Posted on 07/02/2005 3:42:50 PM PDT by mdittmar
BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 02, 2005
The training started more than eight weeks ago for the "Defenders of Baghdad." In those eight weeks they learned new tactics and strategies so they can defend their country against any threat.
The 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Divisions training culminated with an activation ceremony at Muthana Airfield June 29.
"This is an important day for the people of Iraq," said Maj. Gen. William G. Webster Jr., Task Force Baghdad commander during the ceremony. "These men before you are all volunteers and have sworn to defend Baghdad."
"All of the TV stations are here so that the people can see the ceremony," said Iraqi Army Col. Mohamed Hashim Al-Musawy, Iraqi Army Brig. Gen. Fouad Hani Faris aide. "As our training goes on, the citizens, houses and the streets of Iraq will be safe. If the U.S. forces keep helping us in our training, we will control the Iraqi streets and well protect the citizens from the explosions the terrorists make against the Iraqis."
The newest Iraqi Army brigade will be responsible for defending the Green Zone and surrounding areas in Baghdad.
"I think they will play a vital role in the freedom of Iraq and Baghdad. With these Soldiers, they will show the American and Iraqi people that they are up to the task and can handle the job," said Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Taylor, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment command sergeant major.
The brigade, made up of more than 2,500 Iraqi Soldiers, began training April 18 at Muthana Airfield. Soldiers from 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regt. worked with the fledgling Iraqi Soldiers.
"They have trained hard and worked hard to get where they are at today. The activation ceremony was a turning point for the brigade from training to actually doing patrols and securing the Green Zone," Taylor said.
Soldiers were trained on a variety of tasks that they will use on the streets of Baghdad, such as reflexive fire, basic marksmanship and clearing rooms.
"I feel proud that the Iraqi soldiers can defend the country of Iraq. I hope God will make them brave and keep them safe," Mohamed said. "We have soldiers that are very young, and we thought that they might fail, but because of the Americans that gave us good training they made it."
He added that the Iraqi Soldiers now feel proud to be a part of the Iraqi Army.
"In the past they were scared to be one of the Iraqi Army Soldiers so no one from the terrorists would kill them, but now, there are many volunteers," Mohamed said.
He continued, "I learned from our training that they have high feeling (morale) about their training and theyve proved it during the operations that theyve had in Dora and Haifa Street, Abu Dasheer and Karada.
Taylor said, "They may not be as good as American Soldiers today, but one day they will be just as good. They put their lives on the line every day, either at checkpoints or on patrols, and they are right beside us doing the same things were doing."
Mohamed said that the Iraqi troops have been successful in these areas because of the U.S. Soldiers training and they will continue to get better.
He added, "I hope the same unit will train the next brigade so the new soldiers will receive the highest level of training."
We are instilling them with something that has never been instilled in soldiers in the middle east. Pride in their work, a feeling to responsibility for the protection of the people, and integrity. I also believe this is the first volunteer army in the middle east.
Compare that to the contempt of the Left/Liberals/MSM who has been oozing nothing but disgust & utter comtempt for our proud & honorable military folks.
Imho, all those who hate the Military (and by exension this great USA) should be deported to Siberia or some similar sh!th@le dump to suffer in exile.
Thought you might enjoy this little add on to the story in Baghdad.
May 12, 2004
Iraqi Boy Scouts come in from the cold and reconnect to the world outside
Iraqi Scouts Thrive Despite Tyranny, War, by Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, FOXNews.com, 11 May,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119658,00.html.
Brother Andy (Eagle Scout himself) sends me this story, which is just too good to believe: Iraqi Boy Scout troops went underground to stay alive during Saddams long rule, somehow managing to keep their network coherent all those dark years. Now they reemerge and link up with other Boy Scout networks in the Arab world.
Heres the best excerpt:
Former Navy commander Chip Beck said contacts he made in the city informed him that local Iraqi scouting councils in the 18 provinces had survived attempts by Saddam to cut off sources of funding, meeting places and communication between brother and sister organizations. The scouts were alive and waiting for a chance to resurrect themselves, he said.
You still have some older scout leaders in their 40s who had been trained by the world scouting organization and knew the ethics and training and maintained it. They kept it up, Beck told Foxnews.com. Theyre emerging battered and tattered, but in relatively good shape.
"The Arab region wants to welcome them with open arms and [is] looking for ways to help them," said Gabr, who spoke to Foxnews.com from the Arab Region Council in Cairo, Egypt, which is part of the world organization.
Yet another good example of how this occupation can lead to an Iraqi society reconnected with the world-at-large, so long as we dont let the violent forces of disconnectedness drive this nation out of the world community again.
and
Boy Scouts making comeback in Iraq
Retired Navy commander works to restore honor code trampled by Saddam
A wonderful report, this world might win yet, when Scouts are able to withstand terrorists such as Saddam and come through whole, then there is hope.
But isn't it funny that you're not hearing that news broadcast far and wide from the MSM.
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