Posted on 11/22/2005 3:52:52 PM PST by Gucho
11/22/05
MAYPORT, Fla. (AP) -- Eight Iraqi officials learned today how the Coast Guard protects shoreline facilities and other ships. The eight were visiting the base in Mayport as part of a nationwide tour on homeland security and border protection.
They were accompanied by a State Department interpreter, who says they have visited Washington, D-C, Seattle, El Paso, Georgia and New Mexico. They're scheduled to travel to New York to end their three week tour. Iraqi General Adnan Manhalt says the tour will give the Iraqis ideas on ways to improve their security at vital oil-exporting ports and in controlling its borders. The stop of the Coast Guard Sector in Jacksonville was the first time Iraqi officials tour a U-S Coast Guard base.
THANKSgiving bump for our troops!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Unknown militants fired three rockets over an impoverished neighborhood in the Afghan capital Kabul early Tuesday, but the attack did not cause any casualties, a government official said.
Bump
By Donna Miles - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2005 – The contributions U.S. servicemembers are making in Iraq are helping ensure the peace and security families across the United States will enjoy this Thanksgiving, the commander of coalition operations in Iraq told Pentagon reporters via satellite today.
"I am struck in this holiday season by the enormous sacrifice of the young men and women over here -- the things that they're doing on a daily basis on our behalf as a nation," said Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq and the U.S. Army's 18th Airborne Corps.
Vines called their contributions "absolutely magnificent," particularly in light of the complexity of the tasks involved. These include developing Iraq's security forces fighting an insurgency, helping build a new government and reconstructing a country devastated by more than 30 years of war and oppression.
"And I believe, in a very direct way, they're helping to provide for the security and safety of our fellow citizens back in the United States," Vines said.
Terrorists consider the United States "an archenemy" and want to use Iraq as a base for a strike against it, Vines said.
"And those young men and women in harm's way here recognize that, and I think they are committed to the fight," he said.
The general praised the "heroic efforts" of those forces and the progress they are helping bringing about.
Vines called "the debate and bitterness" within the United States about the Iraq mission "disturbing," but acknowledged that people in a democracy are allowed to have differences of opinion. What's important, he said, is that troops in Iraq know they have the support of the U.S. people and their elected officials as they continue their mission.
Now is too soon to withdrawal U.S. forces from Iraq because the country's own security forces, while improving steadily, aren't yet ready to assume full responsibility for Iraq's security, he said.
"Although Iraqi security forces are able to conduct operations in a large portion of their area with only limited coalition support, they do require our support at this time," he said. "That support will be increasingly less over a period of time, but a precipitous pullout, I believe, would be destabilizing."
At the same time, Vines said, Iraq's security forces are playing an increasing role in the country's security. About one-third of the Iraqi army battalions are responsible for their own areas of operation and 80 percent of the Iraqi security forces are conducting combat operations at any given time, he said.
"Iraqi soldiers and policemen are in the fight," the general said. "They're risking their lives and they're fighting, and in some cases, dying for Iraq, for the security of their fellow citizens."
Meanwhile, Vines cited solid progress on the political front. The upcoming Dec. 15 national election, which will seat a new government for the next four years, "will provide a level of stability that to this point has not been there," he said.
Progress in Iraq, particularly during the last year, "is absolutely extraordinary," Vines said. He acknowledged, however, that "an enormous amount remains to be done."
The big challenge ahead will be to ensure that Iraq's new government remains stable as it builds new institutions for its people, the general said.
"I believe, ultimately, the stability of the government and its ability to support its security forces and provide for the basic challenges of governance is the great long-term challenge," he said. "But that is central to the success of the operation here."
Vine said he's impressed by the Iraqi people and their commitment to a free and secure Iraq.
Unlike Americans, who Vines said sometimes take their own security for granted, Iraqis don't, he said.
"Iraqis don't take it for granted because they recognize that people such as the jihadists and Islamic extremists wish to impose their world view on Iraq, and they recognize what's at stake," he said.
They smile at the Iraqi citizens on the streets, but at the same time they will kick the doors in on the insurgents who plan to spread upheaval.
U.S. Army Spc. Aaron A. Ebbert (left), radio telephone operator, 3rd Platoon, Company B, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska, and 1st Lt. Anthony E. Cerullo, platoon leader, 3rd Plt., call in a report to their higher headquarters during a patrol Oct. 21, 2005, in Mosul, Iraq.
By Spc. Jeremy D. Crisp Multi-National Corps - Iraq Public Affairs Office
MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 22, 2005 —They’re the new guys on the block, and they’re not hard to spot. Not because they rumble through the streets in their Stryker light-armored vehicles, for those have been there before. It’s a new attitude; it’s a new uniform on smiling faces with determination to get the job done.
The soldiers of Company B have assumed responsibility for one sector of the streets of Mosul. They smile at the Iraqi citizens on the streets, but at the same time they will kick the doors in on the insurgents who plan to spread upheaval.
“We are out here doing what we like to call PR – public relations,” said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas M. Pickerel, platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon, Company B, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska. “Our patrols are designed to let the citizens of Iraq know we are here for them, and we are out here every day.”
The unit spends parts of their days in their vehicles, driving around with a “hey, we’re here,” attitude before dismounting to walk the streets on foot.
“We get on the ground as much as possible because that’s really the only way you get to know the people in the area,” Pickerel said. Company B recently replaced soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of Fort Lewis, Wash., and has hit the ground running.
“This used to be called the Wild Wild West, but the unit ahead of us did a lot of work here,” said Pickerel. “We’ve got all the kinks worked out, and things have calmed down quite a bit since we’ve moved in.”
Patrolling streets of New York fame named “Canal,” “Broadway,” and an area known as “Yankee Stadium,” complete with alleys called “1st Base Line” all the way around to “Home Plate,” doesn’t come easy.
Along with shaking hands and giving candy to kids, the soldiers of Company B move up and down miles of concrete laden with weapons, ammunition and forty pounds of armor strapped to their backs. Despite temperatures rising into the 130 degree range, all that gear is essential when the troops have to get down to the business of being infantrymen.
“We’re out here looking for the bad guys,” said 1st Lt. Anthony E. Cerullo, platoon leader, 3rd Platoon.
And the bad guys are out there. The unit takes on sporadic gunfire when loading into their vehicles and has to deal with drive-by shootings and improvised explosive devices on an almost daily basis, said Cerullo.
“We take intelligence that has been gathered, and we look for certain vehicles that we know are to be possible insurgent vehicles. We do standard patrols where we look for suspicious activity – anything out of the ordinary,” Cerullo said. “We do IED sweeps where we look for IEDs before they go off, and we also take care of guys we catch emplacing them.
“We talk to citizens in the neighborhoods and do random searches to see if we can find anything, information or otherwise,” he said.
"It’s a dual-facet mission,” said Staff Sgt. Austin S. Fernandez, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon. “We let the citizens know we are here to help them, but we are also here to let them know that we don’t take any (mess).” On top of the patrol mission, a day isn’t complete without a trip to see their counterparts-in-arms. The platoon stops in daily to speak with the Iraqi army and Iraqi police, seeing what they need and talking about future missions.
“We’ve done joint patrols with the IA and the IP, and we are going to do even more now because it’s their country, and they are going to be the ones doing it after we leave here,” Cerullo said. “The more we can teach them how to do it the right way and help them along in that process, the better off they’ll be.”
Helping the cause is a soldier in the platoon with the ability to speak Arabic. Fernandez has picked up the language from interpreters, and it has helped tremendously with relations, he said.
“I don’t have any kids, but I can speak Arabic pretty well and the kids come to me naturally,” Fernandez said. “It helps out a lot with relations, being able to talk to the Iraqis a little.”
A recent patrol had a gaggle of 20 Iraqi children hanging onto and holding hands with Fernandez; the M-4 assault rifle was put out of harm’s way for the time being. The infantrymen had parents lining the streets with smiles on their faces and gestures of “thumbs up” for blocks.
thank you"Gucho"
November 22, 2005
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DUKE, Iraq -- The battleground was set--the Americans and the Iraqis staring each other down, hoping the other would flinch. The adrenalin was pumping in anticipation of the epic skirmish to come. It was time; the warriors suited up and moved into position.
The battle for court dominance was set in motion as the Iraqis scored the first six unanswered points. The first ever basketball game between the Najaf Eagles and the Mississippi Rattlers had begun.
The Iraqi players, all belonging to the Najaf Sports Club, were invited to play the American soldiers as a show of sportsmanship and goodwill. The Iraqi athletes knew they had to bring more than just their best players; they had to bring their winning spirit. The Iraqis understood the game and dispelled any mistaken beliefs as to the validity of their competitive stature. Respect was quickly earned.
The Eagles scored on their first drive and set the tone for the rest of the game. The Najaf Eagles with their dominant offense kept pressure on the struggling defense of the Rattlers. The Eagles quickly earned a double digit lead by the middle of the first quarter, a lead they would maintain throughout the game.
The plan was to maintain a fast moving offense and move the ball as much as possible," said Ahmed Aboudi, the Eagle’s team captain.
"We are strong under the net, on the rebound," said Aboudi. "We knew we had to use that to our advantage if we were going to win."
The Najaf team could only bring five of its players, so the Americans lent the team two of its players to give the opposition a bench in order to rotate players--a controversial move and one some of the Rattler players would point out as a significant factor in the challenger’s victory.
"We gave them one of our best players," remarked Rattler team member Capt. Richard Comer. "Without Lieutenant Ratliff (playing for the Eagles) things would have been a lot different."
Second Lieutenant Andrew Ratliff conceded he did play hard but does not believe his presence was the deciding factor in the Eagles win.
"The Iraqis came here to win. They played as a team and out hustled the Americans; that is why they won. Even without me, they had the skills to equally compete."
The crowd was made up of all American forces, primarily from the 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard; but that did not stop them from rooting for the Najaf Eagles. The skill and ability of the Eagles to suppress the Rattlers quickly earned them a cheering section two to three times that of the home team.
The four, twelve-minute quarters concluded with a final score: Rattlers 45, Eagles 61.
After the game, the Iraqis were invited to stay for lunch, dining on American hamburgers, french fries and ice-cold sodas. The two teams sat together and relived the highlights of the game. A rematch is no doubt imminent.
While the historical significance of this single game may never be known, one thing can be said for certain. Today, in Najaf, Iraq, Americans and Iraqis found common ground--on the basketball court.
By Master Sgt. Keith Baxter - Photos by Senior Airman Francisco Govea II - Fourth Combat Camera Squadron
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
SSG William Richardson shoots as CPT Richard Comer clears the lane. (Photo by Senior Airman Francisco Govea II, Fourth Combat Camera Squadron)
Rattler Coach SSG Billy Ruff, gives pointers to his team during a time out. (Photo by Senior Airman Francisco Govea II, Fourth Combat Camera Squadron)
Your welcome Sara.
By Donna Miles - American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2005 – In what's being regarded as a highly symbolic development in Iraq, coalition forces will turn over former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's palace in Tikrit to the new Iraqi government during Nov. 22 ceremonies.
The sprawling palace complex in Saddam's hometown, 90 miles north of Baghdad, is the largest and most elaborate of his presidential sites, a senior military official in Iraq said today on background.
The U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division initially secured the complex in 2003, dubbing it Camp Iron Horse. The camp served as the division's headquarters when its members captured Saddam in December 2003, explained Army Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman.
The 1st Infantry Division renamed the camp Forward Operating Base Danger when it assumed authority for the camp in 2004.
Venable said the Nov. 22 ceremonies mark far more than the turnover of a single, albeit significant, property. The camp is the 29th of 110 forward operating bases to be either transferred to the Iraqis or closed, he said. Iraqi security forces are using 15 of the bases.
"These transitions, taken individually, don't appear significant," Venable said. "But in a collective sense, they show evidence that progress is being made in handing over responsibility for Iraq to the Iraqis."
Venable called this a cornerstone of the campaign plan to successfully complete the mission in Iraq.
The transfers help dispel any misperceptions that the situation in Iraq remains static, Venable said.
"In reality, the opposite is true," he said. "Aside from transferring bases to Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi people, we're also in the process of handing over security responsibility to Iraqi forces."
Today, one Iraqi division, five brigades and 36 battalions have taken the lead in their areas, compared to one brigade and 11 battalions just five months ago, Venable said. Iraqis now have the lead in roughly 90 square miles of Baghdad, an entire Iraqi province and more than 450 square miles in other provinces, he said.
The 42nd Infantry Division assumed control of the base in February 2005 and began the process of returning the complex to the Iraqis in July. The Nov. 22 ceremony marks the end of that process, Venable said.
Once reserved for the Saddam regime's elite, the complex will now benefit all Iraqis, as it is transferred to Iraq's Ministry of Finance, the official in Iraq said today. He called the transfer a landmark event that showcases the Iraqi government's sovereignty and the increasing ability of Iraq's security forces to ensure their country's security.
"We are committed to turning this property over to the Iraqi government as the Iraqi security forces prove their readiness for us to consolidate our forces, reduce our footprint, and in many cases, deliberately get a bit farther outside of cities, because we think that's beneficial for us to do that," the official said.
The sprawling complex stretches over 1,000 acres of land on the banks of the Tigris River, and includes 136 buildings with 1.5 million square feet of administrative and living space and 40 support structures, Venable said. It also includes 14 palace structures, a three-story hospital, a small crematorium, two mosques, an unused mausoleum and two artificial lakes.
Iraq's Ministry of Defense is using the island portion of the complex as a regional training center, Venable said.
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Do you have had read my information news my friend have had translated good dear friend? thank you
The current time in (UTC/GMT) is Here.
Yes - Thank you Sara.
good:}}}}}}
Bump :}}}}}}
Thank you Gucho.
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