Good News from Iraq, Week Ending 09.27.08

September 29th, 2008, by Claire

Here’s your good news thread for the week. There are more than a dozen stories that journal another week of this war and the post-surge Iraq. Enjoy reading all of the successes we are seeing through out Iraq. These good news threads are possible due to the hard work and sacrifice of our troops.

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Iftar Dinner Helps Quench Hunger, Maybe Violence in Sadr City
Posted on 09.27.2008 at 02:54AM
By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office

Excerpt
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq – “It’s an opportunity to break bread and spend some time together and know each other, so that we trust each other,” said a military transition team advisor.

Approximately forty people gathered at Forward Operating Base War Eagle recently to break the Ramadan fast with a traditional Iftar dinner. There were high ranking U.S. and Iraqi army officers, U.S. State Department officials and local sheiks from the Sadr City district of Baghdad.

“Thank you for coming tonight and for all the great work that you are doing in Sadr City,” said Col. John Hort, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “For all of us here, I want to continue to work closely together to bring peace and progress to Sadr City”

Before the fast was broken, the Iraqi guests went into a specially prepared area for Salat Al Iftar prayers.

In keeping with Muslim custom, a plate of dates was brought out as the Iraqi’s, Striker Soldiers and civilians mingled and posed for photographs.

“An Iftar meal is very important in Islam. It keeps us close, it keeps us brothers to do our best for Sadr City,” said Col. Farris Khaleel, commander of the Iraqi Army’s 44th Brigade, 11th Division. Farris’ brigade is responsible for the section of Sadr City north of Al Quds/Jamilla road.

Inviting leaders from this northeastern Baghdad district is seen as a sign of progress and a step toward unifying the country.

“This invitation tells us of the great feeling from the coalition forces in front of the Iraqi people and tells us that the coalition forces want to help the Iraqi people,” said Sheik Kadhim Rbo’l Al Qurayshi, a Sadr City sheik.

The group gathered for the meal, sheik’s sitting next to civilians, U.S. Soldiers next to Iraqi army Soldiers. The topic many chose to discuss was the future.

“Things are improving in Sadr City day after day. You will notice the IA have control of things over there. There are small cells here and there, but they are not active,” said Farris.

The past was also discussed.

“After the last actions in Sadr City that happened in May, we see that a lot of good things have happened in Sadr City. We hope that in the future we will get more social services and jobs,” said Sheikh Kadhim Rbo’l Al-Qurayshi. Read More
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Raider Brigade Combat Team Commemorates Closing of Rashid Olympics With Championship Match
Posted on 09.27.2008 at 05:06AM
By Staff Sgt. Brent Williams and Sgt. David Hodge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad

Excerpt
BAGHDAD – The Rashid Olympics in southern Baghdad came to as end as more than 330 teams from 14 neighborhoods competed in friendly soccer games spanning the course of the summer.

The Rashid District Sports and Youth Committee hosted the championship soccer match and closing ceremony Sept. 9, 2008 at the Jaza’ir Oil Refinery soccer field to pit the champions of the East and West Rashid beladiyats against each other in the contest to crown a winner and relish the success of the district’s first sports program since the war began.

A team from eastern Rashid Abu T’shir earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the team from Risalah in a spirited match during the championship game that represented the zenith of more than four months of youth soccer throughout the summer.

Hard work from volunteers, coaches and all the neighborhoods in the district took care of thousands of kids competing throughout the tournament, said Lt. Col. Dave Hill, commander, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Events like these are the cornerstone of Iraq’s future, said Maj. Joe Berthelotte, brigade information officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

“The people of Rashid are returning to a sense of normalcy,” said Berthelotte, who hails from Nashua, N.H. “Children are afforded the enjoyment of a childhood – uninterrupted by the violence that was once prevalent in southern Baghdad. Events such as these are the cornerstone of Iraq’s future.”

Capt. Thao Reed worked as the special projects manager for the Rashid Olympics and served in an advisory capacity for the project, which engaged approximately 10,000 Iraqi boys and girls. Reed is the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st STB, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Reed, who is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, said she believes the project empowered the local Iraqi governance to help return a sense of normalcy to the neighborhoods and communities of Baghdad.

“When children are playing sports, there is an implied situation that means security is present – the reality of kids playing, letting our kids play on the ground, play on the streets – provides the youth and the Iraqi family a sense of normalcy,” said Reed. Read More
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4th Inf. Div. Leaders Focus Town Hall Meeting in Memory of 9/11
Posted on 09.26.2008 at 02:10PM
By Spc. Douglas York
Multi-National Division - Baghdad

Excerpt
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Anyone old enough to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, will likely never be able to put to rest the thoughts, feelings and emotions invoked by the senseless tragedies of that day.

Most will always remember where they were that day and will be able to recount the horror that unfolded – live – before our eyes and the uncertainty that forever changed our nation in the aftermath.

During the Town Hall meeting, Sept. 25, 2008, which was spearheaded by the efforts, thoughts and leadership of Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad, the division’s senior leaders took the opportunity to remember those who lost their lives on that painful day and honored a few Soldiers who took up their nation’s fight against terrorism because of their overwhelming feelings to serve based on those events.

“Our theme today is reflecting on 9/11,” Hammond said, opening the meeting. “We’re going to look back a little bit, and we’re going to talk a little bit about some experiences that members of this team had during 9/11 and why some of these young folks chose to serve their nation following that event,” he added, recalling how he also narrowly avoided losing his life when the plane was flown into the Pentagon.

Hammond then turned the floor over to Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the 4th Inf. Div. and MND-B senior enlisted leader, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., who introduced the meeting’s two guest hosts: Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bobb, a native of Killeen, Texas, who serves as the senior enlisted leader of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., based out of Fort Hood, Texas, and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey, a native of Palmerton, Pa., who is the senior enlisted leader of 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., based out of Fort Carson, Colo. Read More
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Engineers Educate 6th Iraqi Army in Route Clearance
Posted on 09.27.2008 at 08:45AM
By Capt. Marc Richardson
926th Engineer Brigade

Excerpt
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Everyday, Soldiers of the 688th Mobilization Augmentation Company wake up to patrol and clear the streets of Baghdad. At times, the job seems full of endless missions, but the Iraqi army is preparing to take on their own missions.

Recently, the 688th MAC, a component of the 890th Engineering Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, was tasked to train 12 of the 6th Iraqi Army Division’s soldiers in route clearance to missions.

Staff Sgt. Tony Brown of Green Forrest, Ark., and Sgt. Jess Rollins of Springfield, Mo., volunteered for the opportunity to educate the Iraqi soldiers in route clearance and interrogation. For three days, at Al Muthana airfield in Baghdad, Brown and Rollins used the Iraqi army’s equipment, trained and mentored their officers and ate their meals with them. Brown and Rollins both returned with a little more than they anticipated. They came back with new friends and respect for Iraqi soldiers.

“The Iraqi soldiers are strong, smart, proud and funny,” said Brown. “They are soldiers Iraqi army engineers to be exact. They have the same job as we do. Soldiers are soldiers no matter what country they come from.”

Unfortunately, it takes more than soldiers and willingness to protect a nation.

“The Iraqi engineers are ready to do our mission. I hope we empower them to do it. They have the men; they are ready and willing. They only need the equipment,” said Rollins. Read More

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Making Iraq a Safer Place One Enemy Weapon at a Time
Courtesy Story
Posted on 09.25.2008 at 07:35AM

Excerpt
BAGHDAD – Leaders from the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq J-4 (logistics) section met with the director of the Iraqi unexploded ordnance mine clearing organization, Zahim Jehad Mutarand for an initial facility visit at IMCO’s office in the International Zone.

IMCO is an Iraqi non-governmental organization developed and funded by the U.S. Department of State Weapons Abatement Program. IMCO’s main charter is to conduct unexploded ordnance and mine clearance operations for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

IMCO also trains explosive ordnance disposal technicians and instructors for the Iraqi armed forces and police. They have trained more than 950 technicians and removed nearly 150,000 mines and UXOs from all over Iraq. Read More
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Monday, 22 September 2008
By Sgt. Zach Mott
4th Infantry Division
Excerpt

BAGHDAD — The last of nearly 2,900 members of the Sons of Iraq (SOI) and Daughters of Iraq (DOI) were officially registered with the Government of Iraq in Adhamiyah District of northern Baghdad, Sept. 20.

The SOI, and most recently, the DOI, are volunteer citizen groups similar to the Neighborhood Watch Program in the United States. They have been instrumental in decreasing attacks and have aided Iraqi and Coalition forces with actionable intelligence.

The men and women made their way to Combat Outpost Apache in northern Baghdad to have their paperwork processed and information entered into a database to facilitate payment of their contract once the Iraqi government takes control of the program, Oct. 1.

“The security situation in Adhamiyah was very bad for five years, but with the help of the local forces and the SoI we have secured Adhamiyah,” said Iraqi Army (IA) Lt. Ihmad Nassir Hussein who serves with the 1st Battalion, 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division.

Prior to the program starting, Adhamiyah was rampant with insurgents and various criminal elements. Residents lived in fear, and few ventured far from their homes, if at all.

Now, with the assistance of the SOI and DOI, as well as efforts of Iraqi and Coalition forces, markets are thriving in Adhamiyah and residents enjoy the improved security and stability of this northern Baghdad District. Read More
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Iraqi Neighborhoods Return to Normal, American Soldiers Sleep a Little Easier
Story by 2nd Lt. Janeene Yarber
Posted on 09.26.2008 at 05:21AM

Excerpt
BAGHDAD, Iraq – It’s Friday night, and the sounds of city life drift high into the hot, desert air. Suddenly, a whole city block goes pitch black as the electricity is turned off.

“That’s normal. It’s just Baghdad power turning off,” stated 1st Sgt. Paul Gonzales, first sergeant assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), who has experienced many months of the erratic power supply. “I’m just glad to hear the people outside at night. That’s a huge change from when we first got here.”

When Co. A Soldiers arrived, fear of violence from local militia kept Iraqi families indoors, while the Soldiers of Co. A, 2nd Bn., 30th Inf. Regt., based in Fort Polk, La., were kept up at night fending off deadly attacks and battling the heat inside a badly damaged building.

“We slept outside. It was just too hot to stay indoors at night,” stated one Co. A Soldier. Read More
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Air Force Marathon Runs Through Iraq
Story by Tech Sgt. Francesca Popp
Posted on 09.26.2008 at 01:02AM

Excerpt
ALI BASE, Iraq – While many marathon participants in Dayton, Ohio, may have been winding down the night before the race, runners at Ali Base began pacing themselves with the sound of a car horn.

More than 70 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and civilians – American and Romanian — took off into the darkness in hopes of finishing first, but that honor went to Bruce Kraft, a 39-year-old Air Force technical sergeant from Watertown, S.D.

Kraft crossed the finish line with a time of 3:30:58. He said this was his third Air Force Marathon and that it was an “awesome surprise” to place first overall here.

“There were four [runners] ahead of me from about mile three and I guess they dropped out at the half. When I caught that lead guy at about 21 miles, I couldn’t believe it,” said Kraft, who hit the wall around 19 miles. Read More
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Sons of Iraq Meet With Iraqi Security Force Leaders to Clarify Changeover
Story by Spc. Katrina Faulkner-Brown
Posted on 09.25.2008 at 02:01PM

Excerpt
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Sons of Iraq and Iraqi security force leaders met at 1st National Police Division headquarters in eastern Baghdad to discuss transitioning the SoI to government of Iraq control, Sept. 20, 2008.

Historically, SoI is an organization of volunteers, formerly known as concerned local citizens, who provide security in their neighborhoods to protect people from criminals, militants and other anti-Iraqi forces. Subsequently, coalition forces paid SoI members for their hard work and dedication in securing their neighborhoods. And now, the GoI has incorporated SoI into the ISF and government service.

Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abdulkreem Abdulrahman Al-Izi, commander of Rusafa Area Command and 1st NP Div., said, Oct. 1, 2008, will be the first time SoI will be paid through the Iraqi government. He explained that ISF officials wanted to meet with SoI leaders to discuss the details of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s order to integrate the SoI, which the GoI passed recently. Before the meeting, many questions and rumors remained concerning the placement of and payment to SoI members.

“We want to show that we are working with the SoI to coordinate our work with them,” commented Abdulrahman. Read More
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Soldiers Relax, Enjoy Breaks From Missions in Iraq

Posted on 09.25.2008 at 10:03AM
By 2nd Lt. Janeene Yarber
926th Engineer Brigade

Excerpt
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Recently family and friends have asked, “What do the Soldiers deployed to Iraq do in their spare time? Is there any downtime? What should we send in care packages?” Several Soldiers serving with Multi-National Division – Baghdad give us a glimpse into their downtime, and answer those questions.

As a break, the Headquarters and Support Company of the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion threw a party to let the Soldiers have an afternoon of fun.

Nothing reminds a Soldier of a summer back in the U.S. like eating a great grilled steak, burger or hot dog, and cold macaroni salad, while smelling the hot coals blowing in the desert wind. What’s missing? Some Soldiers say a cold beer. There’s beer to drink here, but only non-alcoholic varieties. Read More
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Bush praises Iraqi leadership
by Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Excerpt
WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2008) – President Bush Tuesday applauded the leadership of Iraq as he met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and other leaders of the Iraqi coalition at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Bush attributed successes in democratizing the country to the sacrifices of both the Iraqi people and those countries that have contributed to the multinational efforts there.

“A lot of people around the world have made sacrifices along with the Iraqi people to enable a country to emerge from the shadows of tyranny to become a hopeful example for nations around the world,” Bush said

The president especially credited Talabani, calling his leadership “steadfast.”

“Many of the troops of the countries represented here have returned home, but they have done so on success,” Bush said. “And I want to applaud your steadfast leadership and thank the people of your respective countries for making the sacrifices so that others can live in a free society.”

But, while the president cited substantial changes made in the country, he said there was still more work to do there. Read More
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Partnership paves way to productive future in Iraq
by Jim Garamone
Armed Forces Press Service

Excerpt
WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2008) — The partnership between the Coalition and the Iraqi government has been enormously productive and is continuing to pay dividends, said Brig. Gen. David Perkins, a Coalition spokesman in Baghdad.

Perkins and Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Qasim Atta spoke about a range of subjects during a news conference Thursday.

Atta, the spokesman for the Iraqi Army’s Baghdad Operations Center, said that as the holy month of Ramadan closes and Iraqis begin to celebrate the Feast of Eid on Oct. 1, security forces will take extra precautions, such as not allowing vehicles to enter parks where the feasting will take place. The change is a precaution, even though violent incidents during Ramadan – usually a month when attacks spike – are down, he said.

Since the beginning of September, 2,613 dislocated families have returned to their homes in Baghdad, Atta said. “The number of returning families are increasing every day and we expect that after Eid, this number is going to double,” he said through a translator. Read More
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Detainees Return to Society Armed With Skills, Education
Friday, 26 September 2008
By Army Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret
Special to American Forces Press Service

Excerpt
CAMP VICTORY — Coalition forces have returned nearly 13,000 Iraqi detainees to their families this year in the hopes that they will benefit a society they once helped fill with violence.

The Coalition’s Joint Task Force 134 is working to reinstate between 30 and 45 detainees per day, and arming them with job skills and education before they are returned home.

“This is a process that shows the people of Iraq that we are working with the government of Iraq to reconcile the past,” said Navy Lt. Micah Brewer, of Oceanside, Calif., a representative of the Multi-National Force Review Committee.

The detainees benefit from a number of programs to better their lives. Carpentry, art, literacy, civics classes and even a sewing shop are among the many classes available during detainment.

“This process helps get them back to a normal life and hopefully helps bring Iraq to a level of normalcy that provides stability and peace,” added Brewer, who is stationed on Camp Cropper, an internment facility just south of Baghdad that holds roughly 3,000 detainees. Read More
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‘Sons of Iraq’ Meet With Iraqi Leaders to Clarify Changeover
Friday, 26 September 2008
By Spc. Katrina Faulkner-Brown
10th Mountain Division

Excerpt
FOB LOYALTY — Sons of Iraq (SoI) and Iraqi security force (ISF) leaders met at 1st National Police Division headquarters in eastern Baghdad Sept. 20, to discuss transitioning the SoI to government of Iraq (GoI) control.

The SoI is an organization of volunteers, formerly known as concerned local citizens, who provide security in their neighborhoods to protect people from criminals, militants and other anti-Iraqi forces. Subsequently, Coalition forces paid SoI members for their hard work and dedication in securing their neighborhoods. And now, the GoI has incorporated SoI into the ISF and government service.

“We want to show that we are working with the SoI to coordinate our work with them,” commented Abdulrahman.

Iraqi Maj. Gen. Qasim Jasim Nazzal, 9th Iraqi Army Division commander, and Dr. Tahswen Al-Shakhalyw, Baghdad security plan leader, attended the meeting in a show of support for the GoI accepting SoI into their ranks.

According to an agenda read at the meeting, organizers’ goals included addressing answered questions, squashing rumors and assuring SoI leaders the government does not want to deceive them. Read More
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Iraq Assumes Bulk of Security Mission Northwest of Baghdad
Friday, 26 September 2008
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Excerpt
WASHINGTON — Iraqi Soldiers and ‘Sons of Iraq’ civilian security members are now performing the bulk of security duties northwest of Baghdad, a senior U.S. military officer in Iraq said today.

“All in all, security in the area is vastly improved as the result of the great work of our Soldiers and their increasingly confident and capable partners, the Iraqi security forces,” Army Col. Todd McCaffrey, commander of the U.S. 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, told Pentagon reporters during a satellite-carried news conference.

The U.S. Soldiers under McCaffrey’s command do not patrol much anymore, he said.

“The basic security that prevents the enemy’s freedom-of-movement through the area is really executed by the Iraqi Army and by the Sons of Iraq,” McCaffrey said. “That is no longer a task that we participate in and there’s no need for us to do that.”

And, more and more, all U.S. operations against insurgents are conducted in unison with Iraqi forces, McCaffrey said.

Enemy attacks in his 1,300-square-mile sector are down more than 74 percent since December 2007 and decreased more than 500 percent since September 2007, McCaffrey said. Also, sectarian murders in his area have nearly stopped, he said.

The majority-Sunni residents in McCaffrey’s sector banded together to help U.S. and Iraqi forces expel al-Qaida terrorists, he said.

“Ultimately, this is about local communities that rejected the dogma and the ideology of al-Qaida,” he said. Read More
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Iraqi Soldiers Train to Become Leaders
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
By Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak
11th Public Affairs Detachment

Excerpt
QAYYARAH — With the new Iraqi Army in place, many within the military are finding themselves in leadership roles. To better help lead their subordinates, and peers in some cases, many Soldiers in the 2nd Division Iraqi Army are showing up at Forward Operating Base Q-West to partake in the Iraqi Warrior Leader’s Course.

Developed in 2005, the IWLC has seen more than 1,000 IA Soldiers graduate from the 23-day course. With a small cadre to Soldier ratio, the trainees are able to grasp the variety of course material through many different learning styles. From classroom instruction to a hands-on approach, participants tackle the given tasks.

“The training is going on as we like, and the Soldiers are doing exactly what we tell them to do,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Hamdan Fadhil Sulayman, the IWLC commandant with 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, Iraqi Army. Read More
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Sheik Vowes Support to Government of Iraq
Sunday, 21 September 2008
By Pfc. Adam Carl Blazak
11th Public Affairs Detachment

Excerpt
KHARMAR — When he speaks, they want to listen. That is how respected Sheik Fares Mohammad Al Taha is to his people of the Al Jehaishi tribe. So when Iraqi Soldiers stopped by to deliver food and water to his village, Taha delivered an unprecedented speech.

Addressing many of the village head-of-households, Taha, surrounded by Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers, publicly declared his support for the Government of Iraq along with the Iraqi security and Coalition forces.

“Having this [food] campaign only brings us closer to the Government of Iraq,” Taha told the men and women present from his tribe. “We support the security forces and GoI. We know this, because we have never had any activity against the government in our village.”

After his speech, Taha helped the IA in distributing more than 100 boxes of food along with bottled drinking water to the poorest households in his tribe.

The food drive comes after Iraqi and U.S. forces led a medical campaign in the village just weeks ago.

One of the villagers at the food drive was 40-year-old Thiab Khalaf Ali, a husband and father who struggles to make ends-meet. Read More
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