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KIRKUK — The use of non-governmental organizations to champion social issues is often a successful method of combating social and cultural woes. Some examples include anti-smoking and –litter campaigns in the United States. While the government of Kirkuk continues to develop, private citizens are encouraged to take on social challenges. The role of women in Iraq, and their contributions to Kirkuk, was the subject of a conference Nov. 19 at the Kirkuk Government Building. Non-Governmental Organizations representing women's issues attended the conference, which included groups who addressed issues ranging from illiteracy, domestic violence, small business development and civil rights awareness....

Iraqi veterinarians inspect recently-acquired medical supplies at the Kirkuk Agricultural Department, Nov. 17. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, distributed the medical supplies, including antibiotics and vaccinations, to Iraqi veterinarians from around Kirkuk province. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas, 1st Cavalry Division. KIRKUK — In an effort to improve veterinary services and increase agricultural production, U.S. Soldiers distributed medical supplies to Iraqi veterinarians here, Nov. 17. Agriculture, agribusiness and related industries comprise the majority of the economic activity in this province, according to the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team. Northern Iraq relies heavily on the success of its...

Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Schmidt, Air Component Coordination Element airspace planner, observes while Iraq Civil Aviation Authority members discuss the new Iraqi airway structure, Nov. 18. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Johnny Saldivar, U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team. BAGHDAD — The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) opened several new north to south routes within Iraqi air space, Nov. 18. In addition to the ICAA, members of the U.S. Air Force Air Component Coordination Element (ACCE), Washington Consulting Group (WCG) and various other agencies played a crucial role in opening these airways.According to Ali Khlil Ibrahim, Iraqi director...

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 20, 2009 – Afghanistan was among the issues that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay discussed during a bilateral meeting here today. In a speech to the Halifax International Security Forum here, Gates recognized the contributions and sacrifices that Canadian servicemembers have made in that country. “In Afghanistan, the Canadian military has more than distinguished itself in battle in some of the most dangerous parts of the country,” Gates said. Canada has more than 2,800 troops in the ground in Afghanistan, serving in Regional Command South, where Canadian generals have commanded...

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Nov. 20, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay met here today to discuss bilateral, hemispheric issues, but reporters’ questions afterward were all about Afghanistan. In their meeting, MacKay and Gates discussed building a maritime surveillance capability, defense issues in the Arctic and security cooperation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. But Afghanistan was in the background of all discussions. In his second-term inaugural address yesterday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that he wants to assume security control in his country by 2014, and Gates was asked if...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2009 – Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected members of the al-Qaida in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist groups today during three combined security operations conducted with U.S. advisors in the Iraqi cities of Ramadi, Tikrit and Kirkuk, military officials reported. Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched two buildings in Ramadi for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed to be responsible for multiple vehicle-borne bomb attacks in the region. After questioning those in the buildings and examining evidence found at the scene, Iraqi forces arrested two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq associates. In Tikrit,...

KABUL, Nov. 20, 2009 – Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan killed an enemy militant and detained several terrorism suspects today, military officials reported. A combined Afghan-international security force killed an enemy militant in Takhar province while pursuing a facilitator for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist organization who is responsible for financing militant activities and transporting foreign fighters into the region. The force searched a compound in the rural Bangi district east of Kunduz City. During the search, the enemy militant displayed hostile intent and was killed. The search was completed without further incident. There has been an increased...

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Nov. 20, 2009 – Afghan National Army soldiers got their first Humvee egress assistance training at Forward Operating Base Thunder here Nov. 16. An Afghan soldier exits a Humvee during egress training at Forward Operating Base Thunder, Afghanistan, Nov. 16, 2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Evelyn Chavez  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The training is a newly added supplement to recent training offered to Afghanistan’s 203rd Corps soldiers that teaches students hand and arm signals, basic driving principles and road rules. “This was good training for us,” one Afghan soldier said. “The teachers...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2009 – Though the National Guard has a role in reconstruction missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s a temporary one, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told an audience at the Joint Senior Leadership Conference at the National Harbor yesterday. Left to right: Army Col. Eric Grimm, commander of the California Army National Guard's 40th Infantry Division agribusiness development team; Pedro Torres, a U.S. Agriculture Department representative; Army Sgt. Jeff Johanson, team leader for the agribusiness team; and Ted Wittenberger, U.S. Agency for International Development senior civilian representative, speak with Gulrahaman, chief of police, in Asmar, Afghanistan, Nov....

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, Nov. 20, 2009 – A Basra, Iraq, native brings 50 years of experience as an architect, a master’s degree and a resume that reads like a travel guide ranging across Europe and the Middle East and even Japan to his job as leader of the Iraqi facilities engineering team here. A worker at the Anzio logistics site on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, bends rebar to be used in the placement of housing trailers for U.S. troops Nov. 14, 2009. The work at the site is being overseen and planned by an Iraqi facilities engineering...

Iraqi Police work to assemble their bicycles during training at the Kirkuk Police Academy, Nov. 15. This group will be the first to graduate and become bicycle police officers in Kirkuk City. Photo by Pfc. Justin Naylor, 1st Cavalry Division. KIRKUK — Iraqi Police (IP) officers recently attended the Bicycle Police Course at the Police Academy here, part of an ongoing effort to establish better policing practices in the city. Many of the police officers had never seen or heard of a bicycle cop before, but soon they themselves will be the first group to begin operating as Bicycle Police...

One of the first-ever female Iraqi Police officers to attend and complete training at the Baghdad Police College proudly poses for a photo following the BPC’s latest graduation ceremony, Nov. 9. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Edwin L. Wriston, Joint Combat Camera Center - Iraq. BAGHDAD – Fifty female Iraqi Police (IP) officers became the first women to graduate from the Baghdad Police College here, Nov. 9. The new female officers and more than 1,000 male students culminated their training with a ceremony marking their successful completion of the rigorous nine-month training program.Dozens of senior Iraqi political leaders, U.S....

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2009 – Improving the quality and professionalism of Afghanistan’s central government will not be accomplished quickly, and will involve continued discussion between U.S. and Afghan officials, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. “My view on all this is that improvements in governance in Afghanistan will be evolutionary,” said Gates, in response to a Pentagon reporter’s question on the possibility the United States could link the amount of assistance it provides the Afghan government through its performance in rooting out alleged corruption. Newly re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pledged that he will fight government corruption....

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2009 – President Barack Obama’s security team recognizes troops alone aren’t the answer as it begins wrapping up strategy deliberations about the way ahead in Afghanistan, the top military officer said here today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses Army and Air National Guard’s senior servicemembers from across the nation at the Guard’s first Joint Senior Leadership Conference outside Washington, D.C., Nov. 19, 2009. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,...

KABUL, Nov. 19, 2009 – Afghan and international forces killed several militants and detained terrorism suspects in two Afghanistan provinces yesterday, military officials reported. A combined Afghan-international force detained several suspected militants in northern Kandahar province while pursuing a senior Taliban commander. The force targeted two vehicles near the village of Sahabey in the province’s Ghorak district after intelligence indicated militant activity. One of the vehicles contained a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and several rounds, as well as a machine gun and ammunition. The vehicles’ occupants were detained for further questioning, and the force safely destroyed the RPG launcher and other...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq, Nov. 19, 2009 – Women in Iraq have struggled for centuries to carve out a life of their own. Even with the advent of democracy, that struggle continues, and without attention and assistance, there is no telling how prolonged it may be. Army Capt. Ann Demapan takes a few photos of the rugs at a factory managed and staffed entirely by Iraqi women near Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, Oct. 16, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gavriel Bar Tzur  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. With that in mind, Task Force Pathfinder members of...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2009 – American forces are waiting to see what effect the veto of Iraqi election legislation may have on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said in Baghdad yesterday. “I think we’re set up and we’re flexible enough between now and the first of May,” Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said. “So … we won’t have to make any decisions until the late spring.” Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi’s veto of an election law recently passed by Iraq’s legislature that would allow the election to take place has thrown the...

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Nov. 19, 2009 – I felt like a bean-bag being tossed about in the cab of our pickup truck as our convoy traveled several bumpy miles off the main road, deep into the Hindu Kush Mountains of the Panjshir Valley, Nov. 15. Army Pvt. Orson Whitaker wraps a young resident from Dakhawak village in the Paryan district of Afghanistan’s Panjshir province in a hand-made quilt, Nov. 15, 2009. The supplies are a part of the combined effort of the provincial government and reconstruction team in Panjshir to provide essential services and assistance to residents. U.S. Air Force...

Sgt. James Glomski, of Alpena, Mich., with the 1434th Engineer Company, observes Iraqi Pfc. Omar Khodair Abbas making his first cut using a circular saw during a "train the trainer" carpentry course for the Iraqi Army in Baghdad, Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of the 16th Engineer Brigade. BAGHDAD — Iraq Soldiers here ended two days of basic carpentry training with a practical exercise of building dormitory-style rooms in the old Ministry of Defense, Nov. 14. Soldiers of the 1434th Engineer Company taught a "train the trainer" course to the 11th Field Engineer Regiment, 11th Iraqi Army Division, so the IA...

WASHINGTON — Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) arrested 11 terrorism suspects in operations over the last two days, military officials reported. Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched several buildings throughout Baghdad yesterday during a series of operations to search for a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) leader believed responsible for multiple vehicle-borne bomb attacks in the region. Credible intelligence led the security team to several locations across Baghdad in pursuit of the suspected cell leader. When a vehicle traveling at an excessive speed approached a restricted area established by the security team in the city’s Mansour district, the team attempted to...

Sarah Mohammad, 3rd Infantry Division Women's Initiative coordinator, demonstrates products that can be sold on U.S. Military installation during a Business Workshop for Iraqi women in Dujayl, Nov. 11. Photo by Capt. Rebecca Walsh, 1st Infantry Division. DUJAYL — A meeting room inside the library here was filled with lively conversations, Nov. 14, as Iraqi women discussed business opportunities available to them within the Salah ad-Din province. Women from Balad, Samarra, and Dujayl gathered together for a business workshop to exchange ideas about the possibilities of selling hand-made goods on Contingency Operating Base Speicher at the Iraqi Souq Bazaar.For Provincial...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talks with Spc. Ferrell Mapp, a resident of Richmond, Calif., and a member of the California National Guard, 49th Military Police Brigade, during a breakfast event held on Camp Victory, Baghdad, Nov. 17. At right is Brig. Gen. Donald Currier, commander of the 49th, and close aide to the governor in his civilian job. Photo by Sgt. Kenneth Bince, 49the Military Police Brigade. BAGHDAD — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared breakfast and conversation with his State’s Soldiers during a visit here to Camp Victory, Nov. 17. Schwarzenegger said he visited the Fairfield, Calif.-based 49th Military Police...

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Nov. 18, 2009 – Supplies and equipment to sustain the more than 20,000 servicemembers and civilians from 15 different nations at the world’s busiest military airfield arrive here daily. Army Spc. Jose Ramirez directs a cargo truck to a parking space at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Elisebet Freeburg  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. But not all supplies arrive by air. The 386th Movement Control Team has processed more than 25,000 cargo trucks through this southern Afghanistan base since May. The 386th MCT, an active duty Army unit from Vincenza,...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq, Nov. 18, 2009 – National Guard soldiers bring a variety of life and work experiences with them on deployment, and even the smallest unit can include a surprising array of skills and experience. Chief Warrant Officer Nathan McKean runs through a preflight safety check prior to departing for a mission at Combat Operating Base Adder, Iraq, Oct. 10, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil Gussman  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. In October, Task Force Keystone’s Alaska-based C Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, needed a crew for a routine flight to two of...

JOINT SECURITY STATION CHILAT, Iraq, Nov. 18, 2009 – Soldiers here have taken the adage “Improve your foxhole” to heart as they strive to improve this small security station in southern Iraq. Army Spc. Damon Krach builds a set of shelves for a tent at Joint Security Station Chilat, Iraq, Oct. 5, 2009. U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Nathan McEwen  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The station’s remote location means soldiers of C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, often have to rely on themselves to do the improvements. This involves many different types of manual labor, such...

KABUL, Nov. 18, 2009 – Afghan and international forces killed several enemy militants and detained numerous terrorism suspects in Afghanistan today, military officials reported. A combined Afghan-international force detained a group of suspected militants in Zabul province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks in the area. The force searched buildings on the west side of Qalat City where intelligence indicated militant activity and detained the suspected militants without incident. In a separate operation, a combined force killed several enemy militants in Khost province, including a Haqqani terrorist involved with attacks in the area. The force targeted a...

Soldiers, civilian workers and visiting actors Jeffrey Donovan (left) and Bruce Campbell (far right), of the USA show Burn Notice, enjoy a charity bazaar hosted by the Daughters of Iraq at Combat Outpost Meade, Nov. 13. Photo by Sgt. Robert Jordan, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. BAGHDAD — The Daughters of Iraq, a national womens' organization here, held a bazaar on Combat Outpost Meade to raise money for local widows and orphans, Nov. 13. Soldiers of the 113th Field Artillery Battalion's Civil Affairs Team, based at the COP, hosted the bazaar that featured the work of several female Baghdad-area artists...

An Iraqi Soldier exits a U.S. Marine helicopter during joint air-assault training between Iraqi Commandos and Scouts, and Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), Nov. 15, on Camp Ramadi. Photo by Spc. Mike MacLeod, 82nd Airborne Division. CAMP RAMADI — Iraqi Commandos and Reconnaissance Scouts partnered with the "All American" paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division here, Nov. 15, to train for future joint helicopter air-assault operations. The 1st Iraqi Army Division Soldiers trained with Paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), on loading and...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2009 – NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today predicted the alliance’s future mission in Afghanistan will entail a counterinsurgency approach with “substantially more troops.” The NATO chief, speaking to the alliance’s Parliamentary Assembly, said he expects NATO will reach a troop-level decision in a few weeks for the International Security Assistance Force it leads in Afghanistan. “I’m confident it will be a counterinsurgency approach, with substantially more troops, and will place the Afghan population at the core of ISAF’s collective effort by focusing on their safety, and by supporting reconstruction and development,” he said. Rasmussen’s remarks...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2009 – As U.S. troops in western Iraq help to prepare for national elections in January, an American commander in the former insurgent hotbed of Anbar province said any potential uptick in violence is unlikely to derail the balloting. For the past two weeks, some of the 5,000 troops of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade, under the command of Army Col. Mark Stammer, have been working alongside Iraqi counterparts in Anbar to secure positions and checkpoints for the election. “Iraqi security forces are well under way for their preparations,” Stammer told Pentagon reporters. “We don't anticipate...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2009 – Iraqi security forces arrested 11 terrorism suspects in operations over the last two days, military officials reported. Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched several buildings throughout Baghdad today during a series of operations to search for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed responsible for multiple vehicle-borne bomb attacks in the region. Credible intelligence led the security team to several locations across Baghdad in pursuit of the suspected cell leader. When a vehicle traveling at an excessive speed approached a restricted area established by the security team in the city’s Mansour district, the team attempted...

KABUL, Nov. 17, 2009 – Afghan and international forces worked together to kill or detain numerous enemy fighters and terrorism suspects in operations over the last two days, military officials reported. A combined Afghan and international security force killed several enemy militants, including a sought-after Taliban district commander, and detained several suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Wardak province early today. The force searched a compound near the village of Mayshin Kala in the province’s Sayed Abad district where intelligence indicated militant activity. Upon entering the compound courtyard, the force came under attack and returned fire, killing several enemy militants. During the...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq, Nov. 17, 2009 – Through a coordinated effort to improve relationships between Iraqi police and judges, the provincial reconstruction team in Iraq’s Basra province and the 17th Fires Brigade legal team set up a conference Nov. 7. Chief Judge Khazal Dabol Qasim and Iraqi Police Brig. Gen. Eedan talk during a law-enforcement community conference in Iraq’s Basra province, Nov. 7, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Maurice A. Galloway  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The four-hour conference covered topics such as the responsibilities of their respective investigation officers and the state of the facilities...

11/16/2009 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team here combine resources from the Air Force, Army, Navy, U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Agriculture into one unified effort aimed at the economic, judicial, social, educational and infrastructure development of the Panjshir valley. James DeHart, a State Department member and director of the Panjshir PRT, leads the governance efforts of the team while Lt. Col. Eric Hommel is the PRT commander and exercises command authority over military operations. Both civilian and military expertise and resources are needed in a...

11/16/2009 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- U.S. military and coalition servicemembers who enforce security on Bagram Airfield work closely to accomplish a singular mission to ensure a safe and secure environment. Members of the Air Force's 455th Air Expeditionary Wing coordinate with Task Force Cyclone, Afghan national security guards and Task Force Gladius, Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division members to secure the perimeter of Bagram Airfield and the surrounding areas. Since coming here, Task Force Cyclone and force protection security workers have helped improve the efficiency of the operations around the airfield, said Army Lt. Col....

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2009 – As the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq advances, efforts to build the nation’s police force have made great strides, the team leader of the police training and advisory mission said last week. “The traction that we’re getting is really impressive. It truly is a partnership,” Army Brig. Gen. Michael Smith said during a Nov. 13 “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable. Smith said Iraqi police agencies have impressed him with their growing abilities to recruit and train their own forces and run their own operations. He’s also noted a dissipation of ethnic tension at top levels. “The...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2009 – Iraqi security forces, working with U.S. advisors, arrested 21 terrorism suspects in various operations in recent days, military officials reported. In southern Baghdad today, Iraqi security forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader alleged in an arrest warrant to be responsible for multiple vehicle-borne bomb attacks in the region. Based on questioning and evidence found at the scene, they arrested a suspected associate of the wanted man. In western Mosul yesterday, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for an alleged member of the Islamic State of...

ABOARD USS NIMITZ IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, Nov. 16, 2009 – Two soldiers working deep inside this aircraft carrier serve as liaisons between the aviators of Carrier Air Wing 11 and coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan. Army Maj. Johnnie Gallegos and Army Sgt. 1st Class Percy Patterson joined Nimitz Carrier Strike Group as ground liaison officers when Nimitz entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Their work directly supports a tactical directive issued in July by Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, that places limitations on the use of force that could...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE HUNTER, Iraq, Nov. 16, 2009 – A little bit of home made its way to this remote base in Iraq’s Maysan province recently, as soldiers tested their skills in a barbecue competition. Army Sgt. 1st Class Aric Quitugua tends to hamburgers and sausages during a barbecue cook-off at Contingency Operating Site Hunter, Iraq, Nov. 1, 2009. U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Juan Torres Jr.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Despite unexpected downpours, violent wind gusts and hail Nov. 1, an afternoon that might otherwise have been lost to inclement weather served instead as a cloudy...

Children from a small school near Forward Operating Base Scania line up to receive school supplies and gifts, Oct. 27, during a Civil Military Operation conducted by the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Iraqi Army. Photo by Spc. Cory Grogan, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. FOB SCANIA — U.S. Soldiers here are working with the citizens surrounding this Forward Operating Base to ensure local children have the tools needed for a proper education. Oregon National Guard members with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 162 Infantry Regiment, based out of Springfield, Ore., from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, were...

BAGHDAD — Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division took over partnership responsibilities with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in eastern Baghdad during a transfer ceremony, Nov. 15. The ceremony here at Joint Security Station Loyalty marked the end to the year-long deployment for paratroopers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. "I would like to take a moment to thank ... the entire Panther team for the hard work they put in to making our transition a success,” said Col. David M. Miller, of Evanston, Ill., the commander of 2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. “Congratulations...

Acting Bishop of Basrah, Imad Al Banna, holds a Catholic Mass at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Nov. 7. Banna also had lunch with troops and civilians and was given a Liberty Bell statuette by the 28th Combat Air Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Jones, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade. COB ADDER — The acting Bishop of Basrah held Catholic Mass here in honor of the service members and civilians working toward a safer, more secure Iraq, Nov. 7. Bishop Imad Al Banna, a Chaldean priest, spoke Aramaic, an ancient language spoken in Palestine 2,000 years ago and still...

Members of the Iraqi Emergency Response Brigade stand ready to train on an Iraqi military compound in Baghdad, Nov. 16. Photo courtesy of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula. BAGHDAD — The Emergency Response Brigade (ERB), the counter-terrorism unit here comprised of elite Iraqi Police officers, continues to act proactively against Iraq's insurgent groups to foster a safe and secure region. "The Emergency Response Brigade had a very small change in their operations," said ERB Commander, Staff Brig. Gen. No'aman Jewad, about his brigade’s mission following the June 30 withdraw of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities. “The...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 – As Pentagon officials look for ways to increase intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support for warfighters in Afghanistan, the Air Force’s first unmanned aircraft systems wing already is on the case in its never-ending quest to provide more and better intelligence through the systems they fly. An MQ-1B Predator unmanned aircraft system takes off for a training mission at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “I don’t have to tell them to try to make it better,” Air Force Col....

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 – Combined Afghan and international security forces detained several suspected militants, including an alleged Taliban commander, in operations in Afghanistan today and yesterday, military officials reported. A combined force killed enemy militants and detained several militants in Wardak province, including an alleged Taliban commander believed to be responsible for several attacks in the area. The combined security force searched buildings near the village of Badam Kalay in Nerkh district where intelligence sources indicated a Taliban commander was located. The force surrounded a mosque, known to be used by the Taliban commander to cache weapons, and called...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 – Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested terrorism suspects and a suspected terrorist cell leader in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported. Iraqi security forces arrested eight terrorism suspects today while conducting three combined security operations in pursuit of al-Qaida in Iraq members operating in northern Iraq. In Jananiyah, northwest of Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member allegedly involved in coordinating vehicle-borne bomb attacks and acquiring weapons for the al-Qaida in Iraq network in Anbar province. Through preliminary questioning and evidence gathered at the...

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

KIRKUK, Iraq, Nov. 13, 2009 – The public library here is receiving a facelift that highlights the building’s 72-year heritage while hiding modern amenities. The 72-year-old public library in Kirkuk, Iraq, is undergoing a $453,000 renovation designed to highlight the building’s classic look. U.S. Army photo by Rizgar Jan  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The $453,000 project, funded through the Commander’s Emergency Relief Fund, calls for complete renovation of the library’s electrical system, plumbing and heating plant, as well as installation of an air conditioning system and renovation of interior spaces. "For centuries, Iraq's libraries and universities were renowned...

Col. Mark Stammer, commander of 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne (Advise and Assist Brigade), answers questions from Los Angeles Times reporter, Liz Sly, and Washington Post reporter, Ernesto Londono, during a media engagement on Camp Ramadi, Nov. 11. Photo by Spc. Mike MacLeod, 82nd Airborne Division. < CAMP RAMADI — U.S. and Iraqi media representatives visited the U.S. Army's first Advise and Assist Brigade here, Nov. 11, to learn about this new mission facing U.S. troops. Journalists with the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Iraqi Al Hurra TV focused their questions to Brig. Gen. Stephen Lanza, spokesman...

AMARAH – A U.S. Military Police Company here has worked with Iraqi Police in Maysan province for months to improve their ability to govern and provide security. The 57th Military Police Company conducts Key Leadership Engagements (KLE) with Iraqi Police leaders at Iraqi Security Force stations. The MPs visit the District Headquarters weekly to collect information on the area, establish training dates and assess the station's daily operations. "Training the Iraqis isn't always easy, but I'm still proud to have the opportunity to pass on my experiences to the people over here," said Dan Escudero, an international police advisor from...