Posted on 08/05/2005 9:07:46 PM PDT by jmc1969
KHORMAL, Iraq — Securing Iraq’s borders has been a key issue in trying to stop the insurgency by keeping foreign fighters out. And under the Iraq Reconstruction Program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region District and the Project and Contracts Office are building 234 new border forts.
But even though $18 billion has been allotted for 2,800 planned projects throughout the country, progress has been slow. Of the 45 border forts planned in the Kirkuk region, 40 had an original July 31 deadline for completion. None met that deadline.
Once in place, the forts will help Iraqi border police keep a keen eye out for people entering the country illegally, according to Donna Street, area engineer for the Kirkuk region.
“There’s a real emphasis on border forts,” Street said. “The construction is slow but sure, with emphasis on the slow. We’re still trying to find out why. We’ll ask if they can finish it in two weeks, and they say yes, but they don’t. They are just telling us what they think we want to hear. It’s a real struggle.”
(Excerpt) Read more at estripes.com ...
We should have some freakin' forts on our own damn borders...
more media negativity
Reconstruction Continues in Iraq
http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/recon080105.html
Sulaymaniyah Governorate
"Marawa border fort project in the Sharbazher District, As Sulaymaniyah Governorate. There are six border fort projects programmed for construction in the Sharbazher District, of which five are ongoing. There are 264 border fort projects programmed throughout Iraq, of which 157 are ongoing and 86 are complete.
Esawee border fort project, Penjwin District, Sulaymaniayh Governorate. There are 12 border fort projects programmed for construction in the Penjwin District, of which 11 are ongoing and one is complete. This project is a local contractor working as a subcontractor to Parsons, averaging 20 Iraqi workers a day. Since the project is too remote from the national electricity grid, generators are on site."
Yeah, right out of that den of leftists, Stars and Stripes
We should always be cautious of those who would lower our profile, because they might just wind up lowering our flag. - President Reagan
Get your news from FR, talk radio and Fox. You'll be a lot happier. Unless you're some kind of leftist.
Why? Have our CBP buildings been attacked by rockets, grenades and 50 mm machine guns?
A fort is a defensive structure, DUH!
I thought this news was on FR.
You do know what Starts and Stripes is, don't you?
Iraqi Border Forts strengthen security (CENTCOM, 10/04)
http://www.arcent.army.mil/media_releases/2004/october/oct05_03.asp
Excerpts:
"The resulting plan lays out border fort construction locations in Suly, Diyala, Wassit, Maysan, Basrah, Muthanna, Najaf, Anbar, and Ninewa provinces"
"Over the next year, Iraq will double the size of the border enforcement - first expanding to 24,000 and then to 32,000 members. Iraq needs the right 32,000 people for this important job. Your loyalty must be to protecting the new Iraq."
"The construction team is comprised of the Air Force Center for Environmental Engineering, Army Corps of Engineers, Navy Seabees, and Parsons of Delaware, a construction company."
"Modernization includes the incorporation of security technology that will allow border officials to scan and screen nearly all the cargo that passes through the points of entry."
The aim of the operation is to thoroughly deprive insurgents of sanctuary along the Syrian border. Evidence cited includes the many weapons now being left behind as the enemy flees.
Yes, it's a privately owned news outlet that is intended for military consumption. However, our guys think of it mostly as leftist propaganda.
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