Military News: 14 May 2007

Here are four articles which I find rather inspiring. I hope you do, too.

This first story is one that really touched my heart. You guys rock!

CJTF-HOA members donate time, supplies and compassion to orphanage.

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti – Nestled in a remote and unassuming part of the city, a local Djibouti City orphanage awaits the arrival of members from Camp Lemonier. The children who live at the orphanage are in need of supplies, donations, and most important of all…love and affection.

Prior to the group’s departure from the base chapel, the seven volunteers made up of U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marines, made last-minute preparations for their trip to the orphanage by loading up supplies. The supplies were donated by both camp members and from a Marine master sergeant’s hometown friends who organized a donation drive to provide the children with gifts of goodwill and compassion. [Continue reading.]

Next we have a successful story of a province by the name of Maysan, albeit it does not come without setbacks and hardships.

U.S. Central Command Public Affairs.

Security authority for Maysan province was recently transferred to provincial Iraqi government. The province was the fourth to do this, and marks a milestone of 75 percent of Southeast Iraq as being transferred to provincial Iraqi control. The province had previously been under the authority of the U.K. military.

The Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team has worked behind the scenes in all this. Not only do they work closely with Maysan officials to create and strengthen transparent and accountable government institutions, but they also advise Iraqis on promoting development in the political and economic areas, and work to help improve essential services. [Continue reading.

If this doesn't show success, I don't know what will.

Dhi Qar PRT successes showing through.

Security authority for Dhi Qar has been under Provincial Iraqi Control for almost six months now, and many successes in the province are starting to show through.

The Iraqis who live in Dhi Qar province are now finding opportunities they never had under Saddam. The Provincial Reconstruction Team, which was set up last year, has been acting as advisers to the Iraqis, helping them determine which steps will best suit them to get Iraq to stand up on its own. To accomplish that goal, the PRT has been working with many different groups in the area, from U.S. and Coalition military to foreign civilian and Iraqi nationals. [Continue reading.]

This province has been in control of themselves ever since July 2006! Wait a minute. I thought they were not standing up? Yeah, maybe those 'reporters' ought to go out there and REPORT!

Muthanna PRT under Iraqi control.

...Muthanna became the first Iraqi province to take the lead on governing its own province. This step allowed the provincial police and Iraqi Army to be the first responders’ to any crisis in the province. However, the PRT still helps the government in taking further steps to helping its people. [Continue reading.]

Please keep your prayers and hopes coming for our three missing men in Iraq. They are still alive, and we must find them. Thank you.

Military News

I have decided on this method of introducing you to the news that comes across my desk daily. Since they are larger stories than I like to put on this page, I will introduce them to you. Then you just follow the link if you would care to read more about a particular article.

Vanguard engineers pave way for victory 'from the sky'
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan – Just weeks before Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division hand over control of their area of operations to the 173rd Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), engineers from 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion are working hard to ensure the 173rd’s “Sky Soldiers” have decent accommodations, and more importantly, the facilities needed to continue clearing the way for a secure Afghanistan.

Kirkuk Police Academy takes training to a new level.
Kirkut — It’s the sound that strikes you first. The yelling and chanting, shrieking whistles, the thunder of boots striking the ground. Then there is the visual: hundreds of Iraqis lined up and arranged in groups of blue uniforms. Some stand still, some march, and some perform movements in place at the commands of their instructors. It is in this crucible that men are transformed from civilians into Iraqi police officers.

Iraqi, U.S. officials discuss way forward.
BAGHDAD — Iraqi and U.S. government officials along with the Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman held a press conference at the Combined Press Information Center Sunday.

Spartan Sappers Secure Area of Operation.
JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, May 8, 2007 — Most people spend the last few moments of their work day cleaning up their desk and organizing their materials in preparation for the next day with one foot out the door. One company of dedicated engineers in Nangarhar Province, however, is working well after its expected punch-out date. The engineers are even exposing themselves to danger in a manner that exemplifies the Army’s values and all the while keeping their composure.

Airmen continue humanitarian efforts in Djibouti.
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (AFNEWS) – Nearly two hundred Airmen deployed to Africa provide airlift support for humanitarian aid to the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa mission.

Plan in motion to restore Haifa Street.
BAGHDAD — On Sunday, a U.S. Army official addressed members of the Iraqi media in regards to revitalizing Haifa Street.

U.S. Army Col. Bryan Roberts, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team laid out the goals of the "Haifa Street Project."

Water Tops Priorities for Kirkuk’s Rural Majority.
HAWIJAH, Iraq, May 7, 2007 — Subsistence farmers are the dominant majority in southern portions of the Kirkuk Province. Most of those rely on water from the lower Zaab River to irrigate crops. Inadequate rainfall and water levels in the Zaab’s primary water source, the northern Dokan Dam, are creating concerns among that rural majority. Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds” are helping ensure that those concerns get addressed.

Wolfhounds Work To Secure Economic Success.
HAWIJAH, Iraq, May 7, 2007 — The local government approves a building project and provides the land. Local businesses supply the materials. Residents perform the work, and the community reaps the short-term and long-term economic benefits.

Several months ago, that was a vision for economic success in this predominantly Sunni Arab town. Now, with the assistance of coalition forces, that vision of the future is becoming reality in Hawijah, Iraq.

Institutional Competence Slow, But Growing, General Says.
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2007 – Coalition experts have identified trouble areas in the training regimen for the Iraqi security forces but see cumulative progress overall, the top U.S. training official in Iraq said.

The Iraqi police and army are short of functioning effectively as independent institutions, Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, told online journalists and “bloggers” in a conference call May 4.

Iraqis Can Move Forward as Surge Takes Hold, General Says.
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2007 – Eighty percent of the U.S. military units involved with the surge of troops into Baghdad and western Iraq are now in place, a senior U.S. military officer said in Baghdad yesterday.

“Four of the five American reinforcement brigades are now in Iraq,” Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, told journalists during a media roundtable.

The good, the bad and the ugly

I have many articles that were written by CENTCOM on my page I have reserved for the longer stories. I know you will find many of them very rewarding, some of them sad, and some of them just, well, huh?! lol. Okay, here we go:

Medic recalls his actions during attack.

Joint effort continues at Jalalabad PRT.

Diwaniyah "returning to normal, step by step".

Group of Australians making a difference.

Iraqi Police eager to learn****

15th MEU Returns to Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group.

Relief and Appointment Ceremony with Admiral William Fallon Master Sergeant Curtis Brownhill Sergeant Major Jeffery Morin. Audio video.

Bush Condemns Attack on Iraqi Parliament.

Deployment Stress on Guard, Reserve Has Lessened, Hall Says.

Army Deployment Change Helps Sustain Surge.

Relief and Appointment.

Iraqi Police Graduates Key to the Future

BAGHDAD - Recruits of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division graduated from training at Forward Operating Base Falcon, March 28. This is the first group of “shurta,” Arabic for police, to come onto a U.S. forward operating base and receive complete, 24-hour-a-day training by a National Police Training Team. [Continue reading.]

News from CENTCOM: 4/6/2007

There are mostly great articles today, however there is one (I think) that is not so good. Let's get started.

Joint Police Force Works Toward a More Secure Iraq
ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq, March 31, 2007 — The future security of Iraq starts at the ground level with the Iraqi security forces. In order to prepare the Iraqis for thi[s] responsibility, soldiers in transition teams have been working around the clock all over Iraq. [If you'd prefer a larger font and/or a different background, use this link.]

Nondestructive testing keeps Bagram aircraft flying
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNEWS) -- They endure wide swings in temperature and dusty conditions, and they are constantly pushed to their limits. They are the F-15E Strike Eagles stationed here. [If you have trouble using that link, use this link.]

Black Jack Performs Medical Mission in Baghdad
BAGHDAD, March 30, 2007 — As Haifa Street residents begin coming back out into the streets that were once too dangerous to step into, coalition and Iraqi security forces are beginning to lend a much needed hand in many of the basic needs. [If you'd prefer a larger font and/or a different background, use this link.]

Iraqis, Coalition Working Together to Secure Tal Afar
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2007 – Coalition and Iraqi forces are working with city leaders to secure the Iraqi city of Tal Afar after a bombing at a market killed more than 80 people earlier this week, a military official said today in a briefing from the city. [If you'd prefer a larger font and/or a different background, use this link.]

If you'd like, I usually use the other link for longer articles. Here is the name of it: DoD Daily News-2. Not too original, but it gets the job done. lol. Have a great day, and a very Happy Easter.

Rule of Law to Reign Supreme for Victory in Iraq

There is a fabulous article about the path to victory that I believe everyone should read. There are three positions of contention that need to be given special attention to if we desire to see Iraq survive as a civillized nation.

The first is the judical system. When Saddam was in charge, everyone knew the verdict before they went before the court. That is no longer the case. Now when people go to court, the rule of law shall be applied fairly to each person, no matter their standing.

Secondly, the prisons need to be integrated into a place where there is no torture, no abuse, etc. These places shall be integral in the success for a trusted judical system.

Thirdly, the police need to make the Iraqi people feel as though they can trust these guys. They used to be feared, so it will take some time and effort to have this come about. These are the three legs upon which victory actually stands.

Does the military play a part? Definitely! We must keep Iraq as stable as possible for the Iraqi people to start trusting their own police and judicial system again, if not for the first time. How long will this take? I do not know. Why don't you tell me when we leave Germany, Japan, South Korea, Bosnia and Kosovo...

If the link above no longer works, try this one.

Source: CENTCOM News Feed. If you wish to have this feed, just e-mail me. I will help you to get it. Have a great day.

Attack in Tal Afar Condemned – Iraqis, CF stick Together

TAL’AFAR, Iraq - Late Tuesday afternoon, a large explosion ripped through a busy marketplace in the Al Moalameen neighborhood of Tal Afar causing extensive damage to buildings and homes, killing and wounding dozens.

“This was an act of cowardice and only demonstrates to the world how desperate this enemy is,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding general of Task Force Lighting and Multinational Division North. “The Iraqi people must stand united against these forces so the country can continued on its path to a free and democratic state,” he continued.

Iraqi Security Forces responded immediately to the scene and began setting up triage and facilitating evacuation of wounded civilians caught in the blast area. Soldiers from the 3rd Iraqi Army Division immediately dispatched medical assets from their headquarters in Al Kisik to aid the wounded. [Read the whole article.]

This is news from CENTCOM.

Iraqi Policeman stops chemical attack

Here is an article by Fox News about the terrorists attempt to use chlorine gas as a weapon, but an Iraqi policeman stopped them.

BAGHDAD — Iraqi police detained a man as he was trying to detonate an explosives-laden truck filled with chlorine in Ramadi, the military said Sunday.

The incident occurred Friday afternoon when a white cargo truck stopped near the entrance to a police station, about 150 yards from a water treatment plant in the Sunni city, according to a statement.

Police detained the driver after discovering the truck was rigged with more than two tons of explosives. Five, 1,000-gallon barrels filled with chlorine also were hidden under several 55-gallon drums, the military said.

• Visit FOXNews.com's Iraq Center for more in-depth coverage.

The driver was being held for questioning and the explosives were destroyed by demolition experts, the statement added.

There have been seven chlorine attacks launched since Jan. 28, when a homicide bomber driving a dump truck filled with explosives and a chlorine tank struck a quick-reaction force and Iraqi police in Ramadi, killing 16 people.

The use of the toxic gas in attacks has prompted the U.S. military to warn that insurgents are adopting new tactics in a campaign to spread panic.

It appears to me anyway that the Iraqis are standing up for their own defense. The only problem is, I have been seeing this for a long time now. It is sad that the people on the Left cannot or will not report these incidences...