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Published by Multi-National Force - Iraq November 23, 2005Vol. 1, No. 15
TopStories
Iraqi Citizens thwart car-bomb attack, Page 2
U.S., Iraqi medics combineto aid village, Page 3
Operation Clean Sweepnets over 50 suspects, Page 4
Navy corpsmen followpatients to the front, Page 5
Securing Samarra, Page 7
Coalition, Iraqi SecurityForces operations review,
Page 8
The road to democracy,Page 9
New pumps provide freshwater to Mendeli, Page 10
Airmen give Iraqi childrencheer, supplies, Pages 11
IraqiForces hitthe streetson patrol
Page 12
Local instructors guide troopsas Iraq expands basic training
TAJI – Ten days have been added toIraqi basic training and a second group ofIraqi Soldiers has begun the new 24-daycycle.
“It started off as a two-week program,”said Staff Sgt. Michael J. Munoz of the80th Division, who serves as operationsnoncommissioned officer at the academy.
During the 24 days of training, Munozsaid the recruits now learn drill and cere-mony, weapons marksmanship, squad-
level movement techniques, room-clearingprocedures and how to operate traffic-con-trol points.
Instructors are able to go into greaterdetail when teaching the individual skillsbecause they have more time than they didduring the 14-day cycles, Munoz added.
Iraqi NCOs now teach recruitsAt the academy, recruits are taught hand-
and-arm signals. All the instruction is inArabic, no translator is needed. Iraqi non-commissioned officers teach the course.
“We’re at a phase now where we mainly
See BASIC, Page 4
Story and photos by Sgt. Matthew WesterArmy News Service
An Iraqi instructor shows a recruit the proper way to hold his AK-47 rifle atthe Iraqi Army Basic Training Academy at Taji. Iraqi recruits learned crucial,basic combat skills as part of an expanded program at the academy. This isthe second group of Soldiers to go through an extended cycle of basictraining where Iraqi sergeants do the bulk of the teaching.
Editor.................................................................Spc. David J. Claffey
Assistant Editor...........................................Spc. Richard L. Rzepka
Command Information NCOIC.........................Sgt. Jeffery M. Lowry
This Week in IraqPage 2 November 23, 2005
This Week in Iraq is an authorized publication produced by Multi-National Force- Iraq. Contents are not the official views of the U.S. Government or DoD. The editorial content is theresponsibility of the Public Affairs Office of the Multi-National Force - Iraq. Questions and commentsshould be directed to the editor at [email protected].
MNF-I Commanding GeneralGen. George W. Casey Jr.
Combined Press Information Center DirectorLt. Col. Barry A. [email protected]
Command Information ChiefCapt. Bradford E. [email protected]
The other day, Coalitionforces transferred thelargest base
in Tikrit, ForwardOperating Base“Danger” to theMinistry of Finance.Also known as theTikrit PalaceComplex, FOBDanger is perhaps themost significant of allthe installation trans-fers. About 30 mili-tary compounds havechanged from coali-tion to Iraqi control.The massive complex is more than1,000 acres with 136 buildings. Inaddition to the buildings, there aremore than 60 additional structureson the complex grounds used forlogistic, utility, or maintenancefunctions.
The complex centerpiece is thePresidential Palace built bySaddam Hussein for his mother. Itis the largest and most elaborateof the presidential sites built bySaddam Hussein. It is also a sym-bol of how Iraq’s wealth wassquandered for his personal use,while the vast majority of Iraqipeople remained in poverty. As ofNov. 22, it belongs to and servesthe people of Iraq.
This transfer is another key stepin replacing the Coalition Forceswith Iraqi Security Forces. As the
ISF grows stronger, they are tak-ing the lead in providing securityfor the nation. From one brigadeand 11 battalions in June 2005, toone division, five brigades and 36battalions as of Nov. 5, IraqiForces are increasingly in the
lead. The Iraqi govern-ment is taking backmore property and bat-tlespace from theCoalition, all accordingto plan. Battlespaceand key landmarkturnovers are but partof the incessant marchtoward democracy.
The biggest step isstill to come thisDecember when Iraqisvote for their perma-nent government. The
Constitutional Referendumshowed that given the right envi-ronment, one safe and free ofintimidation, the people of Iraqwill vote for their future.
The referendum saw about 10million voters turn out and thiselection promises even more.
To ensure safety and security,there will be more than 6,000additional ISF on the streets forthe election than we had for thereferendum — 80,000 more thanwe had for the elections inJanuary. In a way the palace inTikrit is really two symbols forthe Iraqi people.
For the past, it is the symbol ofwaste and abuse of the many bythe few. For the future, it is asymbol of the prosperity possiblethrough democracy.
Gen. George W.Casey Jr.
By Gen. George W. Casey Jr.Multi-National Force - IraqCommanding General
CG’s Weekly Message ...
BAGHDAD — Alert neighborhood watch membersin east Baghdad stopped a car-bomb attack Nov. 15.
Shortly before 6 p.m., local residents noticed a sus-picious vehicle getting fuel from a roadside gasolinedealer.
When the neighborhood watch members approachedthe driver, he pulled a pistol and pointed it at them andthen attempted to flee.The citizens tried to stopthe suspect, but wereunsuccessful, said OdayFakhan, the leader of theneighborhood watch.
As he fled, the would-be car bomber attemptedto highjack a getawayvehicle at gunpoint, butfailed in his first attempt.The driver of anothervehicle, a taxi, allowedthe suspect to enter andtook him to a neighbor-hood in Baladiat, a sub-urb in east Baghdad.
Meanwhile, IraqiPolice were called to thescene and secured thearea around the suspicious vehicle.
The taxi driver returned to the scene after droppingoff the suspect.
“The taxi driver told us that during the ride, the sus-pect used his cell phone to call his uncle to inform himthat the operation had failed,” Fakhan said.
An Iraqi Police explosives ordnance disposal teamwas called to the scene to investigate the suspiciousvehicle and found it was wired with five 155 mmartillery rounds and other explosives embedded in thetrunk and doors.
The EOD team deactivated the explosives.
Iraqi citizens thwartcar-bomb attack
Iraqi Police secure avehicle which hadbeen wired as a poten-tial car bomb with five155 mm artilleryrounds and otherexplosives in an eastBaghdad neighbor-hood.
Story and photo by Maj. Russ Goemaere2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office
This Week in IraqPage 3 November 23, 2005
U.S., Iraqi medics work together; treat families
ZAGILBANA — Medics of 2ndBattalion, 320th Field Artillery Regimentjoined manpower, supplies and compas-sion with medics from the Iraqi Army toconduct a medical civilian assistance pro-gram mission for the people of Zagilbana.
“We must have treated over 100 people,probably more” said 2nd Lt. Brian Mason,the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field ArtilleryRegiment Medical Officer.
Although five artillery battalion medicsparticipated, the show was run by the IraqiArmy.
“Most of the patients were treated by theIraqi Army medics,” Mason stated. “We letthem handle as much as possible.”
According to Mason, most of the treat-
ments were for cold-like symptoms,though they treated a few chronic issues.
Once the medics had set up the tempo-rary aid station, the battalion’s psychologi-cal operations detachment drove up thetallest hill in the small village and broad-casted the news that Coalition Forces hadarrived and were providing free medicalattention. Men brought their family mem-bers to the clinic as soon as the wordreached the dusty streets.
“Within five minutes we had citizensshowing up for medical attention,” Masonsaid. “The women formed their own line,and the men brought in their children.”
The only female medic, Spc. CarmenLozano attached from Company C, 426thBrigade Support Battalion, turned out to beone of the most valuable assets to the mis-sion, said Mason.
“The majority of the women patients wetreated were of the Arab culture,” Mason
said. “It was only respectable to have afemale treat the women.”
Some patients arrived with serious ill-nesses and in need of long-term care.
“When we received a patient with achronic illness, we gave treatment for thepresent symptoms, but we tried to expressthe fact that they need to make appoint-ments at the medical facility in Tuz,”Mason said. “Even though we wanted tohelp them, we gave them advice and direct-ed them to a facility that could providelong-term care.”
By early afternoon many villagerswalked away having been treated with careand medication, and Mason said that eventhe village Muktar (a highly respected vil-lage elder) and his sons visited the stationto show their support for the operation.
The mission was deemed a success whenthe temporary aid station ran out of basicsupplies and medications before noon.
Story by Spc. Barbara Ospina1st Brigade Combat TeamPublic Affairs
BAGHDAD — Residents in the northern Baghdad district ofAdhamiyah will soon have more reliable electricity, due in part tothe installation of 2.5 miles of underground power cable. Thecable will connect two new substations, helping bring power toabout 2,500 to 3,000 homes.
Experts expect the power cable project, which began in July, tobe finished this month. The Project and Contracting Office’s elec-tricity sector is overseeing the $1.4 million project; the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, Gulf Regional Division, is responsible forquality control.
The underground cable will take 33,000 volts of power fromone substation to another, where it will be converted down to11,000 volts. From there, power will feed to a distribution net-work of poles, cables, and overhead lines supplying electricity tohomes and businesses.
During its active phase, the project employed about 100 Iraqiworkers per day. They performed power cable work by hand,from digging trenches, laying cable to the sidewalk restoration.Employing Iraqi workers helped the local economy by keepingmore dollars in the surrounding community.
The electricity sector is one of four PCO sectors managingreconstruction projects throughout Iraq. The other sectors are oil,public works and water, and facilities and transportation.
In total, the PCO Electrical Sector is responsible for 434 proj-ects valued at about $3.2 billion. To date, the Electricity Sector has
completed more than 80 projects totaling an estimated $660 mil-lion. An estimated $1.3 billion is being used on projects that arenow in progress, leaving $1.2 billion for remaining projects.
The majority of 352 remaining Electricity Sector projects arescheduled for completion by December 2006.
New power cable brings reliable electricityStory by Jenna BiseniusIraqi Project and Contracting Office
Photos courtesy of Iraqi Project and Contracting OfficeWorkers break up and remove asphalt in preparation forthe digging of a power cable trench along the streets ofBaghdad.
This Week in IraqPage 4 November 23, 2005
just advise the Iraqi instructors,” said Sgt. 1stClass Naymon Mack, an advisor at the academywho also serves in the 80th Division.
“Two years ago, we started off with Americansgiving all the training. American drill instructorsdid all the training through interpreters,” Macksaid. “We’ve moved to another level.”
Level of training improvesThe recruits leave the academy better prepared
for the challenges of combat.The Iraqi trainees carry AK-47 rifles on their
shoulders as they march smartly from one instruc-tion area to another. When a drill sergeant callsthem to attention, they shout in unison, “Long liveIraq!”
In the Iraqi Army, Soldiers are assigned to aunit, attend basic training and then go back to their unit after thetraining is over.
“The units can see a difference between the Iraqi Soldiers whohave attended basic training and those who have not,” Munoz said.“There is a difference in discipline as well as skills.”
Discipline is crucial for the troops in training, who are sure tosee action while defending their country.
“In the U.S. Army, when we graduate basic training, we don’tknow for sure if we’re going to be in combat or not,” Munoz said.“When these guys graduate, they know they’re going to be in
combat.”And the Soldiers will take on an active role.“Once they finish their training, within a cou-
ple of weeks they are outside the wire conduct-ing patrols,” Mack said. “It is very importantthat they work as hard as they can to learn every-thing they need to know.”
Iraqi instructors are motivatedDuring rifle-marksmanship training, the Iraqi
cadre members moved the recruits’ arms intoproper firing positions and gave them tips foracquiring targets while standing and on themove. The Iraqi Soldiers asked questions, mak-ing sure they were positioned exactly as theywere instructed. The instructors’ techniques arehands-on, and they are determined to teach theIraqi Soldiers to a high standard.
“They’ve been doing a good job training theIraqi soldier recruits since we’ve handed over
things to the Iraqis,” Munoz said. “They’ve got it down as far astraining Iraqi troops.”
In a couple of weeks, the troops of this second expanded cyclewill graduate, go back to their units and conduct missions to com-bat the insurgency.
The Americans working at the academy see the basic trainingprogram as an important part of transitioning Iraq’s defense toIraqi forces.
“(The Iraqi instructors) are very motivated,” Mack said. “Theywant to get things done.”
from page 1Basic
An Iraqi Army recruitshoots an AK-47 rifle atthe Iraqi Army BasicTraining Academy at Taji,Iraq on Nov. 2. Iraqirecruits have learned cru-cial, basic combat skills aspart of an expanded pro-gram at the academy.
BAGHDAD — Iraqi and U.S. forcesdetained dozens of terror suspects duringsearches in south Baghdad as OperationClean Sweep continued to clear neighbor-hoods of terrorist activity.
“Operation Clean Sweep was intended toclean out an area that was known to beused as a way for insurgents to cometowards Baghdad from the south as well asan area that a lot of (vehicle-borne impro-vised explosive devices) and IEDs werecoming from,” said Lt. Col. Everett Knapp,commander of 1st Battalion, 184th InfantryRegiment.
In anticipation of the Dec. 15 nationwideelections, the battalion as well as Iraqiforces from the 4th Public Order Brigadeand 1st Commando Brigade, raided about350 homes and detained 49 suspected ter-
rorists. Military officialssaid 10 of the suspectswere forwarded to deten-tion facilities.
Some of the U.S.Soldiers set up the outercordon of the missionwhile others shadowedtheir Iraqi counterpartsduring the operation in lateOctober.
“The Iraqi Soldiers real-ly took the lead (on thismission),” Knapp said.“They don’t need transla-tors; they can tell who thegood guys are and whodoesn’t belong in a certain situation.”
During the Oct. 15 ConstitutionalReferendum vote, clearing the area of pos-sible dangers to the democratic processwas one of the reasons the U.S. Soldiersswept through the fields, clearing everybuilding that stood in their path.
“We want the people tosee the Iraqi SecurityForces protecting them,”Knapp said. “This elec-tion has nothing to dowith us. This whole oper-ation is about making thisarea safe for the Iraqi peo-ple to see their ownSoldiers protecting them.”
1st Lt. Jim Waters, ofCompany C, 1/184thInfantry, said his Soldiersjoined Iraqi Commandosduring the operation.
“The message we’retrying to convey is that
the Iraqi government and the Iraqi SecurityForces are capable of securing the coun-try,” Waters said. “The citizens of Iraqwho are in cooperative support of the newgovernment don’t have anything to fearfrom the power of the American military orthe power of Iraq’s security forces.”
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan BaldaIraqi Commandos conductclearing operations withSoldiers from 1stBattalion, 184th Infantry.
Story and photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser2nd Force Service Support Group
Operation Clean Sweep nets 50 terror suspects
LSA ANACONDA — Electricity pow-ers living areas and workstations for theSoldiers and civilians on LogisticalSupport Area Anaconda.
Sgt. James Foster, noncommissionedofficer in charge of the electrical supportshop with the 4th Battalion, 159th AviationMaintenance Company, reworked the elec-tricity and power flow for the company toincrease productivity on LSA Anaconda.
“The poor electrical conditions areunsafe. We had bare wires, overloaded cir-cuits and too much amperage running
through cables,” Foster said. Foster builds machines, designs circuit-
ry, programs robots, and sets up automa-tion systems in the civilian world. Heowns his own business at home and isfamiliar with the work that he was taskedto do at LSAAnaconda. Foster was chosento run a special team for the 4/159th AVMto handle electrical problems.
“With that knowledge I was able to buildstuff out of junk,” Foster said.
He was given two apprentices to helphim with projects. The aviation hangerswere in bad shape at the start of the compa-ny’s deployment.
Foster used innovative techniques tobuild panel equipment and switches for theelectricity problems the unit was facing in
the hangers they used to do maintenanceon helicopters.
Foster’s work moved from the hangersto the living areas and offices around theworksite. All of the work that Foster didallowed the 4/159th the freedom to moveaway from using multiple generators. Hewas able to consolidate the power that 12generators were doing saving fuel. Hisefforts save 49 gallons of fuel every eighthours.
Foster and his fellow Soldiers of the4/159th have worked hard to keep helicop-ters flying. His efforts with the electricitymade the jobs of the maintenance peopleeasier by giving them more light, moreequipment use, and an overall better workarea.
This Week in IraqPage 5 November 23, 2005
Heroes of the WeekNavy corpsmen follow patients to the front
HUSAYBAH—Marines involved inOperation Steel Curtain rely heavily oneach other, their weapons and training formission success.
However, an invaluable asset to anyMarine Corps unit is the brave personnelwho follow them into battle: the NavyCorpsmen.
Tasked with maintaining the medicalhealth and safety of the Marines, thesesailors travel with their Marines from state-side command to the front lines, caring forthem each step of the way.
Dedicated to the medical needs ofMarines during peacetime and combat,these select few hospital corpsmen, affec-tionately called “Doc” by their Marines,must complete the Field Medical ServiceSchool prior to attaching to a Marine unit.
The process is entirely voluntary butviewed as a privilege by those who havechosen what they call the “green side” ofNavy service.
“The Navy side is a little more relaxed,so this is a real change,” Seaman Lester E.
Spence, a corpsmen assignedto 8th Engineer SupportBattalion, Combat LogisticsBattalion, 2nd MarineLogistics Group (Forward),said. “There is a lot of trustbetween Marines and corps-men; there has to be.”
And that trust is crucial in acombat environment.
“My Marines know that ifanything happens to them, I’llrun in there to help them nomatter what the situation,” the21-year-old Euclid, Ohio, res-ident said. “If I have to putmy life in danger, I will. That’s why I’mhere: to be with my guys.”
The Marine Corps sense of camaraderiealso extends to the corpsmen who attend tothem, according to Seaman Manuel A.Arciniegas, a corpsmen with 8th ESB.
“If I’m not on a convoy with my guys,they freak out,” the 29-year-old Miami res-ident said. “They know I’m here to lookafter them and they look after me.”
Corpsmen here deal with the horrors ofwar at a moment’s notice. Facing blastinjuries, burns, broken bones and gunshotwounds, they provide treatment even under
fire. They are the first line of treatment forthe service members here.
“We’re basically a paramedic in thefield,” Arciniegas said. “Any medical carewe can provide to our patient within ourmeans, we do.”
But corpsmen also act as caregivers tothe enemy and anyone else who may beinjured on the battlefield.
While Marines continue operations toensure a free and democratic country forthe people of Iraq, they can do so knowingthat the Navy’s dedicated corpsmen arethere for them each step of the way.
Story and photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser2nd Force Service Support Group
Seamen Manuel A. Arciniegas (left) and LesterE. Spence treat a resident of Husaybah, Iraq,outside of a forward operating base here.
Story by Sgt. Mitch Armbruster207th Mobile Public AffairsDetachment
Aviation mechanic a power saver for Anaconda
This Week in IraqPage 6 November 23, 2005
SAUDISAUDIARABIAARABIA
TURKEYTURKEY
SYRIASYRIA
IRANIRAN
JORDANJORDAN
KUWAIT
Al Qa’imAl Al QaQa’’imim
FallujahFallujahFallujahRamadiRamadiRamadi
Ar RutbahArAr RutbahRutbah
DahukDahukDahuk
Tall AfarTall AfarTall Afar
IrbilIrbilIrbil
KirkukKirkukKirkuk
TikritTikritTikrit
SamarraSamarraSamarra
KarbalaKarbalaKarbala
An NajafAn An NajafNajaf
As SamawahAs As SamawahSamawahAn NasiriyahAn An NasiriyahNasiriyah
Al KutAl Al KutKut
Al AmarahAl Al AmarahAmarah
Al BasrahAl Al BasrahBasrah
Facilitators/ Money/ Foreign Fighters
Facilitators/ Money/ Foreign Fighters
Iranian Influence/Weapons/ MoneyIranian Influence/Weapons/ Money
Green LineGreen Line
Facilitators/ Money/ Foreign Fighters
Facilitators/ Money/ Foreign Fighters
Facilit
ators/
Mone
y/
Foreign Fi
ghters
Facilit
ators/
Mone
y/
Foreign Fi
ghters
Facilitators/ Money/ Foreign Fighters
Facilitators/ Money/ Foreign Fighters
Baghdad:-SDM, IZR Sunni & Shi'a, T&FF -National Center of Gravity -Focus of insurgent strategy
Mosul:-SDM/IZR Sunni & Shi'a-Former Ba’athist stronghold-Home for terrorists/extremists
BAGHDADBAGHDADBAGHDAD
MosulMosulMosul
Ba’aqubahBaBa’’aqubahaqubah
LEGEND
Pri./ Alt. Ratlines
Official Entry Points
SDM/IZR Sunni Influence
SDM/IZR Sunni
Concentration
IZR Shi'a Influence
T&FF Influence Lines of Influence
6,582
91,446
295,283,957
126,659
140,379
23,676
146,034
9,124
502,778
Totals(May 05)
10,522222,1908,332Machine Guns
146,76221027,020119,742Helmets
236,500
2
113
0
1644
24
1,805
Issued in Past Week
340,964,571
166,322
190,820
30,381
229,029
20,453
774,022
Totals(Nov 05)
14,51315,868Radios
95,87494,946AK 47s
149,29217,030Pistols
132,23296,797 Body Armor
8,32712,126Vehicles
337,580436,442Uniforms
203,502,478
Ministry of Defense Forces
137,462,093Ammunition
Ministry of Interior Forces
6,582
91,446
295,283,957
126,659
140,379
23,676
146,034
9,124
502,778
Totals(May 05)
10,522222,1908,332Machine Guns
146,76221027,020119,742Helmets
236,500
2
113
0
1644
24
1,805
Issued in Past Week
340,964,571
166,322
190,820
30,381
229,029
20,453
774,022
Totals(Nov 05)
14,51315,868Radios
95,87494,946AK 47s
149,29217,030Pistols
132,23296,797 Body Armor
8,32712,126Vehicles
337,580436,442Uniforms
203,502,478
Ministry of Defense Forces
137,462,093Ammunition
Ministry of Interior Forces
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES EQUIPMENT
SAMARRA—The 3rd Battalion, 69thArmor Regiment, 1st Brigade CombatTeam, 3rd Infantry Division, is bringingIraq one step closer to becoming a demo-cratic, independent country.
Soldiers from 3/69th Armor’s MilitaryTransition Team have been trainingSoldiers in the Iraqi Army’s 2nd Battalion,1st Brigade, 4th Division, since March.
The MiTT’s mission is to train the IraqiArmy Soldiers to conduct operations ontheir own. Twelve MiTT Soldiers train theIraqi staff officers while the 3/69th Armorline units train 2nd Battalion line troops.
“We are trying to teach 2nd Battalion’sofficers how to run a battalion and we havebeen teaching their line units how to con-duct raids and patrols,” said Sgt. 1st ClassMilton Evans, MiTT team leader, 3/69thArmor.”When we first got these guys theywere pretty green,” Evans said. “Sincethen I have seen a lot of progression.”
“We have trained the Iraqi troops thesame way we would train U.S. Soldiers,”said Staff Sgt. Marcos Rico, MiTT, teamleader, 3-69th Armor. They first go through
a basic training thengo on to theiradvanced individualtraining,”
Because the IraqiArmy is in the earlystages of develop-ment, the 3-69thArmor Soldiers pro-viding the IraqiSoldiers with armoredvehicles, weaponsand advanced individ-ual training, said Maj.Philip P. Graham,MiTT officer-in-charge, 3/69thArmor. “This givesthe Iraqi Soldiers theextra equipment to get the job done.”
The Iraqi troops from 2nd Battalion puttheir training to the test on the tough streetsof Samarra. There they man four check-points and run independent operationssuch as raids and patrols.
When the Iraqi troops started conductingoperations in Samarra, Soldiers with theMiTT would go to make sure the IraqiArmy troops were professional about themission.
“Now, it has gotten to the point wherewe will send the Iraqi Soldiers out on mis-
sions alone and we will observe them fromthe tactical operations center,” said Rico.
During October’s ConstitutionalReferendum the Iraqi Soldiers were instru-mental in securing Samarra. The IraqiArmy manned checkpoints, voting boothsand secured ballot boxes in Samarra withlittle help from U.S. Soldiers.
“The Iraqi Army Soldiers are doing agood job,” said Graham. “They are leaningforward and trying to do more for the peo-ple of Iraq. We are getting great strideswith all the Iraqi Army units in the area.”
Iraqis securing Samarra with help from the MiTTThis Week in IraqPage 7 November 23, 2005
Soldiers from the Iraqi Army’s 2nd Battalion, 1stBrigade, 4th Division, get ready to convoy to Samarra,from Forward Operating Base Speicher.
Story and photo by Pfc. Joshua R. FordMulti-National Corps - Iraq PublicAffairs Office
AL KUT — A big step was taken tohand over security in the Wasit Province asthe 3rd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Divisionfrom Al Kut was inspected and certified bymembers of the Multinational DivisionCentral South.
The unit is capable of planning and con-ducting military activities independent ofU.S. and Coalition forces.
Members of the Ukrainian’s MilitaryTransition Team guided the Iraqi Soldiersthrough tactical, medical and special train-ing mission. They also conducted 12 jointoperations to evaluate the brigade’s readi-ness, synchronized with local police andgovernment.
The 3rd Brigade belongs to 8th IraqiArmy Division. It consists of three battal-ions based throughout the Wasit province.
About 2,500 Soldiers are equipped in lightarmored vehicles and have been trained onan assortment of different weapons.
The 3rd Brigade has already put theirtraining to work, setting up more than 50checkpoints and 15 mobile patrols to pro-tect key infrastructure. They also providedsecurity during the Nov. 15 Referendum onthe Iraqi Constitution.
The next step for the 3rd Brigade is tohelp certify the entire 8th Division, inDecember. It will be another full divisionto help secure Iraq.
Iraq Army’s 3rd Brigade to secure Wasit ProvinceStory by Lt. Col. Sylwester MichalskiMultinational Division Central SouthPublic Information Office
The completion of the Ramadi Headquarters Fire Station now provides 400,000 residents with increasedfire security, a training facility for firefighters, and command and control over other fire stations.
More than 1,400 students will have a better learning environment and a brighter future with the completedrenovation of two schools in Baghdad Province.
This Week in IraqPage 8 November 23, 2005
Coalition, Iraqi Security Forces’Operations Review
This week in Iraq, 526 insur-gents were detained or killedand 104 weapons caches werediscovered during 355 com-bined operations throughoutthe country. More than 30 per-cent of those operations wereconducted independently byIraqi Security Forces.
In Operation Steel Curtain,Iraqi Army Soldiers andCoalition troops assigned toRegimental Combat Team - 2began clearing the Ramanaarea Nov. 18, which is west ofUbaydi on the northern side ofthe Euphrates River.
Operation Steel Curtain isdesigned to restore Iraqi sovereign controlalong the Iraq-Syria border and destroy theal Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operatingthroughout the al Qaim region.
This offensive is part of the larger
Operation Sayaid (Hunter), designed toprevent al Qaeda in Iraq from operating inthe Euphrates River Valley and to establisha permanent Iraqi Army security presencein the al Qaim region.
Also in the western province,Approximately 150 Iraqi Army soldiersand 300 Marines and Soldiers from the 2ndBrigade Combat Team, 2nd MarineDivision began Operation Bruins in north-ern Ar Ramadi on Nov. 19.
Operation Bruins is part of a series ofoperations in Ramadi. Iraqi Army soldiersand U.S. forces have conducted a numberof cordon and sweep operations in Ramadiand the surrounding area to disrupt insur-gent activity. Coalition Forces and IraqiSecurity Forces aim to stop insurgentsfrom using the city as a base of operationsand to secure Ramadi and its suburbs forthe upcoming Dec. 15 national elections.
Operation Bruins comes on the heels ofOperation Panthers, which disrupted ter-rorist operations in the Sophia district ofeastern Ramadi. During Panthers, 2ndBrigade Combat Team discovered
weapons caches and detained suspectedinsurgents. They successfully repelled aninsurgent attack in which 32 insurgents
were killed ind o w n t o w nRamadi Nov. 17.
Attacks againstIraqi and U.S.Forces in theRamadi area havedecreased 60 per-cent in the last fewweeks, as a resultof these ongoingoperations.
O p e r a t i o nP a n t h e r semployed approx-imately 150 IraqiArmy soldiers and300 Soldiers from2nd BrigadeCombat Team,28th InfantryDivision andcleared an area of
Ramadi known as the Sufia district.Most of the fighting centered around the
Abdullah Al-Karber (Ramadi) Mosque incentral Ramadi. Marines and Soldiersfrom a nearby U.S. Army outpost reportedthat they received sustained small arms fireoriginating from the mosque.
Iraqi Army soldiers moved in to clear themosque of insurgents and discovered AK-47 shell casings at the mosque and othersigns of fighting. The bodies of 17 insur-gents were also found in the vicinity of themosque.
In Iskandariyah, Soldiers of the 1stBattalion, 155th Infantry, 155th BrigadeCombat Team, 2nd Marine ExpeditionaryForce (Forward) discovered a weaponscache of 287 82 mm mortar rounds. Fiveindividuals suspected of insurgent activi-ties were also detained.
In the north central region of Iraq, Iraqiand U.S. Soldiers found and disposed offour weapons caches and an IED on Nov.14, with the help of several local citizens.
Iraqi citizens continue to report locationsof weapons caches as they grow weary ofbeing victimized by terrorists.
By Staff Sgt. Julie NicolovMulti-National Corps - IraqPublic Affairs
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryson K. Jones
An Iraqi soldier from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi InfantryDivision conducts his daily patrol on the streets of Fallujah.
See OPERATIONS, next page
MNF-I OperationsSummary: Nov. 12-18
Courtesy photo
Combined operations: 355IEDs found and cleared: 146
anti-Iraqi forces detained: 526foreign fighters captured
or killed: 15Weapons caches found
and cleared: 104
This Week in IraqPage 9 November 23, 2005
In the largest discovery of the day, Soldiers from the 2ndBrigade, 5th Division of the Iraqi Army seized 38 120 mmmortar rounds and other military hardware near Baqubah afterreceiving a tip from an area resident.
Several Iraqi children led Soldiers from the 720th MilitaryPolice Battalion to two caches of denotating fuses in AdDujayl. The materials were removed by an explosive ordnancedisposal team.
A Balad citizen led Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division’s1st Brigade Combat Team to an IED made from two large mor-tar rounds that had been assembled in a field where it waitedto be placed on a road.
Near Kirkuk, the Provisional Joint Coordination Cellinformed the troops from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1stBrigade Combat Team of a cache containing 13 mortar rounds.
Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers also unearthed anddisposed of two rocket-propelled grenade rounds, two handgrenades and 500 rounds of small arms ammunition nearSamarra.
Every cache discovered and taken out of the hands of terror-ists in this important area helps achieve the goal of a safe andsecure Iraq.
Insurgents also failed to disrupt the Samarra power gridwhen they blew up a power line tower southwest of the city onNov. 16.
Soldiers from the Iraqi Army’s 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade,5th Division observed the explosion and saw a vehicle fleeingthe scene. Two local men suspected of attempting to destroythe power grid were detained during a search of a nearbyhome.
In Baghdad, Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force BaghdadSoldiers conducted search-and-rescue operations in the wakeof two suicide car bomb attacks Nov. 18.
At least three Iraqi civilians were killed and 43 others werewounded in the attacks near the Al-Hamra Hotel on theKarradah Peninsula. There were no Task Force Baghdad casu-alties.
Iraqi Police and Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 5th Iraqi ArmyBrigade secured the site and took charge of the rescue opera-tion as Iraqi firefighters put out the fires caused by the blasts.
Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 92ndEngineer Battalion and the 36th Engineer Group and medicsfrom 4th Battalion., 64th Armor Regiment. supported efforts torescue trapped Iraqi civilians.
The Iraqis handled the larger portion of the mission withgreat success.
“The diligence of the local rescue forces was excellent asthey immediately took the lead in response and recoveryefforts,” said Capt. Daniel Green, the battalion surgeon.
Operationsfrom previous page
The Iraqi people have made monumental strides toward afree and democratic national government.
On Jan. 30, the people of Iraq held the first democratic elec-tion in three decades and formed an interim Iraqi governmentand a transitional national assembly. It is the job of the TNAto draft the new Iraqi constitution. Fifty-eight percent of Iraqiseligible to vote participated in the January election.
On Oct. 15, a general referendum took place to approve thenation’s new constitution. There was only one question on theballot: yes or no. The people approved their new constitutionby a nationwide 79 percent majority vote. This time, despitethe threats of terrorist attack, 63 percent of eligible Iraqis casttheir votes.
Under the rules of the Law of Administration for the State ofIraq for the Transitional Period, regardless of the majorityvote, had three governorates voted against the constitution(each by a two-thirds majority) the constitution would havebeen defeated. That would have meant December’s electionwouldn’t be for a permanent Iraqi government, but for a newTNA which would be tasked with drafting another constitu-tion.
The Anbar and Salahadeen governorates voted against theconstitution by a two-thirds majority. The Ninewah gover-norate voted against it by a majority vote but less than two-thirds. Since only two governorates voted against the constitu-tion by a two-thirds majority, the constitution passed.
The next step on Iraq’s road to democracy is a national elec-tion which will be held in Dec. 15. The people of Iraq willelect a 275-seat Council of Representatives to serve for a four-year term. The Council of Representatives will select the pres-ident of Iraq and two deputy presidents (the presidency coun-cil). The president will, in turn, appoint the Iraqi prime minis-ter.
Around 320 entities and 21 coalitions are registered with theIndependent Electoral Commission of Iraq as candidates forthe December election. Iraqis will be able to vote by party ormay select independent candidates.
It is interesting to note that 97 percent of eligible Iraqis areregistered to vote compared to only 72 percent of Americans.Under the provisions of the TAL, the new Iraqi governmentwill be seated no later than Dec. 31.
Truly, the democratic nation of Iraq is on its way!
Iraqi electoral processThe road to democracyCommentary by Maj. Lawrence KingDeputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Effects Directorate Communications Division
Renovation work is complete on three railroad station projects in the Diwaniyah District of the QadisiyahGovernorate. All three station renovations include new bathrooms, generator rooms, a kitchen and sleep-
ing quarters for the stationmaster.
FULLUJAH — With more than twomonths in Iraq under their belts, Marinesfrom Team 4, Detachment 4, 6th CivilAffairs Group, 2nd Marine Division, arefocused on their mission helping the Iraqipeople.
“We are currently working on theupcoming election and projects that canhelp steer the country into economicaldevelopment,” said Chief Warrant OfficerGregory A. Melotte, a 30-year veteran,and Madison, Wis., native. “The more jobsthe better. The projects we are working onwill help revitalize Fallujah.”
The team’s projects cover water treat-ment plants, electricity restoration andschool renovations. There are eightschools under reconstruction in their areaof operation.
The team interacts with local leaders inthe community to ensure projects are get-ting accomplished.
Melotte’s team also oversees projectsstarted by UNICEF and believes the chil-dren are an important reason for being
here.“I do this for the chil-
dren and the future of theIraqi people,” he said.
Melotte added thefocus should be about theIraqis and not theMarines.
“It’s about the Iraqipeople having faith intheir own system,” hesaid. “It’s about puttingtheir face on everything,so the [Iraqi] people havefaith in the Iraqi army andthe Iraqi police.”
This belief is filteredthroughout the team andeach member knows whatneeds to be accomplishedduring their tour here.
“We are here to see that the democraticgovernment gets on its feet through eco-nomic growth and a firm infrastructure,”said Gunnery Sgt. Kevin S. Tuite, a teamchief with the detachment.
The small team is made up of reservistsfrom across the United States and rangesin levels of experience. The provisionalgroup came together for the first time in
Camp Lejeune, N.C., for predeploymenttraining prior to coming forward.
Tuite, a Sterling, Pa., native, said histeam was focused on what needed to bedone and his Marines hope to be able tosee the projects through to the end.
“Hopefully, at the end of seven months,things won’t be the same,” said Sgt.Wayne Hermance.
This Week in IraqPage 10 November 23, 2005
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Ronna M. WeylandMarine Expeditionary Force
Gunnery Sgt. Kevin S. Tuite, team chief, Team 4,Det. 4., 6th Civil Affairs Group, 2nd Marine Division,watches as Iraqi children help carry bundles oftheir country’s flag into the Ministry of Education’soffice in Fallujah.
Civil affairs team rebuilding an economy
BAGHDAD — Salty land is just one of the obstacles farm-ers face in central and southern Iraq.
However, more than 35,000 farmers and residents are bene-fiting from a $3.9 million project overseen by the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers that began in Aug. 2004, and was complet-ed in Aug. 2005.
In 1998, a pressing demand for freshwater led to establish-ing the Arazaza drainage pump station. The project was sched-uled to benefit about 360,000 acres of agrarian lands by rid-ding them of the salty water and pumping it to Arazzaza Lake.There were five pumps; two with a 5.5 cubic square metercapacity, and the other three with a 3.8 cubic square metercapacity.
An expansion of the agrarian lands in the area led to anincrease in salty water. Twelve horizontal drainage pumpswere installed to meet the greater demand, but soon broke
down because of poor quality.Now, a reconstruction campaign has begun, covering all the
sectors, including those that suffered from neglect for a longperiod.
One of the projects that the Ministry of Water Resources hastaken interest in is the Arazzaza project. The ministry workedon replacing three 3.8-meter pumps, installed two more pumpswith the capacity of five cubic meters, and provided trainingfor the staff on how to maintain and operate the pumps inaddition to repairing electric transformers with 12 horizontalpumps.
In the town of Mendeli there is a pump station named afterthe district. This station provides Mendeli and Qazanya dis-tricts with water that can be used by residents and wateringfarms. Five horizontal pumps were replaced with new oneswith increased capacity that push water 240 meters high.
There is also an additional project benefiting 60,000 citizensthat links Mendeli pump station with the town of Mendeli.The $22 million project began in July, and employed 20 localworkers daily. The project will reach completion in January.
New pumps provide freshwater to MendeliStory by J. AnajarU.S. Army Corps of EngineersGulf Region Division
This Week in IraqPage 11 November 23, 2005
UMM QASR — Coalition forcesbrought some much needed cheer toschool children in Umm Qasr, when theyconducted a humanitarian relief missionto the Iraqi town.
Airman from the 586th and 886thExpeditionary Security Forces squadronshere joined forces with their Army andBritish counterparts to delivered morethan 1,000 school supplies and toys Nov.14.
The supplies included most of thethings children need to successfully com-plete a school year: Pencils, pens, note-books, rulers and scissors — to name afew. Other donations included clothing,stuffed animals and soccer balls.
The smiling faces of school children —who anxiously awaited the delivery —met the convoy of approximately 40 coali-tion troops.
The troops interacted with the children,handing out candy and taking photos withthem, while they safely stored the suppliestown council building.
According to one of the event coordina-tors, Tech. Sgt. John Harper of the 586thExpeditionary Security Forces Squadron,the idea for the project started in August.
Harper took the idea and began calling hischurch and police department inBrownwood, Texas, for donations.
“Once I contacted them, many of thechurch’s Sunday school classes and thepolice department started getting dona-tions ready.” Harper said. “I expected afew boxes — but was very surprised whenI received over 50.”
Harper extended the invitation to therest of the camp — and the got a great
response. He eventu-ally received morethan 300 boxes fromdifferent organiza-tions throughout theUnited States.
For one Airman, itwas the opportunityshe hoped she wouldhave a chance totake part in whiledeployed to Iraq.
“It feels goodknowing I couldgive something backto these children,”said Senior AirmanJana Sautter,deployed fromRandolph Air ForceBase, Texas. “I usu-ally do a lot of vol-
unteering for children back home — suchas organizing Christmas parties. I wantedto do something here.”
Harper hopes this will be one of manymore humanitarian efforts.
“We want to change the image localpeople have of us,” said the Guardsmanfrom Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.“We wanted them to know we are not theterrible people they think we are — andthat we are here to help them.”
Airmen give Iraqi children cheer, suppliesStory by Tech Sgt. Mark GetsyAir Force News
U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Michael G. Johnson
Senior Airman Jana Sautter hands out some treats toIraq children during a humanitarian relief mission inUmm Qasr, Iraq. Coalition forces delivered more than athousand school supplies and toys to the children Nov.14. Airman Sautter is assigned to the 568thExpeditionary Security Forces Squadron.
Iraqi Central Court ruleslife sentence for detainee
BAGHDAD — The Central Criminal Court ofIraq held 18 trials last week convicting 24 securitydetainees for various crimes including crimesagainst the security of the state, possession of illegalweapons and illegal border crossing.
One security detainee received a life sentence (20years) for crimes against the security of the state.
Upon conviction, all defendants are turned over tothe Iraqi Corrections Service to serve their sen-tences.
To date, the CCCI has held 721 trials of insurgentssuspected of anti-Iraqi and anti-Coalition activitiesthreatening the security of Iraq and targeting MNF-I. These proceedings have resulted in 658 individ-ual convictions with sentences ranging up to 30years imprisonment.
TF Baghdad nabs 18 suspectsin mission planned and led by IA
SADR CITY — Iraqi Army Soldiers raided the residences of sus-pected terrorists in Sadr City and detained 18 men Nov. 14.
Fifteen of the men are suspected members of a terrorist groupresponsible for murders and kidnappings in Baghdad.
The raids were planned and led by Iraqi Soldiers.“The Iraqi Army did a great job on this one they got the targets
quickly and quietly,” said Sgt. 1st Class Luis Molina, operations ser-geant with 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment.
All the detainees are being processed by the Iraqi judicial system.
Sgt. Shawn Cutler, a Task ForceBaghdad Soldier, informallyquestions local teens during araid that captured 15 terrorists inSadr City.U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ben Brody
This Week in IraqPage 12 November 23, 2005
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick J. Dixon
An Iraqi Army Soldier from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, wavescars through a security checkpoint, Nov. 15, in Sara Badi. Thisoperation is being assessed by the Polish Military Transition Teamto certify that the 3rd Brigade can conduct proper military opera-tions.
Iraqistaking the lead
Iraqistakingthe lead
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ben Brody
Iraqi Army Soldiers secure a street during a raid that nabbed15 terrorists in Sadr City.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryson K. JonesAn Iraqi Lieutenant from 1st Company, 2ndBattalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Infantry Divisionhelps an Iraqi child with his English during a patrolin Fallujah.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryson K. Jones
Iraqi soldiers from 1st Company, 2nd Battalion, 2ndBrigade, 1st Iraqi Infantry Division conduct their dailypatrol on the streets of Fallujah.
