Free Republic

Improvements Keep Coming at Iraq’s Busiest Trauma Center Corps of Engineers oversee $21 million in repairs, improvements at Ibn Sina Hospital By Norris JonesGulf Region Central DistrictU.S. Army Corps of Engineers BAGHDAD, June 4, 2007 — It’s the U.S. military’s busiest trauma center in the world. Ibn Sina Hospital, built in 1964 and located in Baghdad’s International Zone, has been operated by the U.S. Army since October 2003. It has handled more than 13,000 emergency room visits, air evacuated more than 10,000 patients, taken more than 60,000 X-rays, accomplished 14,500 surgical hours, and given more than 33,000 units of...

BAGHDAD — U.S. reconstruction efforts are providing successful, tangible results in the lives of Iraqis every day, said Brig. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Walsh addressed the media at two press conferences recently at the Combined Press Information Center – one with Adm. Mark I. Fox from Multi-National Force–Iraq, the other with Ambassador Joseph Saloom from the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office. “Every day in Iraq we see the successes of the U.S. government’s construction program – better essential services where, in many places, there were none; and 75 percent of the country...

Despite heightened attention to children's health and education issues, a greater investment needs to be made in California's 9.7 million youngsters so they're prepared to compete as adults, a study released Tuesday says. The annual California Report Card, released by Children Now, says the state has made progress in reducing drug and alcohol use, decreasing teen pregnancies and lowering mortality rates. However, the percentage of children covered by their parents' work-based health insurance is declining; while the rates of smoking, obesity, asthma and autism are on the rise, the report said. "Despite some progress, when you measure that against the...

I am making several changes and improvements to the site. First of all as some of you already know I am adding new writers and contributors to the Missal. More will be joining shortly once the details can be arranged. For now the list of writers includes: Steve, Andy, K, and me. Also there will be occasional guest posts by writers and contributors like Del, as can be seen by his first article on Analyzing Terrorism which has already been published on the Missal. Let me take this opportunity at the beginning of the New Year to welcome aboard all...

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s capital is facing challenging times, and for the situation to get better most officials believe residents need to see that their government is working and improvements are taking place. Maj. Robert Nash, officer in charge, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers International Zone office, said his staff is overseeing about 150 projects worth $500 million to upgrade essential services in Baghdad. “We’re rebuilding gas stations, paving roads, repairing sewer lift stations, installing new potable water networks, and paving roads,” Nash said. “We’re also renovating hospitals, building healthcare centers, installing neighborhood electric distribution networks, and rehabilitating water treatment plants.”...

Improvements Coming Slowly to FallujahBy ANTONIO CASTANEDA Associated Press Writer July 11. 2006 6:21PM A US military humvee patrols a main street covered with a canopy of electircal wires at the site of the largest U.S. battle in Iraq, 65 kilometers (40 miles), west of Baghdad, Iraq, in Fallujah, in this May 1, 2006 file photo. Clean water should flow to 80 percent of Fallujah's homes this fall, and by summer's end a planned wireless network will provide phone service and Internet access to thousands, a technological leap unimaginable just months ago. (AP Photo/Jacob Silberberg, File) Clean water should flow...

(GRD Photos) (GRD Photos) Al-Basrah Oil Terminal Improvements Increase Oil Exports By Lisa J. Anderson Gulf Region Southern District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Base Camp Adder (Ali Base) Iraq – The Al-Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) Hydraulic Bridge System Repair is now complete. After years of neglect and disrepair, the telescopic platform bridging systems at Berths 1 & 2 (Platform A) and Berths 3 and 4 (Platform B) were removed, repaired and reinstalled. Hydraulic power units, directional control valves and other system-critical equipment was also repaired and reinstalled. This refurbishment will make terminal operations more efficient which will increase the terminal’s...

Some Suggestions for the Network Execs I’ve been watching as much of the new TV shows as I can stand- usually about the first 5 to 6 minutes – commercials included. Having subjected myself to that torment, I feel entitled to make a few suggestions. (No extra charge, of course !) The Ghost Whisperer: Let’s liven thing up a bit ! If dead people need somebody to explain to them that they are really and truly dead, let’s put Judge Judy on the job ! Judge Judy : Read my lips , Skeletor ! I don’t care who your widow...

SADR CITY, Iraq, Sept. 27, 2005 — Sadr City residents say they’re definitely seeing a difference as nearly $86.5 million in infrastructure improvements have been completed with an additional $246 million ongoing. Local citizens report their sewers are working (unlike last year when all the lift stations were inoperable with broken pumps), water pressure is better, and they’re seeing electric lines going up. U.S. Army Lieutenant Col. Jamie Gayton, Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Brigade Troops Battalion Commander, is overseeing the work and says he couldn’t accomplish the mission without the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). “The lash-up...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 - When people refer to battlegrounds in presidential races, they are usually not thinking of airport runways. But those people probably have not heard of Runway 4/22 at the airport in Las Cruces, N.M. The runway, the airport's longest, has been closed since President Bush made a campaign stop in August 2004. It has gouges six inches deep and a hundred yards long, which the city says were put there by two Air Force cargo planes accompanying the president. Las Cruces put the damage at $2.1 million. The city said airport officials warned the Air Force that...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2005 – Better training, more advanced equipment and aeromedical evacuation procedures that are constantly being improved are helping save thousands of lives of troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, Air Force medical officers told the American Forces Press Service during a Pentagon interview. Air Force Lt. Col. Warren Dorlac, chief of critical care and trauma surgery at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, described the extensive network of patient care that's helping reduce battlefield deaths and speed up patients' recovery. Casualties are getting medical treatment faster and closer to the point of injury than ever before, Dorlac...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - State regulators have cleared the way for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to charge its customers $706 million to renovate the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. PG&E wants to replace eight steam generators at the San Luis Obispo-area plant. But the plan has drawn fire from environmentalists and consumer advocates, who question spending hundreds of millions on a $5.8 billion facility just 20 years old. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously agreed that PG&E's customers will probably be responsible for the costs of the work. The bill could run as high as $815 million if...