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WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2008 – After weeks of struggle to reach an agreement, an important next step has been made for U.S. troops to continue operations in Iraq in 2009, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said today. The Iraqi cabinet has signed the draft U.S.-Iraq status of forces agreement, allowing American troops to continue operating there and training Iraqi security forces after the United Nations Security Council mandate expires on Dec. 31. The cabinet signing is an important step, but the draft agreement still must be approved by the Iraqi parliament, then ratified by Iraq’s three-member presidential council, Whitman told reporters...

AL HILLAH — How do you measure success? “Regarding the $7 million newly-renovated Al Hillah Maternity and Children’s Hospital, located in Babil Province, it’s more than bricks and mortar — it’s all about saving lives,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Construction Representative Edward Jones. Like many USACE military, civilian and contract employees serving in Iraq, Jones will soon return home knowing his efforts directly benefited thousands of Iraqi families. “There are many stories that I will take away from this project but there is one that will stay with me forever,” Jones said. “On our final site visit...

An Explosives Ordinance Disposal team, assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division traveled to Combat Outpost Six to train the newly-formed 10th Iraqi Army EOD team Nov 7.    Iraqis have relied primarily on the Coalition forces to provide ordnance disposal over the past five years, but is now building its own EOD units in each of its provinces, with assistance from the 4th BCT, to ensure the units are trained and equipped to handle such dangerous missions.  “This is another step for the Iraqi Security Forces in Muthana,” said Capt. Michael Flynn, commander of Company D., 2nd Battalion,...

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Nov. 14, 2008 – Soldiers, government officials and journalists descended on Afghanistan’s Panjshir province yesterday for the grand opening of several developmental projects, including a “green energy” wind farm. Afghan security forces watch over a new wind farm in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province. The turbines provide electricity to the Panjshir government compound, which celebrated its grand opening Nov. 13, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paul David Ondik  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The wind farm may look unimpressive rising against a picturesque backdrop of snow-capped mountains, but it holds a key to the environmentally cutting-edge...

BAGHDAD – More than half of the Baghdad province Sons’ of Iraq have received their first paychecks from the Government of Iraq, with eight other provinces slated to follow suit by the summer of 2009.      “October 1st was the first transfer of the SoI to the Government of Iraq in Baghdad province, with 51,135 SoI [now under GoI control], and then throughout the month of October was the validation of the pay rosters and getting the pay sites ready,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey D. Kulmayer, chief, reconciliation and engagement, Multi-National Corps – Iraq.  “The October pay period was just paid...

As a new security pact is being negotiated and as Barack Obama prepares to take over the White House, life goes on in Iraq for U.S. troops and the Iraqi government. But that life is changing. According to an Associated Press report on Wednesday, U.S. forces are moving into larger bases and out of the cities and rural areas where they were living next to the Iraqi people and had gained the trust of those people. That had helped to reduce the level of violence in the country. Living near the people is part of the strategy of Gen. David...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2008 – Afghan national security forces are larger, fully engaged and leading the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, the U.S. general in charge of training them said today. “The [Afghan army is] leading about 60 percent of the operations they participate in, and have proven themselves as an effective fighting force,” Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Afghanistan, said in a news conference with Pentagon reporters via video-conference from Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Afghan National Army is becoming larger and better equipped, with new weapons and vehicles. The...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military in Iraq is abandoning — deliberately and with little public notice — a centerpiece of the widely acclaimed strategy it adopted nearly two years ago to turn the tide against the insurgency. It is moving American troops farther from the people they are trying to protect. Starting in early 2007, with Iraq on the brink of all-out civil war, the troops were pushed into the cities and villages as part of a change in strategy that included President Bush's decision to send more combat forces. The bigger U.S. presence on the streets was credited...

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Nov. 10, 2008 – Only a year ago, reliable electricity in Sab al Bour, Iraq, was just a dream. The city, just north of Baghdad along the Grand Canal, was practically deserted, with only diehard residents and pockets of insurgents sticking around in the dark. Iraqi officials dance in celebration at the end of an opening ceremony for a recently completed electrical sub-station in the city of Sal Ba Bor, Iraq, Nov. 8, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Smith  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. As of Nov. 8, residents in this small...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2008 – Since Anbar province returned to Iraqi control, Iraqi security forces are taking more responsibility and U.S. Marines in western Iraq are increasingly performing an overwatch role, the deputy commander of Multinational Force West said today. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Martin Post, briefing Pentagon correspondents by satellite from Fallujah, said a very few foreign fighters are trying to infiltrate the country, and Iraqi forces are in the lead in trying to stop them. The coalition leadership in Anbar province has been pleased “across the board” with Iraqi security forces, the general said. “We're most happy with...

BAGHDAD — The U.S. military says U.S. and Iraqi forces have killed a senior Al Qaeda in Iraq leader in the Tarmiyah area north of Baghdad. A U.S. statement says the Al Qaeda leader, known as Abu Ghazwan, was killed Thursday during a raid on a weapons cache.

In this file photo, Marines gaze at a statue donated to the city of Ramadi by a local Iraqi contractor. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jerry Murphy, Regimental Combat Team 1. RAMADI — The days of kicking in doors and large scale operations are quickly becoming a thing of the past in Iraq. Instead, Coalition forces’ main focus is rebuilding Iraq and continuing to ensure Iraqi security forces have the means available to ensure post-Provincial Iraqi Control security.Now more than a month into their deployment, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, has been successful at picking...

CAMP STRIKER — The Iraqi Army (IA) assumed control of Combat Outpost Dragon during a transfer-of-responsibility ceremony, Nov. 1. The 1st Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th IA Division took the reigns from 3rd Bn., 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “Over the past year, the Coalition has assisted us in making Yusifiyah a secure area,” said Col. Aman, 1/23/17th IA commander. COP Dragon was formed in 2007 from what was once the Yusifiyah Thermal Power Plant. Coalition forces worked side-by-side with the IA, conducting missions ranging from governance operations to air assaults. “We have worked...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq, Nov. 3, 2008 – The soldiers of Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, a mix of armor and infantry, assumed responsibility for the majority of southern Baghdad’s Risalah community, an area made up of 12 neighborhoods and home to about 250,000 people, in October 2007. Army Staff Sgt. Herbert Smitley checks an Iraqi identification card during a late-night patrol Oct. 28, 2008, in southern Baghdad’s Risalah community. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Williams   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The company’s third deployment to Iraq took the soldiers to...

Iraqi security force quality and quantity has improved, according to an Army general who is responsible for training, manning, equipping and employing Iraq Army, police and border enforcement personnel. Now on his third tour to Iraq, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, who graduated from Buena High School in 1977, admitted the capabilities of Iraqi forces were lacking in the past, but now “they have a significant will to fight.” As the deputy commander for operations of the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, N.Y., Buchanan said the leadership of individuals in the Iraqi Security Forces and up to the national level...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2008 – The Iraqi police have achieved operational proficiency, allowing coalition trainers to shift their focus to professional development, an officer said yesterday. “We’re continuing to develop big numbers of recruits, but at the same time we’re also starting to add to the professional training,” U.S. Army Col. Bryan Bequette, director of training support for the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, told bloggers during a teleconference. “Investigator courses, follow on leadership courses, management course … as we start working on professionalism of the force along and in parallel with the size of it.” Bequette is in command...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2008 – Complete security and governance responsibilities transferred to Iraqi officials in Wasit province today, giving Iraq’s government responsibility for more than two-thirds of the country, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters during a news conference today. “The national and local government now has responsibility for security and governance in all of southern Iraq,” Morrell said. “It is our hope that Iraqis can take charge of security for the final five provinces in the coming months.” Wasit becomes the 13th of the country’s 18 provinces, and second in a week, to transition to Iraqi control, he...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2008 – The mood of Afghan citizens has changed dramatically in the past year due to the progress the Afghan security forces have made, a senior military official said Oct. 24. “I’ve seen a lot of progress here in the Afghan army and police,” Army Col. Bill Hix, commander of Afghan Regional Security Integration Command South, said to bloggers during a teleconference. While the Afghan army has had about five years to develop, Hix said, the Afghan police didn’t really start to reform until last summer, when U.S. troops began to mentor them. Progress has been gained...

CAMP STRIKER — The Iraqi Army (IA) officially assumed authority of Patrol Base Inchon during a base turnover in Qarghuli Village, Oct. 20. The 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division took over from Co. D, 3rd Bn., 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “This day will be the strong hand that finishes [criminals] and makes our area safe,” said Capt. Ahmed, 1/1/23/17th IA commander. “Making our people safe in this area and all of Iraq has been our goal.” PB Inchon was established in January 2007 by Co. D, 4th...

KIRKUK, Iraq, Oct. 26, 2008 – Engineers with the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are teaching and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts on every aspect of reconstruction project development, preparing them to continue building and managing Iraq’s infrastructure after the coalition leaves. Army Lt. Col. Jack Hourguettes is an Army engineer assigned to the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team -- a joint effort to integrate infrastructure projects in the province, training, coaching, advising, increasing engineering expertise and improving decision-making while balancing political and engineering requirements. “We’ve been in Iraq five years and have had PRTs for three years,” Hourguettes...