Posted on 08/24/2006 4:02:07 PM PDT by Gucho
By Cpl. Michael Molinaro, USA - Special to American Forces Press Service
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq, Aug. 24, 2006 – Seeking a unified province free from terrorism and sectarian violence, leaders of groups in Babil came together Aug. 20 in Hillah, Iraq, to reconcile and denounce sectarian violence.
Tribal sheik leaders from the Babil province sign an oath in Hillah, Iraq, Aug. 20, declaring their pledge to work hand-in-hand with all sheiks and leaders from the province, regardless of religion or affiliation. The reconciliation conference was organized by Iraqi Maj. Gen. Qais Hamza, Babil provincial police chief, in an effort to unify the province and make a commitment to stop all sectarian violence and curb terrorism in the southern province. (Photo by Cpl. Michael Molinaro, USA)
Iraqi security forces leadership, representatives of the Iraqi national government, local government officials, social leaders, tribal sheik leaders and religious leaders joined together at the Iraqi police academy convention hall to map out a strategic plan to shape Babil’s peaceful future.
“This was Iraqi-generated, Iraqi-led,” said U.S. Army Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, an invited guest of the Iraqi leadership present at the conference. “They are clearly trying to come to grips with the issues their society is facing.”
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Qais Hamza, Babil provincial police chief, orchestrated the meeting to bring representatives of every facet of Babil culture to the conference and provide them a forum to speak. A sheik in attendance expressed the hope that the meeting would signify the start of a new era in the region and the end of terrorism in southern Iraq.
“We have Sunnis, Shiias, women, children – that is a miracle in this day and age,” he said. “Everybody knows what needs to be done, but General Qais is the person who decided that it was time to quit talking and start acting.”
The idea came in coordination with the 24-point national reconciliation plan Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki outlined to the Iraqi National Council of Representatives in June. Sectarian violence has plagued Iraq for much of the year, and leaders of Babil said they wanted to lead the rest of the nation in heeding Maliki’s words.
The meeting started off with children from the area singing the Iraqi national anthem and reading from the Quran. Many in attendance took turns speaking about the situation in Iraq and Babil and gave their suggestions on how to unify the region.
“There is no winner in war,” said Aeman Alkhafaji. “Everybody is a loser.”
Speaking on behalf of a women’s rights group, Alkhafaji said sectarian violence is destroying the greatest part of Iraqi culture: the family. When the man of the house dies, there is no one to provide for the family and no backbone present to steer the children to their future. Or when a woman is killed, it crushes the family dynamic and children lose the comforting, tender side of the family, she said.
“A woman without her man is like land without water,” she said. “And a man without his woman is like a ship without sail.”
Numerous Sunni and Shiia tribal leaders spoke before the congregation and offered their hand to one another, promising to not let the trouble witnessed in Baghdad infiltrate their region.
“We are not Sunni or Shiite, Kurdish or Christians,” one sheik said. “We are Iraqis, and we intend to secure Iraq. The people who are fighting the old regime and each other are the same people that have lived together for over a thousand years and have drank from these two rivers.”
After lunch, Qais proposed a reconciliation agreement draft he drew up. The agreement’s last paragraph reads: “We have sworn this oath; we accept the promise of the Provincial Government to provide security for all citizens without regard to their sect, ethnicity or political party affiliation and to work toward inclusive, representative government unencumbered by bias and disenfranchisement.”
Qais then challenged the more than 500 in attendance to sign the oath and make every effort to make Babil the place all of Iraq strives to be. A large reproduction of the oath each person received was placed near the door and everyone signed it as they exited the conference.
“Let Babil be the example for the freedom and the mixture that we have in Iraq,” said Col. Abbas, Hillah police chief.
Smiles were abundant as the participants left the conference, shook hands and offered kind words to each other.
“It was very uplifting,” said Tully. “In this society, when you get that many Sunni and Shiia sheiks to support a plan, there is a chance for success. If Babil can keep people like General Qais in leadership positions, it will be the most progressive and truly democratic province of the southern provinces in Iraq.”
(Army Cpl. Michael Molinaro is assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.)
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. J.R. Rinaldi, a 37-year-old civil affairs group officer from Vancouver, Wash., briefs his Marines at Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq, Aug. 18, 2006. Rinaldi and other members of 3rd Civil Affairs Group, Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and U.S. Army soldiers were on their way to speak to a water treatment facility owner. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis)
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2006 – In separate operations this week throughout Iraq, Iraqi and U.S. forces stopped a terrorist attack against a police station, captured five suspected terrorists, and disarmed seven improvised explosive devices, U.S. military officials reported.
Iraqi police and Task Force Band of Brothers soldiers thwarted a terrorist attack against a Mosul police station yesterday.
The attack began when a terrorist dressed as a police officer approached the gate to the police station and detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and wounding six police officers.
Immediately following the explosion, two other masked terrorists attempted to attack the station with small-arms fire. Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, quickly identified and engaged the gunmen, killing both.
The wounded police officers were transported to a nearby coalition medical facility.
Elsewhere, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, detained five suspected terrorists after being attacked by small-arms fire at about 11 a.m. Aug. 22 in the neighborhood of Saab Al Bour, just north of Baghdad.
The soldiers also confiscated three AK-47s, a PKC with a sniper scope, and ammunition. The detainees are being held for questioning.
In a series of Aug. 21 operations, Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered and destroyed seven improvised explosive devices in and around Baghdad.
Iraqi army soldiers found and disarmed an IED at about 10 a.m. in an area south of Baghdad. An explosive ordnance team from 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, destroyed the device.
In another incident, soldiers from 2nd BCT located an IED on the side of a road southeast of Iskandariyah at about 9:30 a.m. An EOD team detonated the 152 mm round.
Soldiers from 8th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, found a roadside bomb consisting of a 122 mm mortar round partially buried in a main thoroughfare of Ameriyah at about 11:20 a.m. The device was removed and destroyed by an EOD team.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, noticed a copper wire coming out of the ground and leading back to a house nearby while conducting a reconnaissance mission near Najaf at about 8:10 a.m. Upon inspection, they discovered the wire ran to a firing position previously used for explosive devices and to a second explosive device. An EOD team disarmed and destroyed the explosive devices.
In a similar incident at about 11:50 a.m., soldiers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, found a 152 mm IED on the side of a rural road near Hjaddah in the far northern suburbs of Baghdad. An EOD team destroyed the roadside bomb.
In another incident, soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, discovered an IED buried in the middle of a busy road in Yusufiyah while conducting a route-clearance mission at about 2 p.m. The 120 mm mortar round was unearthed and destroyed by an EOD team.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
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Thursday, August 24, 2006
Row over Afghan clash casualties
By 1st Lt. Georginia Bradshaw, USA - Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD, Aug. 24, 2006 – In response to recent bombing and gas explosions in the area, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers joined Iraqi police and local officials in providing humanitarian aid Aug. 22 to displaced citizens in Zafaraniya.
Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, and 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, provided rice, beans, cooking oil, canned fish, blankets, vegetables, assorted condiments, cooking utensils and stoves for affected Iraqis.
The items were delivered at the Zafaraniya government center. Policemen from 2nd Battalion, 1st Iraqi National Police Division, as well as neighborhood advisory council and tribal leaders, aided the soldiers.
"It was a lot of fun being with the soldiers and helping the people,” said Sgt. Mark Faulkner, 801st Brigade Support Battalion team leader. “We downloaded the humanitarian packets by hand. We formed a chain with the Iraqi soldiers to download the items, which felt like there was a lot of teamwork, which built camaraderie."
Coalition forces Helping Iraqi security forces and local government leaders in humanitarian aid helps the local citizens to realize the combined presence is one of growth and facilitation of an emerging government for all of Iraq, said Sgt. 1st Class Richard Powell, master gunner, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
“The inclusion and participation in this endeavor by all religious and ethnic groups contributes to a more stable and prosperous Iraq,” he said.
(Army 1st Lt. Georginia Bradshaw is a public affairs officer assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.)
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American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2006 – Seven suspected al Qaeda facilitators were killed early today when Afghan and coalition forces conducted an operation on a compound housing suspected terrorists near the village of Asmar in Kunar province, U.S. military officials reported.
Afghan and coalition forces came under direct fire when approaching the compound and defended themselves with return fire. Afghan and coalition forces continued to take fire from hostile forces in the surrounding area after the initial objective was secured.
All of the men killed were engaging Afghan and coalition forces with hostile fire.
A child, about 10 to 12 years old, was killed and a woman was wounded during the fighting. An investigation is being conducted to determine the identities of these individuals. Four other males in the compound were also taken into custody.
The additional enemy fighters fled the site when engaged by the Afghan and coalition unit.
The woman who was wounded during the fighting was immediately evacuated to a nearby coalition medical facility for treatment.
“The al Qaeda fighters deliberately put women and children at risk in an effort to protect their illegal and immoral operations,” said Army Col. Thomas Collins, coalition spokesman.
Multiple weapons, ammunition and grenades were confiscated in the operation.
The purpose of this operation was to capture a known al Qaeda facilitator, officials said. Credible intelligence linked the targeted individual to suspected terrorist activities and attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kunar province.
(From a Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news release.)
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By Polli Barnes Keller - Gulf Region North, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Aug 24, 2006
Diyala,Iraq - Nine Electrical substations at the cost of $51.6M provide power to 63,000 people.
Built by local construction companies and over-watched for quality assurance by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, these nine substations provide power to newly constructed areas, neighborhoods, businesses and industry. Two of the nine are 400 kV substations and considered to be important components of the national electrical system, having a significant impact on the stability of the national grid.
These two substations tie into the SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system). SCADA is the system that controls the overall national power management and national electrical system monitoring and control. It also synchronizes the power facilities throughout Iraq, so they may work together as a system, which ultimately protects the National Network from shutting down when there is an unsynchronized situation.
Shutdowns are common in Iraq as the electrical systems are not yet stable and consumption is more than the source can handle. SCADA is designed to reduce and eventually eliminate blackouts. Adding nine new substations to the grid in Diyala, not only improves the electrical distribution network in the province by reducing the load of the existing overloaded substations; it also increases the reliability of the power supplies for domestic, industrial and commercial uses with less down time.
To date, eight of the nine substations are complete. The last one is scheduled for completion within the month.
Note: Polli Barnes Keller is the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region North.
By Mohammed Aliwi
Aug 24, 2006
DHI QAR, Iraq -- Banks all over the world use a specific process to transfer money from one place to another in accordance with accepted international electronic fund transfer (EFT) systems.
Before the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraqi banks would wire-transfer money to and from the Central Bank of Iraq and use government checks, issue and guaranteed by that bank, to help customers get access to their money when outside of Iraq, according to a bank manager who did not want to be identified.
After the liberation, banking operations halted abruptly and lost their money because of looting and robbery, she said.
Currently, Iraq’s two main banks, Rafidain Bank and Al Rasheed Bank, are accredited by many countries, have good records dealing with the government check system and wire transfers, but at the moment aren’t dealing with electronic transfers because of technical problems.
Due to the difficulties with electronic transfers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division has been forced to use other methods to pay its employees. The Corps’ financial specialists went to work and came up with a plan to solve the problem.
Nicholas R. Ash, the manager of the Resource Management Section at Gulf Region South (GRS) District, said, “Normally, electronic funds transfer is a bank to bank transaction. The banking systems in Iraq are not on par with the rest of the world."
"But that should not be a surprise to anyone. What is important is how the system is developing," he said.
"Some 18 months ago, it was extremely hard to convince contractors to accept anything except cash and they had valid reasons.”
Previously, when the Corps paid its contractors, cash was given upon the delivery of the completed project.
By using cash, they started encouraging the contractors to open accounts in the accredited Iraqi banks – accredited by banks that can transfer money from America to Iraq by wire service.
The Corps has sent the contractors a list of such Iraqi banks, approved by the Minister of Finance, to ensure the money is safely and securely transferred.
“Now, the situation is different," Ash explained, "The Iraqi banking system is improving and as confidence increases, we are seeing more and more contractors take advantage of the EFT system.
"We have a way to go, but it is improving at a very fast rate. Next year, we will look back on this month as another leap forward," he said.
"Contractors who are paid by EFT reap the benefits of safety, convenience and security.
The contractor does not have to drive hundreds of miles carrying very large amounts of money.
"The contractor can focus on what he does best, and that is rebuilding Iraq” he added.
According to Wayne P. Robertson, program analyst in the Resource Management at GRS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forwards the EFT information to the United Finance Center for input into the COE Financial Management Systems (CEFMS).
"I monitor the payments through CEFMS and do tracers on the payments if the contractor has not received the payment from the Iraqi bank within three weeks after the EFT has been sent,” Robertson said.
H. Salman, a contractor from Missan Province, said, “It is unsafe for me as a contractor to travel from one province to another with all the dangers of the roads to receive payments in cash."
"Maybe a terrorist will attack me and have my head and my money too. So it is easier and safer to me to have my money through wires.” Salman said.
There are many Iraqi professional bankers working hard to help the contractors get their payments correctly and on time.
Baghdad Bank Deputy Manager Layla Adnan Yahia said, “Our bank dealt with the electronic funds transactions before and we are still dealing with that."
"We have two credentialed correspondent banks outside Iraq, the Housing Bank of Trade and Finance and the National Bank of Kuwait.
"Those banks receive the funds from the Bank of America and transfer it to us. We appreciate the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to refresh this process again in our country,” she said.
Note: Mr. Mohammed Aliwi is a Media Relation Officer working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Questions
By MULTINATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PAO
Aug 24, 2006
MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi Police and Task Force Band of Brothers’ Soldiers thwarted a terrorist attack against a Mosul police station Wednesday.
The attack began with a terrorist, dressed as a police officer, approached the gate to the police station and detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and wounding six police officers.
Immediately following the explosion, two other masked terrorists attempted to attack the station with small arms fire. Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division quickly identified and engaged the gunmen, killing both.
The wounded police officers were transported to a nearby coalition medical facility.
By COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN, COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
Aug 24, 2006
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Tripartite Commission, composed of senior military and diplomatic representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and the NATO International Security Assistance Force, held its 18th meeting Aug. 23 here.
Delegates included Gen. Ahsan Saleem Hayat, Vice Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army; Gen. Bismullah Khan Mohammedi, Chief of Staff of the Afghan National Army; Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, commander of Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan; and Lt. Gen. David Richards, commander of NATO-ISAF.
The 18th meeting consisted of several briefings to update the participants on issues of mutual interest. The Border Security Subcommittee discussed the progress being made in Regional Command East and Regional Command South. The focus of this subcommittee, which held its first-ever meeting in May for operations in Regional Command South, has been on better coordination of security operations along the border area.
The Afghan and Pakistani militaries have improved their ability to conduct operations against their common enemy through better communication, enabled by the use of a geospatial data base and high frequency radios, provided by the United States.
In order to coordinate the movements along the border areas, the participants discussed and agreed to a proposal to conduct coordinated patrols by the Afghan National Army, Pakistan Army, Coalition Forces and NATO-ISAF forces based in Afghanistan, on their respective sides of the border, simultaneously.
The Military Intelligence-Sharing Working Group briefed about the latest efforts to form a three-way Joint Information Operations Center with Afghan and Pakistani liaison officers and the Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. The group also discussed the use of secure mobile telephones for intelligence coordination between the Afghan National Army, the Directorate General of (Pakistani) Military Intelligence, the Coalition and NATO-ISAF.
The Coalition’s Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Working Group discussed a recent counter IED information exchange at the U. S. Army National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif. This information exchange included Afghan and Pakistani military representatives. The working group also reviewed the progress being made on developing a common database to aid in the fight against IEDs.
The Afghan, Pakistani, and Coalition delegations each presented after-action reports from recent operations to deny sanctuary and safe haven to their common enemy, and to improve the lives of the Afghan people through various reconstruction projects and humanitarian assistance. The delegations also discussed future operations and how they can better shape the security environment along the border area.
Finally, representatives of NATO-ISAF briefed their plan for continuing expansion of ISAF’s mission into Regional Command East later this year.
The Tripartite Commission will meet again in October in Afghanistan.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2006 – In separate operations this week throughout Iraq, Iraqi and U.S. forces stopped a terrorist attack against a police station, captured five suspected terrorists, and disarmed seven improvised explosive devices, U.S. military officials reported.
Iraqi police and Task Force Band of Brothers soldiers thwarted a terrorist attack against a Mosul police station yesterday.
The attack began when a terrorist dressed as a police officer approached the gate to the police station and detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and wounding six police officers.
Immediately following the explosion, two other masked terrorists attempted to attack the station with small-arms fire. Soldiers from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, quickly identified and engaged the gunmen, killing both.
The wounded police officers were transported to a nearby coalition medical facility.
Elsewhere, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, detained five suspected terrorists after being attacked by small-arms fire at about 11 a.m. Aug. 22 in the neighborhood of Saab Al Bour, just north of Baghdad.
The soldiers also confiscated three AK-47s, a PKC with a sniper scope, and ammunition. The detainees are being held for questioning.
In a series of Aug. 21 operations, Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered and destroyed seven improvised explosive devices in and around Baghdad.
Iraqi army soldiers found and disarmed an IED at about 10 a.m. in an area south of Baghdad. An explosive ordnance team from 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, destroyed the device.
In another incident, soldiers from 2nd BCT located an IED on the side of a road southeast of Iskandariyah at about 9:30 a.m. An EOD team detonated the 152 mm round.
Soldiers from 8th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, found a roadside bomb consisting of a 122 mm mortar round partially buried in a main thoroughfare of Ameriyah at about 11:20 a.m. The device was removed and destroyed by an EOD team.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, noticed a copper wire coming out of the ground and leading back to a house nearby while conducting a reconnaissance mission near Najaf at about 8:10 a.m. Upon inspection, they discovered the wire ran to a firing position previously used for explosive devices and to a second explosive device. An EOD team disarmed and destroyed the explosive devices.
In a similar incident at about 11:50 a.m., soldiers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, found a 152 mm IED on the side of a rural road near Hjaddah in the far northern suburbs of Baghdad. An EOD team destroyed the roadside bomb.
In another incident, soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, discovered an IED buried in the middle of a busy road in Yusufiyah while conducting a route-clearance mission at about 2 p.m. The 120 mm mortar round was unearthed and destroyed by an EOD team.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
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