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Coalition Forces handing out toys BAQUBAH, Iraq – Soldiers from Task Force 1-10 handed out donated toys and stuffed animals August 31 to the children that live around the mayor’s office here. The soldiers and the children enjoyed the interaction with one another and the children left with smiles on their faces. Iraqi police basic marksmanship training FORWARD OPERATING BASE Normandy, Iraq – A group of 20 Iraqi police officers gathered to further hone their skills during an intense marksmanship class August 31. Coalition Forces stood by as seven Iraqi instructors trained the police with intense one on one personalized...

FALLUJAH, Iraq ---- A dozen former Iraqi generals and intelligence officers met Friday with U.S. military leaders and pledged to lead a brigade of 1,000 Iraqi soldiers to replace the Marines fortifying the city's borders. But U.S. military officials cautioned that the arrival of the Iraqi forces in this embattled city, possibly as early as today, does not necessarily mean peace. "They are still doing some planning on how to do a transition from U.S. forces to Iraqi security forces in Fallujah," Marine Col. John Toolan said Friday, choosing his words carefully while describing the new arrangement that other officials...

Abizaid Warns Fallujah Brigade Results Won't Be Instant By John D. BanusiewiczAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, April 30, 2004 – The new Iraqi brigade being formed to restore peace to Fallujah won't instantly solve the problems in the city, the commander of U.S. Central Command said today from his forward headquarters in Qatar. Army Gen. John Abizaid spoke with Pentagon reporters in a video teleconference. "What we have there is an opportunity, and not necessarily an agreement," the general said. "The opportunity is to build an Iraqi security force from former elements of the army that will work under the...

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The withdrawal of marines from Fallujah is "an opportunity, not necessarily an agreement" to end fighting for the city, the commander of US forces in Iraq (news - web sites) said, warning that military action may still be needed to root out foreign fighters. General John Abizaid said the United States will not tolerate foreign fighters in the city, and will insist on heavy weapons coming off the streets and on freedom of movement for marines and Iraqi security forces. He said it should be understood that "what we have there is an opportunity, and not necessarily...

  1st Marine Expeditionary Force Creating 'Fallujah Brigade' By John D. BanusiewiczAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 30, 2004 – The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force is putting together the first battalion of a new Iraqi brigade being formed to restore and maintain order in the western city of Fallujah, a coalition military spokesman announced at a Baghdad news conference today. An officer from the former Iraqi army will command the unit, which will be an interim organization under 1st MEF command, said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7. Kimmitt said the...