Iraqis mark successful Hajj travel period in Iraq (America's Triumph, Thanks Troops)

BAGHDAD – Pilgrims traveling from Iraq to Mecca in the annual observance of the Hajj experienced a peaceful travel period this year with no reported violent incidents.

At the conclusion of the Hajj travel period, more than 30,000 Iraqi pilgrims will have traveled to and from Mecca by air and ground.

Iraqis traveled through six ports of entry during the annual pilgrimage from Dec. 11 through Jan. 7. The pilgrims traveled by air transportation from Baghdad, Irbil, Mosul and Basra while others moved by ground transportation from Safwan and Ara’r.

In preparation for Hajj travel, the Mosul airport reopened after being closed for several years. The airport had not seen commercial airline traffic since U.S. military forces declared the city a no-fly zone in 1993. After recent cooperation between by Iraqi and U.S. government agencies, the airport was rebuilt using local workers with the intent to continue commercial air service to Saudi Arabia and other locations. The Iraqi Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance provided funding to help renovate the passenger terminal at the Mosul Airport, which had not been done since it was built in 1962.

“The peaceful travel for thousands of pilgrims from Iraq to Mecca provides another sign of the continuing rejection of violence by the Iraqi people,” said Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “While much work lies ahead, the will of the people to go about their normal activities and do so in a peaceful manner is an important step forward.”

The Hajj pilgrimage occurs annually in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. In Iraq, the government receives a quota of visas from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, selecting candidates by a lottery process, distributing visas and providing assistance and travel advice for Iraqi-national pilgrims.

The Hajj plan developed by the Government of Iraq focused on two primary factors: 1) assist pilgrims passing peaceably and safely through Iraq to Saudi Arabia for Hajj rituals and 2) provide security for pilgrims in assembly areas, transportation and transit routes.

“Iraqis are stepping up and standing with their fellow citizens in efforts to make these religious observances a safe and stable part of their lives,” said Odierno.

“These are further indicators that Iraqis are providing security for Iraqis.”

As Iraqi pilgrims returned from Mecca, images of Iraqis enjoying the relative calm of the Eid represent a noticeable change in the overall security situation. Iraqi children playing at the Al-Zowra’a Amusement Park from both Shi’a and Sunni families is a positive sign.

There is renewed hope for the Iraqi people that recent positive signs of security will continue to promote reconciliation.

And the mopping up Al Qadah continues,

Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations; three killed; 28 detained

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16303&Itemid=128

“The barbaric nature of al Qaeda and their Taliban ideology is being rejected by the Iraqi people,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, MNF-I spokesman. “Iraqi and Coalition Forces will continue to close ranks against these terrorists, disrupting their networks and forcing them out of their safe havens and operating bases.”

Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain extremist cell leader, 3 suspected extremists (Baghdad)

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16314&Itemid=128

Democrat Candidates, how will you insure Iraqi's continue the success they are now enjoying? Abandoning the mission?

And the mopping up Al Qadah continues,
Coalition forces disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations; three killed; 28 detained

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16303&Itemid=128

Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain extremist cell leader, 3 suspected extremists (Baghdad)

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16314&Itemid=128

Thanks for lighting up the links!

Biden was the only one who recognized that getting out of Iraq was going to take a year or more, now he’s out and the rest of the Democrat Candidates can fantasize about getting out of Iraq, till they have to face a Republican opponent, and the Troops who will be returning home prior to the election.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16318&Itemid=21

BAGHDAD – U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets dropped two 500-pound bombs, destroying an al-Qaeda in Iraq safe house used to make and store improvised explosive devices near Busayefi Jan. 6.

After the structure was destroyed, a site survey was conducted by Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers and IED-making materials were found.

The remnants of the IED-making materials found in the rubble included one 122 mm projectile, one 120 mm mortar round, three 57 mm projectile rounds primed with detonation cord, 50 DSHKA large-caliber machine gun rounds, three spools of copper wire, two crush wire strips, 30 meters of command wire, three bundles of detonation cord and a video camera.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16317&Itemid=21

On the morning of Jan. 6, a structure rigged with explosives was reported to Soldiers from 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, currently attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div.

An air strike by a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet destroyed the structure with a 500-pound GBU-38 bomb.

Later the same day, an air weapons team from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Inf. Div., observed a group of haystacks with an opening leading to an underground tunnel used by extremists.

The helicopters destroyed the tunnel, making the tunnel system inoperable.

During operations Jan. 5, multiple weapons caches and improvised explosive devices were found by Coalition Forces and Concerned Local Citizens.

In southern Arab Jabour, CLCs found an IED comprised of 20 pounds of homemade explosives and turned it over to Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.

Two IEDs were found near Hawr Rajab by a route clearance team from 6-8th Cav. Regt.

One IED was rigged to be detonated with a pressure plate and the other IED consisted of a stick of dynamite and a pressure plate.

A weapons cache was found in Arab Jabour consisting of one 57 mm projectile, one blasting cap and 21 fuses. CLCs turned over the cache to Company D, 1-30th Inf. Regt.

Company B, 1-30th Inf. Regt. also found a pressure plate IED during a combat patrol.

All munitions found during the day were destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team in controlled detonations.

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