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
Wednesday, 09 August 2006
BAGHDAD — Iraqi forces believe that in order to secure what’s on the inside, you have to secure what’s on the outside.
Iraq’s border forts have been constructed to do just that. According to the Department of Border Enforcement, the forts are in place to deter, disrupt and interdict cross-border movement of contraband, illegal aliens and insurgent support.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Theodore Price, a Civilian Police Assistance Training Team chief, said the forts are used as Iraq’s first layer of defense in support of the nation’s fight against terrorism.
“They are used as a means of preventing foreign fighters and smugglers from entering or leaving the country,” Price said.
Since June 2004, the Coalition has funded 258 border forts throughout nine Iraqi provinces, according to U.S. Air Force Capt. Tara DeVaugh, DBE program manager. The first three forts were built in Al Anbar.
To date, 255 border forts have been completed in the provinces of As Sulaymaniah, Diyala, Wasit, Maysan, Basrah, Al Muthanna, An Najaf, Al Anbar and Ninawa.
By September, an additional three forts located within As Sulaymania and Al Anbar provinces will complete the $161 million project. “These specific areas were selected by the Iraqi government and Coalition leaders as the best tactical and strategic locations of each border fort,” said Price.
Construction of the forts also comes with many challenges – security and health concerns are contributing factors to slowing down the building process.
“Workers are often threatened by local tribes,” said Price. “Security must then be provided to the contractors, which adds about one third to the cost of the contract. Finally, water for the construction is very scarce, especial in the western region of the country, which leaves the contractor to either bring in water or dig wells.”
Although the challenges have slowed the process, they have not stopped it. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq commanding general, said the new Iraqi government is serious about establishing policies and practices at the legal border crossings to make sure they aren’t points of ingress for illegal entries.
“Iraqi forces will have responsibility for 3,161 kilometers (1,964 miles) of Iraq’s borders,” said Dempsey. “However, it’s a tiered approach that the Iraqi government has chosen to take; border police on the perimeter backed up by the Iraqi Army, backed up by the Coalition.”
According to Price, border forts are also used as logistical and administrative hubs for Iraqi patrol agents.
“A fort is similar to a small forward operating base. It can act as the headquarters for a unit, providing complete life support for those who use it as lodging,” Price said.
Each fort has billeting space for guards and leadership, DeVaugh said. The forts also include shower and bath facilities; office and administration areas; a kitchen; an armory; and observation posts. To keep everything running in the remote locations, each border fort has its own generator with another for backup.
“Border police complete multiple week rotations at a time and the forts are designed to house several guards at any given time to allow for overlap,” Devaugh said.
In addition, prior to Coalition involvement, ports of entry reported independently to the Iraqi senior leadership. Operations and procedures were informal and varied depending on leadership, topography, size and function of the facility.
Today each port of entry is under multi-ministerial control, with various responsibilities, procedures and separate reporting chains.
“Control of the border forces has always been under the MOI (Ministry of Interior),” said Army Maj. John Mulhall, Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. “The Coalition is assisting in the development of a more effective force that will work in partnership with other MOI forces.” According to Mulhall, Coalition forces are supporting the Iraqi police at many of the border forts.
“The Department of Border Enforcement has an outstanding command structure with great leadership,” Price said. “I am confident that within the course of another six months they will be able to achieve Iraqi self control of the borders with little or no support needed from the Coalition forces.”
Wednesday, 09 August 2006
Seventy soldiers from the 8th Iraqi Army Division graduated Friday from a course on maintaining accurate and reliable personnel and security records.
The soldiers who graduated from the two-week Unit Transition Point course were all assigned to the either brigade or battalion personnel departments.
The training was conducted by instructors from Iraqi Ground Forces Command in Baghdad and monitored and supervised by Multi-National Division – Central-South military transition team officers.
The first week of the course was devoted to training on high-technology devices for fingerprinting as well as voice and retina checking. The second consisted of practice training.
The course was designed to establish a unit-level “one-stop” Unit Transition Point that assures personnel and equipment accountability and that proper procedures are followed for pay and leave. In addition, it strengthens controls for security badges and identification cards.
Multi-National Division – Central-South , which falls under Multi-National Corps – Iraq, is run primarily by members of the Polish military.
Renovations include state-of-the-art pumps, pipes, filters and a new chlorination system.
The Al Wathba Water Treatment Plant has undergone a $22 million upgrade to bring more fresh, potable water to Baghdad residents. The facility serves the Rusafa area in northeast Baghdad. (Courtesy photo)
By Norris Jones - Gulf Region Central District - US Army Corps of Engineers
BAGHDAD, Aug. 9, 2006 — For nearly two years, the Al Wathba Water Treatment Plant has been undergoing a $22 million upgrade to bring more fresh, potable water to Baghdad residents.
That facility serves the Rusafa area in northeast Baghdad with markets, businesses, medical facilities, and about 300,000 residents dependent on its output.
“Al Wathba is over 40 years old and the dilapidated, poorly maintained equipment was producing about 1,000 cubic meters of drinking water per hour,” points out Iraqi project engineer Sadiq with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Central District International Zone office.
“The renovation included state-of-the-art new pumps, pipes, filters, new chlorination system, and new controls for automatic operation. We expanded the plant’s capacity almost 2 ½ times and it is now able to produce 2,400 cubic meters of water per hour. Last week we tested the system and immediately started getting ‘thank you’ calls from area residents who appreciate the increased pressure and quantity of fresh water available in their homes and businesses.”
Sadiq is pleased with the quality of work and points out the project should be completed in about two months.
“Without this investment, Al Wathba would have had to be shut down,” he cautioned. “The old equipment could not have continued to handle the demand.”
“The renovation at the Al Wathba Water Treatment Plant included state-of-the-art pumps, pipes, filters, a new chlorination system, and new controls for automatic operation. (Courtesy photo)
Al Wathba pulls in water from the Tigris, purifies it, and then delivers it to a 1,000-millimeter water main (about 40 inches in diameter) that serves the northeast quadrant of Baghdad.
“The city now has a 21st century facility that will be a dependable source of water for decades to come,” Sadiq concluded. Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds paid for the improvement.
U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters arrive on Forward Operating Base Dagger, Tikrit, Iraq, Aug. 8, 2006. The helicopters are carrying VIPs who will attend a ceremony marking the 4th Iraqi Army Division taking the lead on security for the provinces of Sulymaniya, Salah Ah Din, and Kirkuk. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika)
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Rival Warlords (Abdul Rashid Dostum and Abdul Malik) Clash in Northern Afghanistan
Aug 9, 2006
Afghans relax in the late afternoon sun, in the old city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Updated: 8/9/2006 - 5:49 PM
By: Amy Ohler
"By my calculation the Commando Brigade is the most deployed unit in the army," said Lt. Gen. John Vines.
And once again, they are answering the call to fight for their country. Over the next few weeks, members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team will be deploying to Iraq. Before they head over, the division held a ceremony to honor the brave men and women.
"It's what we do; you know we're trained for it. We volunteer to be in the army, and none of us are strangers to it for the most part. Most of us have been over before. It's just part of everyday work," said Cpt. Brendan Hobbs, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
This deployment is not the first time the 2nd Brigade Combat Team has conducted operations in Iraq. Back in 2004 the soldiers deployed over and returned in June of 2005. So this time many soldiers said they already know what to expect.
"Some of them are excited to go back and do it again. And the new guys are a little more scared. It's understandable, but they're around a lot of experience," said Staff Sgt. Fernando Barboza, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The brigade's advance party is already in Kuwait. When the rest of the brigade gets to Iraq, they'll be stationed in a rural area of Baghdad. Commander of the brigade Colonel Michael Kershaw said while overseas, they'll conduct counter insurgency operations and civil military operations.
"We obviously, first and foremost, provide security, we train Iraqi security forces, we help promote local governments in the area of operations we've been assigned," said Col. Michael Kershaw, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Before the soldiers head out, many said they'll be spending as much time as they can with family. For the most part, they're all ready to go because the sooner their boots touch the ground, the sooner they come home.
The brigade's deployment is scheduled to last one year.
Exclusive Interview Will Air On '60 Minutes' Sunday At 7 P.M. ET/PT
Mike Wallace interviews Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the Presidential Palace in Tehran on Tuesday, August 8. (CBS)
Aug. 9, 2006
NEW YORK, (CBS) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat down with Mike Wallace in Tehran on Tuesday in a rare, exclusive interview with a Western reporter.
In the wide-ranging interview, the Iranian leader comments on President Bush's foreign policy, the lack of relations between Iran and the United States, Hezbollah, Lebanon and Iraq.
Speaking about President Bush's failure to answer his 18-page letter that criticized U.S. foreign policy, Ahmadinejad said, "Well, (with the letter) I wanted to open a window towards the light for the president so that he can see that one can look on the world through a different perspective. … We are all free to choose. But please give him this message, sir: Those who refuse to accept an invitation will not have a good ending or fate. You see that his approval rating is dropping every day. Hatred vis-à-vis the president is increasing every day around the world. For a ruler, this is the worst message that he could receive. Rulers and heads of government at the end of their office must leave the office holding their heads high."
On what the "conducive conditions" would be for Iran to establish relations with the U.S., the president said, "Well, please look at the makeup of the American administration, the behavior of the American administration. See how they talk down to my nation. And this recent resolution passed about the nuclear issue, look at the wording. They have given us — presented us with a package which we are studying right now. We even gave them a date for our response. Ignoring that, they passed a resolution. They want to build an empire. And they don't want to live side-by-side in peace with other nations. The American government, sir, it is very clear to me they have to change their behavior and everything will be resolved. (George W. Bush) believes that his power emanates from his nuclear warhead arsenals. The time of the bomb is in the past, it's behind us. Today is the era of thoughts, dialogue and cultural exchanges."
Portions of the interview will appear on the CBS Evening News on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT. The entire report will be broadcast on 60 Minutes this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
2004 Marine helo crash has cost Japan $2.3 million
By David Allen and Chiyomi Sumida - Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition
Thursday, August 10, 2006
NAHA, Okinawa — Japan has paid some $2.3 million so far to cover damages caused by the August 2004 crash of a U.S. Marine helicopter on the campus of Okinawa International University.
Sunday marks the second anniversary of the crash.
A spokesman for the Naha Bureau of the Defense Facilities Administration Agency said Tuesday that most of the money, about $2.1 million, was paid to the school to cover damage to the administration building and other campus structures. The agency also paid a total of about $131,000 to people who live in the area.
On Aug. 13, 2004, a Marine CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter spun out of control and crashed on the campus, which is next to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The helicopter burst into flames and the rotor blades cut into a wall of the administration building, which also was damaged by the fire.
Helicopter parts were found scattered through the nearby residential neighborhood, but no civilian casualties were reported. Helicopter debris was found up to 370 yards from the crash site.
“Of the compensation made to residents, some 55 cases included damages to homes and vehicles,” the DFAA spokesman said. “Also, some compensation was made for mental duress.
“Although we are yet to pay for landscaping after the administration building construction is completed, most of the compensation has been made,” he said.
The helicopter’s three crewmen were rescued before the aircraft burst into flames and were treated for various injuries. The school was on summer break and few people were on campus.
Investigators said failure to insert a cotter pin during preflight maintenance caused the accident.
In 2005, the school decided to replace the damaged administration building with a larger structure at a cost of $5 million to $7 million.
A blackened tree stump now stands at the cleared crash site. School officials have preserved sections of the crash-damaged wall, still blackened by the fire and scarred by notches made by the helicopter blades. They plan to use the wall as a monument to mark the event and highlight the danger they say is inherent in having an active military air base in the middle of an urban center.
The accident underscored the need to relocate MCAS Futenma to a less populated area, U.S. and Japanese officials have said. In May the two nations signed an agreement to move Marine air operations to a new airfield to be built on the lower part of Camp Schwab at Cape Henoko. That project remains in the early planning stages and the new airfield is not expected to be ready before 2014.
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=39223
Stars and Stripes - Mideast edition
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
American-led forces have begun providing relief to flood victims in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.
Provincial governor Sher Alam requested assistance from the U.S.-led Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team, American officials said. The governor asked for nine flood relief packages, each of which can be used for 1,000 people for 30 days; the relief packages include blankets, stoves, charcoal, food and health kits.
“The coalition remains committed in our efforts to help the Afghan community,” said Maj. Matt Hackathorn, CJTF-76 spokesman.
More than 20 people have been killed in the floods, according to Afghan officials, with “thousands” more left homeless. The floods, caused by heavy rains along mountain ridges, destroyed 1,600 houses and swamped dozens of acres of farmland, officials in the provincial government office said.
According to an Afghan news agency, more than 570 tents, 2,000 blankets, 200 plastic mats and about 400 pressure cookers have been sent by government ministries and the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
Similar flooding also has been reported in Paktika province, Afghan officials said.
By Gerry G. Gilmore - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – U.S. forces in Iraq have arrested several Iraqis suspected of involvement in the Jan. 7 abduction of an American journalist, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters in Baghdad today.
“Coalition forces have detained four Iraqi men that we believe to have been involved in the kidnapping of Jill Carroll, the ‘Christian Science Monitor’ journalist held hostage in Iraq for 82 days earlier this year,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell VI said during a Baghdad press briefing. The general did not say when the suspects were arrested.
Carroll was kidnapped in western Baghdad. She was released unharmed March 30.
Analysis of intelligence information led forces on patrol to a group of residences believed to have been used to house Carroll during her ordeal. “Troops on the ground, young Marines and sailors, paid attention to what may have been considered minor details at the time,” Caldwell said.
Specifically, a Marine lieutenant from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, noticed a unique structure on a green door that he had read about in intelligence reports. On further investigation, other details about the house convinced the Marine that Carroll had been held there.
Information from the owner of that house, who the patrol detained, led troops to several others that officials believe were used during Carroll’s kidnapping and others. At the third such location that troops investigated, a house north of Abu Ghraib, U.S. soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division rescued two kidnapping victims and detained three other individuals.
“The hunt continues for anybody and anyone else that was involved not only in these kidnappings but in those who scorn law and order, who disrupt democracy and who spread terror in the lives of the everyday Iraqi citizens,” Caldwell said.
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By Gerry J. Gilmore - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces have stepped up operations in Baghdad to curtail deadly sectarian violence that’s plagued the city in recent months, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters in Baghdad today.
Of 11 operations targeting death squads in Iraq over the past week, 10 were centered in or around Baghdad, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said at a news briefing.
The Baghdad operations were undertaken “to quell the surge of extremists seeking to exert control and impose their narrow, divisive view of the future of Iraq,” Caldwell said.
Some Shiite and Sunni factions have used death squads to intimidate others. Some senior U.S. military leaders have warned that the violence could spiral out of control. However, the United States government has vowed not to allow that to happen.
“Iraqi security forces and coalition forces continue to disrupt the terrorists and set the stage for Baghdadis to live stable lives,” Caldwell said.
U.S. and Iraqi forces continue searches to unearth enemy weapons caches, including 25 such stockpiles found last week, Caldwell said. More than 200 improvised explosive devices were found and cleared that week and 301 anti-Iraqi forces were captured.
U.S. and Iraqi security forces in Baghdad have been targeting kidnappers and corrupt police who help them, Caldwell said.
The death squads and other extremists operating in Baghdad continue to use religious sites to store munitions and launch attacks, Caldwell said. A recent Iraqi army cordon-and-search operation at a Baghdad mosque site turned up IED-making equipment, rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 rifles.
Yet, arms alone can’t win the war against anti-Iraqi extremists, Caldwell pointed out. Iraqi civilians need to get involved, he said, since death squad members seek to submerge themselves among the populace.
Iraqi citizens have to report information, he said. “They’re going to have to be part of the solution.”
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