Skip to comments.
Soldiers' Pump Project Helps Iraqi Farmers
DoD - Special to American Forces Press Service ^
| Oct. 14, 2003
| Pfc. Chris Jones
Posted on 10/14/2003 1:33:32 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
Soldiers' Pump Project Helps Iraqi Farmers
By Pfc. Chris Jones, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
AL JEZEERA REGION, Iraq, Oct. 14, 2003 - Thousands of gallons of water surged from a reservoir into an aqueduct Oct. 12 at the Al Jezeera Pump Station, the start of a long journey to serve more than 200,000 farmers throughout the arid plains of Northern Iraq.
With support from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Iraqi engineers worked to fix the water pump, which was inoperative before Operation Iraqi Freedom. After nearly three months of sweat, engineers brought the pump back to life two weeks ago, and on Oct. 12 Iraqi citizens and 101st soldiers watched thousands of gallons of water propel through a dam into an aqueduct, with the pull of a lever.
Thousands of gallons of water stream through a dam at the Al Jezeera Pump Station near the Syrian border. An Oct. 12 ceremony celebrated the completion of the third stage in a project designed by coalition forces to replenish the water supply in Northern Iraq. Army photo by Pfc. Chris Jones (Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.) |
"This is one of the greatest projects in the Ninevah province," said 101st commander Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus. "It shows again there's nothing that can't be done if we work together."
The water in the reservoir is not filtered, therefore it will be used primarily for nourishing crops and feeding domestic animals, Petraeus said.
"This aqueduct will offer constant water for livestock and farms throughout the region," he said. "Now, farmers will be able to plant crops in more than just one season (the rainy season), therefore increasing output, and therefore increasing the economy."
With the success of the waterway, the 101st completed the third stage in a project designed to increase water dispersion in the Ninevah province.
"This project required many different types of people to work together," said Ninevah province Gov. Ghanim Al-Basso, "and that's not an ordinary thing for many people in Iraq."
Petraeus said the pump station is running more efficiently than it has in years, and it will continue to be manned by Iraqi workers.
"It has been running perfectly 24 hours a day for the past few weeks without problems," he said.
"Eventually," Petraeus continued jokingly, "we want there to be so much water in the Al Jezeera area that the farmers have to say, 'Stop, no more.'"
(Army Pfc. Chris Jones is assigned to the 40th Public Affairs Detachment.)
~~~~

|
Iraqi citizens watch as water fills an aqueduct after being pumped out by the Al Jazeera Water Pump Station. The aqueduct was dry for years, and began working again Oct. 12 after Stage 3 of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)'s water project was completed. Army photo by Pfc. Chris Jones.
|
|
|
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 101stairborne; dod; goodnews; infrastructure; iraq; ninevah; pictures; rebuildingiraq; water
To: All
I'M BACK!!!
SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC
Donate Here By Secure Server
Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
or you can use
PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY A BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD (It's in the Breaking News sidebar!)
2
posted on
10/14/2003 1:34:32 PM PDT
by
Support Free Republic
(Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
To: MJY1288; Calpernia; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; Ernest_at_the_Beach; BOBTHENAILER; ...
This is one of the greatest projects in the Ninevah province," said 101st commander Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus. "It shows again there's nothing that can't be done if we work together." Quagmire-free, ping!
If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).
3
posted on
10/14/2003 1:34:59 PM PDT
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("Life's a roller coaster." ~ Rummy 10/2 - in response to a reporter re. critics wanting him fired.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
RC, thanks for an excellent article. This will never make the TV headline news.
4
posted on
10/14/2003 1:39:19 PM PDT
by
Arrowhead1952
(I am ashamed the dixie chicks are from Texas!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
BUMP!
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Good news is no news to the major media?
6
posted on
10/14/2003 1:47:29 PM PDT
by
Ruth A.
To: Arrowhead1952
Yeah, ain't it sad when good news is "no news?"
7
posted on
10/14/2003 1:51:14 PM PDT
by
pctech
To: pctech
Yeah, ain't it sad when good news is "no news?"The networks think this is worthless for the American public to see. All they want to let people see, is the bad incidents in Iraq. Just anything bad for America is good for the dumbocRAT party and the media.
8
posted on
10/14/2003 2:04:32 PM PDT
by
Arrowhead1952
(I am ashamed the dixie chicks are from Texas!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I wonder if we'll see this on CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC or read about this in the print media? I won't hold my breath. God Bless our troops and President Bush.
9
posted on
10/14/2003 2:09:42 PM PDT
by
caisson71
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Great article!
10
posted on
10/14/2003 4:13:32 PM PDT
by
MEG33
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thank you Ragtime Cowgirl for more good news.
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Look at their faces Ragtime. It looks like every one of them is saying a prayer of thanksgiving.
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
14
posted on
10/14/2003 7:37:04 PM PDT
by
Alamo-Girl
(Please donate to Free Republic!)
To: McGavin999
Bump!
15
posted on
10/14/2003 8:13:06 PM PDT
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("Life's a roller coaster." ~ Rummy 10/2 - in response to a reporter re. critics wanting him fired.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Coalition heroes working with Iraqis to wash away terror and irrigate freedom--and drown Dan Rather.
Tom Daschle is extremely saddened.
16
posted on
10/14/2003 10:07:34 PM PDT
by
PhilDragoo
(Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson