Free Republic

1/5/2010 - KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The Kunar provincial governor national and provincial government leaders, and the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team dedicated the province's first midwifery training center to decrease Afghan maternal and infant mortality rates Dec. 22 in Asadabad, Afghanistan. Fazlullah Wahidi, the Kunar provincial governor, Dr. Najilla, ministry of public health's health strengthening system deputy, Pashtoon Azfar, the Afghan midwifery association and Ghazanfer Institute of Health director, tribal elders, and Kunar medical professionals gathered to dedicate the province's first midwifery facility. Along with the ribbon cutting, there was a ceremony recognizing 24 women from around the province...

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2009 – Four provincial governors and a 21-member executive committee from the eastern Afghanistan peace and development jirga – a group of elders -- met in the Nangarhar governor’s compound Nov. 10 to discuss the group’s charter and its top priorities. U.S. Army Col. Randy A. George, Task Force Mountain Warrior commander, center left, meets with Afghan leaders, including four provincial governors, and a U.S. State Department official to discuss ways to reconcile with Taliban and other Afghans who do not support the central government, Nangarhar governor’s compound, Afghanistan, Nov. 10, 2009. U.S. Army photo...

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Aug. 10, 2009 – NATO forces working to secure and develop rural areas of this eastern Afghanistan province are finding support from the provincial governor, who is urging local leaders to embrace the opportunities of working with the International Security Assistance Force. Elders of the Kherwar district of Afghanistan’s Logar province voice their opinions during a July 27, 2009, meeting. Gov. Attiqullah Lodin spoke at the meeting and addressed plans to pave roads and build schools and hospitals. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaime’ De Leon  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gov. Attiqullah Lodin spoke with...

AL ASAD AIR BASE — The governor of Anbar province, Qasim al-Fahadawi, and the chairman of the Anbar Provincial Council, Dr. Jassim al-Halbusi, traveled here to meet with leaders of Multi National Force – West, July 16. In a conference room where photographs of the peaceful 2009 Anbar provincial elections hang, MNF-W leaders spoke of a topic that has long been one of the main focuses of the Marines’ mission in Iraq: reconstruction and development. Col. Robert Lanham, the MNF-W assistant chief of staff for civil-military operations, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to provide a summary of...

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2009 – Afghan and U.S. forces killed eight insurgents and repelled a complex suicide attack May 11 by multiple groups on government buildings in Khost, the capital of the eastern Afghanistan province of the same name. During the engagement, the forces foiled an attempt on the provincial governor’s life. Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber dressed as an Afghan security forces member attacked the governor’s compound, while two others wearing suicide vests were killed by Afghan and U.S. forces. An additional suicide vest was found at the scene. Moments later, a group of suicide bombers stormed the...

BAGHDAD - Parliament cleared the way Wednesday for provincial elections this year that could give Sunnis a stronger voice and usher in vast changes to Iraq's power structure. The new law — which set the vote for Oct. 1 — is one of the most sweeping reforms pushed by the Bush administration and signals that Iraq's politicians finally, if grudgingly, may be ready for small steps toward reconciliation. Passage of benchmark reforms on healing the country's sectarian and ethnic rifts — along with a reduction in violence — were the primary goals of the 30,000-strong U.S. troop increase that President...

BAGHDAD — The recent surge of troops and embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams (EPRT) to Iraq is providing unprecedented opportunity for Iraqi citizens, a Coalition commander said today. “It really wasn’t until the EPRT, the ‘civilian surge’ … and the surge forces arrived that we began to make what I will call measurable progress along our lines of operations,” Army Col. Mike Garret told online journalists and “bloggers” during a conference call from Forward Operating Base Kalsu, south of Baghdad, shortly after he provided a televised operational update via satellite. Garrett commands the “Spartan” 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry...

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Dec. 4, 2006) - A little more than two weeks into his own transition as the commanding general of the Multi-National Division - Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr. has already met twice with Iraqi provincial government leaders and is determined to continue to help move the process forward. "All four provinces are coming along smoothly, making positive strides every day," Fil said. "The way ahead is transitioning to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) where they are in the lead in all aspects of running their government." Coalition forces under Fil's control are assisting in this...

BAGHDAD, May 4, 2006 – The commanding general of Multinational Division Baghdad met with four prominent Iraqi governors at the Falaniko House in the International Zone here April 28 to reaffirm the leaders' joint dedication to continue working together and to discuss concerns. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, commanding general of Multinational Division Baghdad, meets with Iraqi leaders at the Falaniko House in the International Zone April. Governors from Baghdad, Babil, Karbala and Najaf provinces attended and discussed concerns, and reaffirmed their dedication to a peaceful Iraq. Photo by Spc. Karl Johnson, USA  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available....

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, April 6, 2006 – Provincial reconstruction team commanders from around the country converged here last week to share ideas on how to improve stability and security in Afghanistan. PRTs extend the visibility and reach of the Afghan government, shape the environment for reconstruction, and provide a visible international presence that deters terrorist and criminal activities, especially in remote areas. Afghanistan has 23 provincial reconstruction teams: 14 in the south and east, the areas in which the coalition has primary security responsibilities, and nine in the north and west, where NATO's International Security Assistance Force carries out...

MOH MOOD RAQI, Afghanistan (Army News Service, Nov. 3, 2005) – Various women from Combined Joint Task Force 76 met with the director of the Kapisa Provincial Women’s Center in the village of Moh Mood Raqi, Oct. 25. “We wanted to discuss ways that the Coalition could help the center,” said Col. Joyce Stevens, base operations commander, 111th Area Support Group, Texas National Guard. “The Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team helped them build the center and supply them with some items, but more is needed.” After introductions, the women discussed the daily activities offered by the center and major needs with...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2005 – The provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan have been pivotal in the resurgence of society there, NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe said here Oct. 20. Jones, who also serves as commander of U.S. European Command, spoke about the PRTs and the key role they are playing. NATO will take over the security mission in Afghanistan sometime in the future. "If I could take off these stars and do anything in life, I think I'd want to be a PRT commander," Jones said. The United States created the first PRT in Gardez in 2002. The team,...

Natalie Couglin search teams give up.

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has long been rumored as desperately seeking the democratic nomination for president in 2008. And while many political observers fully expect the power hungry former First Lady to hit the campaign trail within only a few months of being re-elected as a US Senator in 2006, US News & World report claims to have a confirmation of sorts. From USNews.Com's Washington Whispers: Hillary's in… You don't have to take it from us about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 's desire to run for president. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true. Friends...

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Military experts will press NATO (news - web sites) envoys this week to quicken the drive for an expansion of the international peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan ahead of elections in June, an alliance official said Tuesday. A resurgence of attacks by Taliban militia in lawless provinces beyond the capital, Kabul -- where NATO runs a peackeeping force of 5,700 troops -- has cast doubt over plans for the country's first free presidential poll. To widen the security net, NATO wants to take command of military teams in 12 urban areas by the middle of the year, but...

Howard and hillary   by Mia T, Independence Day, 2003     y introduction to Howard Dean was via the prototypic provincial "see ____ run" cinéma vérité political rally oxymoron that C-SPAN does so well. Howard quickly let it be known that he was less deft at these things than C-SPAN. With his first sentence, he managed to expose a level of injudiciousness and mediocrity and an unambiguous praetorian streak that, ironically, rivaled those of the object of his fatal attraction. Howard informed us -- quickly -- just in case we would get the wrong idea -- that he...