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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

American Forces Press Service

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
 Thanks, Tonkin!

1 posted on 10/14/2003 1:33:33 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: All

I'M BACK!!!

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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!)
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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.)
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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!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
BUMP!
5 posted on 10/14/2003 1:42:32 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
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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.
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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
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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!)
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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
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Great article!
10 posted on 10/14/2003 4:13:32 PM PDT by MEG33
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thank you Ragtime Cowgirl for more good news.
11 posted on 10/14/2003 6:01:41 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Look at their faces Ragtime. It looks like every one of them is saying a prayer of thanksgiving.
12 posted on 10/14/2003 7:08:39 PM PDT by McGavin999
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
13 posted on 10/14/2003 7:35:09 PM PDT by windchime
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
14 posted on 10/14/2003 7:37:04 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl (Please donate to Free Republic!)
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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.)
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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)
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