Iraqs Inconvenient Truth :: Iraq War News Updates

 29 June 2007 (IRNA)

Officials from the European Union and Iraq began in Brussels Monday the second round of negotiations for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Iraqi foreign undersecretary Mohammad Hamoud who is leading his country’s delegation to the 2-day meeting said the TCA will strengthen Iraq’s relations with the EU.

“This is the second round of talks. We discussed the main issues of trade and cooperation. Views from both sides are identical. We want to reach an agreement with the EU quickly,” Hamoud told reporters.

The TCA negotiations were launched between the EU and Iraq in Brussels last November to progressively strengthen the 27-member bloc’s relations with Iraq and integrate the country in the world economy.

Hamoud said he found the Europeans ready to help Iraq in several fields and Iraq expected the EU to help in the reconstruction, science and technology. “We hope that friendly relations will develop with the EU to the best expected level,” declared the Iraqi official.

In two months the third round of TCA negotiations will be held nd we hope that during this year we will reach to a total agreement, he added.

On his part, the director of the Mediterranean and Middle East affairs in the European Commission, Hughes Mingarelli, said “on our side we will do everything to help.”

Iraq in this difficult circumstances In 2003, the EU committed more than 14 billion euro in terms of debt relief, loans and grants to assist in bring about economic recovery of Iraq, he noted.

Mingarelli said through the TCA agreement EU-Iraq relations will be based on a contractual basis. “Today we had a fruitful exchange of views on the content of the agreement and I am sure we will manage to strengthen our political dialogue with Iraq,” he said.

The EU wants to boost regional cooperation between Iraq and its neighbours. “This is extremely important if we want to bring back stability,” stressed the EU official.

In reply to IRNA’s question on Iraq’s relations with its neighbours, Hamoud replied “with our neighbours it is always the same.

Some of them are helping Iraq, some of them not.” ” We are doing our best to have good relations with all the neighbouring countries. The policy of the Iraqi government is to have peaceful relations with all the countries and good neghbourhood with the neighoburing countries.” The TCA covers a wide range of issues including trade in goods, services, energy, measures to encourage investment, customs, intellectual and industrial property rights, and public procurement rules.

All EU agreements with third countries now feature human rights, terrorism and WMD as important elements. IraqUpdates

BAGHDAD, 29 June 2007 (Reuters)

NATO is considering a request to supply Iraq with 70 Russian-made T72 tanks, an official said on Friday, while Iraqi state television said an offer for 120 T72 tanks was already on the table.

A public information officer for the NATO training and equipment mission in Iraq said no decision had yet been taken.

“That request has been sent to the (NATO member) nations. Now we are awaiting their response. No offer has been finalised,” said Herdis Sigurgrimsdottir of the NATO mission.

State-owned Iraqiya television said that the offer was made during a recent meeting in Rome between Iraqi Defence Minister Abdel Qader Jassim and senior NATO officials.

A Iraqi defence ministry source who spoke on the condition of anonymity also said that NATO had made the tank offer, but could give no further details.

NATO has for several years been providing the Iraqi army with equipment, mostly ex-Soviet and mostly from former Warsaw pact members. Earlier this month it said it would add gendarme paramilitary courses to the training that it does in Iraq.

The Iraqi Army has been completely reorganised since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, but complains it is still short of equipment, particularly heavy armour.

Saddam’s army had over 4,000 mainly T72 tanks before the first Gulf war in 1991. But this number had been reduced to around 500 by the end of that conflict, according to U.S. defence department estimates. Those that remained were extensively destroyed in the second Gulf war in 2003. IraqUpdates

U.S., Iraqi troops have 60 days to win over locals and restart economy

By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, June 29, 2007

Drew Brown / S&S U.S. troops from Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment dash across a road in Baqouba during a raid on a mosque believed to be affiliated with insurgents. Documents found inside the mosque later proved this information to be correct. Drew Brown / S&S Iraqi Kurdish troops from the 5th Iraqi Army Division kiss and press copies of the Koran to their foreheads as they search for documents linking a mosque in Baqouba to insurgents. Drew Brown / S&S Sgt. Luis Cruz, 28, of Davenport, Iowa, a team leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, takes a breather after a raid on a mosque believed linked to insurgents in Baqouba. Offensive’s progress Since the beginning of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, as the offensive in Baqouba is called, Iraqi and American troops have distributed some 265,000 pounds of rice and flour, along with 10,000 meals, to families in the area. U.S. military officials said Thursday that some 60 suspected al-Qaida fighters had been killed so far in the operation, with 74 suspects arrested. To date, 31 weapons caches have been recovered. At least 81 explosive devices have been found and disarmed, but there was no word on the number that exploded before being detected. The combined force has also destroyed 18 booby-trapped structures, officials said. During one clearing operation, the troops found a warehouse in the Khatoon neighborhood of the city filled with food that had allegedly been stolen by militants from government food distribution centers. The food was later distributed by the troops to civilians in the area. “The theft and hoarding of these essential supplies by al-Qaida is just another example of how that organization seeks to control the population by depriving it of needed provisions,” Col. Steve Townsend, commander of 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, was quoted as saying.

BAQOUBA, Iraq

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BRINGS CLEAN WATER TO THOUSANDS

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 07:13 AM GMT-06:00

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BRINGS CLEAN WATER TO THOUSANDS

OP ARROWHEAD RIPPER UPDATE: TROOPS CONTINUE TO CLEAR BAQOUBA, DELIVER FOOD TO LOCALS

Posted: 28 Jun 2007 05:59 AM GMT-06:00

OP ARROWHEAD RIPPER UPDATE: TROOPS CONTINUE TO CLEAR BAQOUBA, DELIVER FOOD TO LOCALS

130 gunmen killed, captured under Baghdad security plan
Baghdad, 28 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

Iraqi security forces killed 14 gunmen, captured 114 others and arrested 2 suspected militants in several areas of Baghdad during the past 24 hours under the Baghdad law-imposing plan, the Baghdad operations command said on Wednesday.

“The forces managed also to free three captives, defuse two bombs and confiscate large amount of weapons and ammunition in different areas of Baghdad, mainly in Kadhimiyah City in northern Baghdad,” the Baghdad operations command said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The statement also noted that “eight Iraqi soldiers were killed and 29 others were injured, including an officer, in a combat mission.”

Iraqi and U.S. troops have been involved in a large-scale operation called “Fardh al-Qanoon,” since mid-February, in a bid to quell bombings and sectarian violence in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

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Govt. plan to employ 3 million unemployed
Baghdad, 28 June 2007 (Al-Sabaah)

The Govt. works through an economic plan to employ 3 million unemployed to end the unemployment problem in the country and while Vice President Dr. Adel Abdulmahdi informed Grand Ayatollah Mr. Ali Sistani about new national front which includes four main political parties and efforts which aim to widening it, a MP close to Prime Minister that Mr. Maliki hopes to make comprehensive reshuffle soon and he considers a suggestion to decrease ministries to twenty.

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Iraqi culture minister’s arrest warrant dominates Iraqi newspapers
Baghdad, 28 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

Iraqi newspapers on Wednesday focused on the warrant for arrest of Iraqi culture minister Asaad al-Hashemi and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s efforts to form a new government.

Quoting government sources, the government-funded al-Sabah newspaper said that the arrest warrant was issued for his suspected involvement in the assassination of MP Mathal al-Alusi’s sons two years ago. The General Council for the People of Iraq, headed by Adnan al-Dulaimi, condemned the arrest warrant and the police raid on the minister’s house. “The warrant was issued in the light of confessions made by detainees about the involvement of al-Hashemi and his bodyguards in the assassination of the two sons of Mathal al-Alusi, (an Iraqi member of parliament from the Sunni Umma Party, which has only one seat in the Council of Representatives),” the newspaper wrote.

The newspaper also quoted an Iraqi parliamentarian who indicated that al-Maliki is currently considering a full cabinet reshuffle, intended to reduce the number of ministries to 20.

Under the headline ‘Government plan to appoint three million unemployed,’ al-Sabah revealed an economic plan by the Iraqi government to reduce unemployment by appointing three million unemployed people in different sectors all over the country.

Al-Taakhi newspaper, issued by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), also discussed the arrest warrant, and quoted al-Alusi as saying, “The court issued an arrest warrant against a former mosque imam and Asaad Kamal al-Hashemi, the current minister of culture, in the light of confessions made by detained terrorists.”

On its front page the newspaper published the following headlines: ‘ Negervan al-Barazani: Anfal trial’s significance is that it proved genocide against the Kurdistan people,’ ‘Al-Maliki considers formation of new government of 20 ministries amid parliamentary and political concerns’ and ‘Hoshyar Zibari says Iraqi-Jordanian coordination at greatest level, denies accusing Allawi of conspiring against government.’
Al-Mada newspaper, an independent daily, quoted a spokesman for the Iraqi government, Ali al-Dabbagh, as linking al-Hashemi’s arrest to “terrorist-related charges.”

Under the headline ‘Zibari: Internal and external conspiracies are organized against the government,’ the newspaper quoted Iraq’s Kurdish foreign minister, Zibari, as describing al-Maliki’s relationship with the U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, as “difficult,” but denying disputes between them.
On the arrest warrant, Iraq’s Hezbollah movement’s al-Bayyina newspaper wrote, “The Iraqi minister of culture runs away following a warrant for his arrest on charges of financing terrorist operations, including the assassination of al-Alusi’s two sons.”

In an article entitled ‘Independent U.S. committee to evaluate performance of Iraqi forces,’ the newspaper also wrote, “U.S. sources revealed that an independent committee was set up to evaluate the true potential of the Iraqi police and army.” The newspaper said that James Johns, a retired general, will head the committee, which will include Washington D.C. former police chief Charles Ramsey as a member.

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Major project to develop Iraq economical relations
Baghdad, 28 June 2007 (Al-Sabaah)

Ministry or trade has announced that t started a major project to develop economical relations with UAE, Jordan and Austria within a frame of a plan to activate economical relations between Iraq and international states.

Press statements said that ministry continuo steps of completing the mutual agreement with Azerbaijan for cultural, scientific, economical and trade cooperation, and Azeri side has been informed by draft of agreement to give its opinion about it.

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Residential complex for Hilla
28 June 2007 (Azzaman)

The Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction is building a new residential complex in Hill at a cost of $30 million.

A statement signed by housing minister, Bayan Dazaai, said the project will include more than 500 apartments and is expected to be completed in 30 months.

“It is one of six such housing projects in the country,” the statement said.

Hilla is the capital of the Province of Babylon and is located close to the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon.

In each complex there will be three schools, a mosque, a clinic, a park and a commercial center, said the statement.

The ministry is involved in a flurry of housing construction across the country despite mounting violence.

It has established a fund which provides low-interest loans to government employees to help them build their own house

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Water resources finish plan for summer agricultural season
Samawa, 28 June 2007 (Al-Sabaah)

Water resources directorate in Muthana has finished its plan to success current summer agricultural season.

This confirmed by director of water resources in province who referred that Rumitha River has been cleaned along 38 kilometers with more than 1000 cubic meter of precipitations, in addition to clean Rumitha River and Tazeez channel from Shambolan plant. IraqUpdates

Thursday, 28 June 2007By A. Al Bahrani
American Forces Press Service

The new platforms and sidewalks constructed at Basrah Railroad Station by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South will provide travelers easy access as they come into the station. Photo by A. Al Bahrani.

BASRAH — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District’s rehabilitation of the railway station here is part of the effort to build and develop Iraq’s basic services and strategic infrastructure.“The $480,000 project provides a critical link for the country of Iraq and it ties the southern portion of the country with the northern portion,” said Thomas Edison, chief of engineering and construction for Gulf Region South.

“The Iraq railroad system provides efficient, reliable transportation, and many people rely on the railroad for traveling. It is also critical for trade and commerce from the deep-water marine port and business centers in southern Iraq to the population centers in northern Iraq,” Edison said.

Stanley Dowdy, Basrah Area Office resident engineer, said the railroad station was unusable without renovation. “The platforms for getting on and off the trains and the walkways were all torn up or removed, and the building structure itself was damaged and unsafe,” he said. “This project installed all new platforms and walkways, as well as renovating portions of the interior and the exterior façade.

“These improvements will greatly facilitate enhanced operations at this site,” he added. “We applaud the Iraqi team with whom we have closely worked in making this challenge become a reality.”

The Corps’ mission for this project consists of performing onsite evaluations and rehabilitation work of seven railway stations throughout the Basrah province. “The goal of the project is to repair the stations and make them safe and efficient once again,” Dowdy said.

“Now, as reconstruction is gaining momentum, the need for a transportation network to provide for efficient movement of essential products such as construction materials, equipment, merchandise, fuel and other supplies is essential for Iraq,” said Hadi Mashkor, the directorate general for Basrah Railroad Station.

Mashkor said rebuilding the rail industry in Basrah is very important to Iraq’s economy. Basrah is one of the oldest cities in Iraq and it is in the heart of the petroleum industry. It directly affects the Iraqi economy.

“Being able to transport goods and services is vital to a growing region and economy. The railroad system will continue to grow in serving the Iraqi people,” Edison said. IraqUpdates

HIGH-LEVEL SENIOR AL-QAEDA LEADER KILLED DURING COALITION OPERATIONS

Posted: 27 Jun 2007 10:33 AM CDT

HIGH-LEVEL SENIOR AL-QAEDA LEADER KILLED DURING COALITION OPERATIONS

Our America ~ The Truth

U.S. forces lift siege from al-Aazamiya

Baghdad, 27 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

U.S. forces lifted a five-day siege from al-Aazamiya, northern Baghdad, local residents said on Tuesday.

“U.S. forces removed barricades from the outlets to the neighborhood and allowed residents to go to work after a siege that lasted for five days following Thursday’s bombing of a U.S. vehicle and an attack on an Iraqi army checkpoint,” an eyewitness told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Another eyewitness told VOI, “technicians and workers started fixing water pipes damaged in the bombings and clashes last week and now the electricity is back.”

U.S. forces had asked residents of al-Aazamiya via microphone to report any armed groups in the area and were allowing only pedestrians in or out.

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18 suspected gunmen arrested in Diala

Baghdad, 27 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

Eighteen suspected gunmen were arrested in Hamrin mountain and al-Muqdadiya, Diala province, an Iraqi army official said on Tuesday.

“A joint Iraqi-U.S. force launched a security raid in Hamrin mountain in search of runaway gunmen within Operation Arrowhead Ripper, arresting eight suspected members of al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq, including two carrying Syrian passports, and seizing arms and ammunition,” the source, who declined to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The same source also said “Iraqi and Multi-National Force troops started a wide-scale security campaign in al-Muqdadiya, (45 km) northeast of Baaquba, within Arrowhead Ripper in Diala, arresting 10 suspected gunmen.”

“The raid ended on Tuesday morning without any casualties in the security forces’ ranks,” said the source, adding “two vehicles rigged with explosives were seized.”

Operation Arrowhead Ripper, launched more than a week ago in Baaquba, capital of Diala province, 57 km northeast of Baghdad, involves more than 10,000 Iraqi and U.S. troops targeting members of al-Qaeda and other armed groups there.

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Maliki declares package of important decisions

Baghdad, 26 June 2007 (Al-Sabaah)

Prime Minister Noori Maliki declares package of important decisions which aim to serve Iraq and its future.

While Mr. Abdulazzez Alhakeem confirmed that the Govt. still powerful and has wide public support, four main political parties agreed on national principles of constant political project for the Govt. and democratic process.

Meanwhile, Islamic Dawa party and Islamic supreme council formed joint secretariat to face recent challenges and support the Govt.

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MP: New constitutional changes serve Iraq’s unity

Baghdad, 26 June 2007 (Al-Sabaah)

Sheikh Humam Hamodi, chairman of foreign relations committee in Parliament, confirmed that new constitutional changes would serve Iraq’s interest and unity stressed on that Iraq wouldn’t become base or panel to attack neighbors.

Hamodi added at his meeting with Turkish ambassador that Govt. believes in importance of Iraq’s unity besides giving real opportunities to develop and prosperity the territories.

While Hamodi put forth on the ambassador activating parliament friendship committee between the two countries as what happens with other friendship committees.

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Iran firm wins Iraq power deal

Iran, 27 June 2007 (AME Info FZ LLC)

Iran’s Saneer Company has been appointed head contractor for the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Iraq, the Tehran Times reported.

The Sadr plant will have two units each with 157MW capacity. An official said $150m will initially be invested in the project.

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Dubai School of Government organises training programme for Iraqi officials

United Arab Emirates, 26 June 2007 (AME Info FZ LLC)

The Dubai School of Government organised a five-day training programme for Iraqi government officials to address issues related to rebuilding the government sector.

The ‘Exploring Strategic Planning for the Government Sector’ programme targeted PA to ministers, under-secretaries and CEO’s to help them develop leadership and policy-making skills based on the global best practices and the UAE’s own experience.

The participants attended a presentation by Ohood Al Roumi, Executive Director at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office. The presentation featured preparatory procedures for the UAE Federal Government Strategy and the various stages of the Dubai Strategy Plan 2015. In addition, it also gave an insight into the strategies of the UAE Ministry of Interior and Labour as well as the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government, said: ‘The participants from Iraq focused on developing strategies for their ministries, including formulating the mission, vision and objectives. We are glad to offer knowledge and expertise to the Arab World to help nurture leaders capable of resolving the present day challenges.’

Dr. Abbas Mahdi, Senior Consultant to the Iraqi Prime minister’s Office, said: ‘The creation of government departments in Iraq is going ahead at a slow but steady pace despite various challenges.’

Dr. Mahdi praised the UAE’s successful experience in promoting government excellence, encouraging individual creativity, developing a strategy capable of dealing with contemporary challenges and concentrating on human development.

The programme included lectures from Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dr. Tarek Abdul Qader Hatem, Senior Research Fellow at the Dubai School of Government and Khaled Al Gohary, Manager of the Executive Education Programmes at Dubai School of Government.

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Forest allocations exceed 6,000,000,000 IQD

26 June 2007 (Iraq Directory)

The General Company of Horticulture and Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture began implementing a national project to develop forests in Iraq, to be implemented over four years with allocations exceeding 6,000,000,000 IQD.

An authorized ministry source statement said it prepared an integrated plan last year to compensate for trees in forests subject to indiscriminate cutting over the past two decades, especially in man-made forests covering 6000 hectares at the time of the fall of the regime. Forest improvement last year used allocations exceeding 810,000,000 IQD for development of existing forests and establishment of others, both man-made and natural.

The source stressed the importance of the project, which will introduce new species and varieties of international origin in order to improve the environment, provide economic return from timber production, protect the soil from erosion and runoff, maintain river basins, moderate climate, minimize damage from dust storms, and stop sand encroachment or desertification in governorates in southern and central Iraq.

Meanwhile, 180 farming divisions in all provinces began tree farming on 50,000 sq. m for a total area of over nine thousand dunums.

An official source at the Department of Planning and Follow-up claimed agricultural divisions began operations on their allocated areas starting from scratch. He expressed confidence that the completion of the mini-forest projects in each division will be valuable “seed” experiences for wide future implementation.

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Revitalizing Tourism
Revitalizing the Iraqi tourism economy

26 June 2007 (Iraq Directory)

An economic expert stated that the tourism sector in Iraq was never given the attention it deserves as an important economic sector in supporting development.

Dr. Ali Al-Manii of the Economic Studies Center said in a press statement, “The successful development of tourism in any country must focus on its most enjoyed areas; and since Iraq is a tourist country, according to world rankings, those responsible, especially the Ministry of State for Tourism and Antiquities, must work under the provisions of the National Development Strategy issued by the Ministry of Planning in this concern.”

He added, “Acceleration in tourism sector development will lead to economic diversification and help other sectors. Regrettably, the obstacles standing in the way of developing this sector were not analysed because of the security situation and because tourist facilities are spread throughout Iraq. Therefore it is necessary to develop and improve basic services which affect such development.”

Al-Manii noted that “Foreign or local investments could revitalize the production and service sectors associated with development of tourism and support the government’s efforts.”

He said, “Iraq does not need [a distinct] tourism industry because it is [naturally] a tourist country. So it is necessary to consider the characteristic Iraqi when transforming to the market economy; local economies are not part of official market economics at the present time, leaving the door open for universities to prepare special studies, in conjunction with local advisory offices.”

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Three industrial plants put up for investment in Basra

Basra, 26 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

Three industrial plants were put up for investment in Basra and a number of companies made bids that are still under discussion by the local government, Deputy President of Basra’s municipal council Nasif Jassim al-Abbadi said on Sunday.

A fertilizer plant in Abi al-Khasib, southern Basra, in addition to petrochemical and iron and steel plants “were put up for investment. The local government has received many bids for them from Iraqi and foreign investors,” al-Abbadi said during a conference held today at the headquarters of the council.

“Bids will be open to select the best offer in the coming period,” he added.

According to the deputy president, developing industrial plants will produce significant benefits for Iraqi industry. Combating widespread unemployment, providing cash flow and developing other sectors are some of the benefits, which al-Abbadi said investment will bring.

After the collapse of the former Iraqi regime, most of Basra’s industrial plants were partly or wholly closed because of negligence or destruction.

Set up in the 1970s with a productivity of one million tons, Abi al-Khasib’s chemical fertilizer plant is currently working at half its productivity.

The General Company for Petrochemical Industries in western Basra was established in 1978 with a capital of 400 million Iraqi dinars ($318,699). It aimed to process one million tons of natural gas to produce 150,000 tons of petrochemical products, including plastic grains and liquid chlorine.

The iron and steel factory in Khour al-Zubeir neighborhood in western Basra was manufacturing steel wire and sponge iron and has been shut down since 2003 because of a lack of raw materials and inadequate maintenance. IraqUpdates

Baghdad, 27 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

U.S. forces lifted a five-day siege from al-Aazamiya, northern Baghdad, local residents said on Tuesday.

“U.S. forces removed barricades from the outlets to the neighborhood and allowed residents to go to work after a siege that lasted for five days following Thursday’s bombing of a U.S. vehicle and an attack on an Iraqi army checkpoint,” an eyewitness told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Another eyewitness told VOI, “technicians and workers started fixing water pipes damaged in the bombings and clashes last week and now the electricity is back.”

U.S. forces had asked residents of al-Aazamiya via microphone to report any armed groups in the area and were allowing only pedestrians in or out.

By Multi-National Division - Baghdad PAO
Jun 25, 2007 - 6:03:52 PM

Spc. Jonathan Harris, a scout from the Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Carson, Colo., logs personal information of a local worker into a database June 19 in eastern Baghdad. Harris added information for security reasons to protect local civilians in fear insurgents may try to extort local workers or claim they work at the business. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sean Ryan 2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs Officer)

Blackanthem Military News:

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - Most of the time, you won’t see Soldiers of the Special Troops Battalion working because nearly all of their missions are at night or early morning escorting convoys, providing route clearance on dangerous roads, or helping secure the area for both the Soldiers of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and local civilians.

Their latest mission on June 19, in eastern Baghdad, was to search and cordon off a local gas station that may have been subject to illegal insurgent activity.

Fuel is a target for insurgents to extort since supplies are sometimes short and some people will bypass waiting in long lines to buy black market fuel.

However, this doesn’t exclude local gas stations from extortion either and the Fort Carson, Colo., based unit commanded by Lt. Col. James Wolak was primed not to let the local populace fall prey to an unsafe environment and the gas station workers to be manipulated.

Using a new biometric system that allows an individual’s information to be stored and accessed quickly, Soldiers were able to log valuable information in the system regarding workers that not only legitimizes their job, but can corroborate if an insurgent claims they work at the business.

“Gaining information and getting an idea of who the workers are and keeping track in the database is important in case insurgents to try to manipulate them,”  said Spc. Jonathan Harris, a scout by military occupational specialty and native of Portland, Ore., said.

The local civilians will sometimes sleep outside gas stations to get in line for fuel, but in many areas, they are putting themselves at risk for extortion.

“The goal is security for the civilians,” said 1st Lt. Martin Leopard, a Military Police platoon leader for Headquarters and Headquarters Company. The Spotsylvania, Pa., native said, “The threats for (vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices) and (other improvised explosive devices) are still present for large crowds and the security checks are there to help the civilians. We have to look at how the enemy views things and adapt our tactics.”

ADDITIONAL PHOTO:

An Iraqi policeman lines up individuals to purchase fuel without worrying about insurgents extorting them while they wait. Soldiers from the Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Inf. Div. based out of Fort Carson, Colo., were on hand to log personal information of local workers into a database June 19 in eastern Baghdad. Information was added for security reasons to protect local civilians in fear insurgents may try to extort local workers or claim they work at the business. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sean Ryan 2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs Officer)

By 1st Lt. Erik Klapmeier, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment
Jun 25, 2007 - 5:56:45 PM

Blackanthem Military News, BAGHDAD, Iraq -

Spc. Leo Pacheco, a rifleman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, entertains local children on the streets of northern Ghazaliya. A few months ago, the once prominent upper-middle class neighborhood had turned into a battleground of sectarian violence. The Soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas helped stop the violence in the area. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Erik Klapmeier, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment)

Spc. Leo Pacheco, a rifleman with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, demonstrates to a young boy how to ride a bike. Pacheco’s unit, from Fort Bliss, Texas, witnessed the once violent streets calm and be filled with residents conducting their daily lives. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Erik Klapmeier, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment)

Baaquba, 26 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

U.S. and Iraqi forces killed more than 70 gunmen and arrested scores others during the Operation Arrowhead Ripper in Diala province, a senior U.S. army officer said on Monday.

“More than 70 gunmen were killed and scores others were detained in the operation,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek , the 25th Infantry Division’s deputy commander for operations told reporters via a videoconference on Monday.

“25 weapons depots have been found so far, in addition to destroying a big factory for making car bombs,” he also said.

“The joint Iraqi and U.S. forces are facing big challenges in the province because al-Qaeda members are spreading through out Diala,” he added.

“Between 15 to 16 Iraqi army brigades are participating in the operation, in addition to police forces,” Bednarek said, noting that additional Iraqi forces will join the military operation in Baaquba in the upcoming weeks.

Operation Arrowhead Ripper is a security campaign in which more than 10,000 U.S. and Iraqi soldiers are taking part.

It is aimed at hunting down members of the so-called al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq and other armed groups controlling the greater part of Diala province, 57 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. IraqUpdates

Baghdad, 25 June 2007 (Voices of Iraq)

Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabr al-Zubaidy signed an agreement with his Chinese counterpart on writing off 100 percent of Iraq’s 8-billion-dollar debts due for China on the sidelines of a current visit by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Beijing.

“A big ceremony was held on the occasion attended by Talabani and Chinese President Hu Jintao at the People’s Hall in China,” the Iraqi finance ministry said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Zubaidy had held several meetings with the Chinese side in Baghdad on the means to settle the issue of having China writing off the Iraq’s government and corporate debts.

The decision makes China the 55th country to write its due debts off Iraq.

China, during the last donors conference in the Spanish capital Madrid, had pledged to assist Iraqi refugees, write debts off Iraq and offer 25 million dollar in financial aid to the war-scarred country.

BAGHDAD — U.S. Marines continued counterinsurgency operations in Haditha Sunday in an effort to win the hearts and minds of Iraqi citizens.     

“Showing a presence in the area does a lot more than people would think,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joseph A. Cervantes, squad leader, 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2. “We mainly do two types of patrols, one being security patrols, which are designed to have a deterrent effect on anything that happens in the area.”

Marines assigned to 1st Sqd., 3rd Plt., conduct up to three patrols a day.  Patrols allow Marines to find the enemy and learn about the populace.

“We also do ‘meet and greet’ patrols. We go out and meet the families, and we start a relationship with them,” said Cervantes. “We speak to them and get their feelings on current situations and take their suggestions on what could be done differently in the city.”

The locals warmed up to the Marines, and now talk to them regularly.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Edward G. Martin, an automatic rifleman in the unit, said the people didn’t act this way upon their arrival late March 2007.

“They seemed a little distant and cold at first,” said Martin. “They’ve always been friendly, but you can tell we’re now winning them over. They’re beginning to trust us and (they’re) glad we’re here.”

Martin recalled a recent 16-hour operation when the Marines were welcomed with open arms by the locals.

“The people were running out and giving us cold water and allowing us to come into their houses and rest,” he added. “This is what lets me know they’re thankful.”

Due to the large amount of patrols, Marines who patrol the area have begun to recognize people in the area.

“We went firm in a house one day and the locals working there recognized us because we stopped at their house earlier in the week,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathan A. Fanning, an automatic rifleman in the unit. “He said he remembered us because of how respectful we were with him and his property.”

The friendliness and openness are a growing trend in the region. Numerous battalions have deployed to the Haditha region and experienced daily fire fights, sniper attacks, improvised explosive device explosions, and other friction, said Martin.

“I thought at first it was going to be non-stop fighting, but I’m glad it’s not. After being here, it’s a lot more fulfilling to be helping out in the way that we are,” he said.

Cervantes believed the area has completely turned around.

“The locals used to be very standoff-ish, but now they’re a lot more vocal,” said Cervantes. “I think they’re starting to realize we sacrifice a lot to come out here and help them. They are grateful, but they would still like to see their own army move in. It would help with their national pride a lot to see the Iraqi Army out here.”

While an Iraqi battalion is deployed in the region, they are not permanently positioned in the area.

Cervantes expects it to keep getting better throughout the remainder of the deployment.

“I hope things continue to go smoothly for the rest of the time we’re out here, but I’ll just take it patrol-by-patrol and day-by-day,” said Martin.

(U.S. Marine Corps story by Cpl. Rick Nelson, Combat Correspondent)

In other developments throughout Iraq:

• Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Lightning Soldiers discovered an execution house and an illegal prison in the Baqouba neighborhood of Khatoon Sunday during the sixth day of Operation Arrowhead Ripper.  

• Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers defeated multiple insurgent attacks and discovered several caches during clearing operations in the eastern and western portions of the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital Saturday and Sunday.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces killed 11 insurgents, detained 25 suspects and discovered several weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials reported.

Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained 14 suspected terrorists today during operations around Iraq targeting al Qaeda leaders and operatives.

Operations south of Hawija targeted an al Qaeda terrorist leader known for helping foreign fighters move into Iraq, military officials said. As coalition forces approached the targeted building, four men got into a vehicle and drove away.

Coalition forces followed the men, one of whom was believed to be the targeted terrorist. When the vehicle stopped, the men got out of the vehicle with weapons in hand. Coalition forces, responded to the threat, engaged the armed men and killed them.

Inside the vehicle, coalition forces found rocket-propelled grenades. They safely destroyed the vehicle and weapons on site and moved to the next targeted building, where they detained four suspected terrorists who are allegedly involved with the al Qaeda leader.

In Baghdad today, coalition forces targeted operatives in the al Qaeda network when they raided two buildings in the city. One man was wounded as coalition forces entered the building. He was taken to a military medical facility for treatment.

Inside the building, coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists for their alleged association with al Qaeda. Ground forces also discovered two vehicles that tested positive for explosives residue, which they safely destroyed.

Coalition forces captured an alleged al Qaeda religious leader during a raid west of Taji, and detained four more suspected terrorists for their involvement with the targeted individual.

“As long as al Qaeda in Iraq continues to operate, we will continue to target them and disrupt their network,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Removing al Qaeda from the population remains a top priority.”

In Iraq yesterday:

– Coalition troops killed five men armed with rifles, light machine guns and grenades during raids against al Qaeda operatives in Fallujah. At one raid site, coalition forces discovered two vehicles containing ammunition, hand grenades and mortar rounds.

– Coalition forces targeting a senior al Qaeda leader in Tikrit killed two men inside a vehicle that continued to speed towards them, failing to heed visual and audio signals to stop. Troops discovered an improvised explosive device on the back seat. Forces detained two suspected terrorists at the site.

– Coalition forces detained three suspects during operations in Sadr City as part of an effort to deny Iranian influence in Iraq. The detained Iranian surrogates are suspected of smuggling explosively formed projectiles and other munitions to be used against coalition forces and civilians in sectarian violence, military officials said.

– Iraqi army and coalition forces conducted a joint raid in Mosul, discovering a large factory used to make home-made explosives, improvised explosive devices and car bombs.

During operations June 22 in Iraq:

– Coalition forces in Mosul captured an alleged Kurdish extremist associated with
attacks in northern Iraq areas. The suspect is believed to be involved in helping foreign fighters move into Iraq, as well as conducting financial and media operations
for al Qaeda, military officials said. Four other suspected terrorists were detained in
nearby raids.

– Iraqi special operations forces detained a key rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi insurgent leader in Sadr City. The suspect is allegedly responsible for coordinating and conducting kidnappings, death squad killings and improvised explosive device attacks against innocent civilians and Iraqi and coalition forces, military officials said.

– Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered several caches during clearing operations in Baghdad’s East Rashid Security District. The caches contained 17 60mm mortar rounds, one Dragunov sniper rifle, 18 armor-piercing rifle rounds, more than 700 small-arms ammunition, cell phones, cell phone initiators used in roadside bombs and 10 blasting caps. 
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps News Releases.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq

Conference Marks First Step Toward Inter-Faith Reconciliation in Iraq

By Tim Kilbride
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2007 – A meeting of Iraqi religious leaders from various sects and faiths has opened a door for further progress on reining in factional violence in Iraq, said the top U.S. chaplain in the country.

The Iraqi Inter-Religious Congress, held June 12-13 in Baghdad, brought together 55 representatives of the most influential clerics and religious dignitaries from around the country. In doing so, it potentially set a precedent for continued dialogue on how to reconcile the Iraqi people, Army Chaplain (Col.) Micheal Hoyt, command chaplain for Multinational Force Iraq, said during a June 21 conference call with online journalists.

Hoyt said the gathering comprised the “largest representation of faith groups and geographic dispersion from north, south, east and west in Iraq at a religious conference in 37 years.” As such, “it was a pretty historic event,” he observed.

Delegates to the congress were selected by the country’s various faith groups to include people with national-level influence, Hoyt said. He emphasized that despite Defense Department funding, it was an Iraqi-led event, encouraged by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as a way to potentially slow the spread of bloodshed in the country.

“He was overwhelmingly supportive of this event,” Hoyt noted. “The agreement (reached by the congress) was the first of its kind to receive the personal endorsement of the prime minister.”

Representatives of Shiite clerics Ali al-Sistani and Muqtada al-Sadr attended, as did delegates from the Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars. Other notables included the Iraqi minister of human rights, an advisor to Maliki, and 11 members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Hoyt said.

Together they forged a resolution Hoyt characterized as “the first broad-based religious accord to support and recognize the legitimacy of the government of Iraq.”

The delegates also rejected terrorism and sectarian violence, the chaplain said.

Their agreement was the first to “publicly renounce al Qaeda by name, and to publicly declare that the spread of arms and unauthorized weapons is to be viewed as a criminal act in Iraq,” Hoyt said.

“It’s the first religious accord that provides a way ahead for a committed public action by religious leaders to denounce violence, deny terrorism, demonstrate support for democratic principles and the constitution, and to display national unity,” he continued.

An equally important insertion, Hoyt noted, was a call for action to the Iraqi government, urging it to build on the good will generated by this and other reconciliation conferences, past and present.

The government was requested to look back at some of the secular gatherings that have taken place at the tribal level and “see what (can be brought) forward out of them into an overall package of reconciliation,” Hoyt explained.

Other national conferences will follow, the chaplain said.

“It’s part of process, a prolonged process,” he noted, “to build this grass roots religious leader voice, so that the government of Iraq and the religious leaders of Iraq … (can) have a platform to establish a dialogue.”

In addition, he said, those leaders will direct a host of regional-level conferences to follow up on the national dialogues.

Despite the consensus for peace that came out of the gathering, Hoyt cautioned against a rush to optimism.

“The Iraqi Inter-Religious Congress is not the silver bullet. It’s a part of the ammunition belt used to help stabilize this country,” he said.

Whether there will be concrete progress on reconciliation “just remains to be seen,” Hoyt said. “We’ll just see if we can get a voice loud enough and good enough to actually make something happen, or if it’s kind of overwhelmed by other events that are also of national and international (strategic) importance.”

Still, he added, “I have to believe that their message is having some level of decisive impact on the restraint of violence.”

Maintaining an interfaith dialogue and translating it into government action and political reconciliation is the goal of his own outreach efforts, Hoyt explained. In the wake of the congress, he said he remains encouraged progress can be made.

“Before there just wasn’t anything to build off of; now there is,” he said. “Where it’s going to go is anybody’s guess, but it couldn’t have gone anywhere had this not occurred.”

(Tim Kilbride is assigned to New Media, American Forces Information Service.)

ISF, CF DISCOVER EXECUTION HOUSE, ILLEGAL PRISON IN BAQOUBA

Posted: 25 Jun 2007 04:09 AM GMT-06:00

ISF, CF DISCOVER EXECUTION HOUSE, ILLEGAL PRISON IN BAQOUBA

RAID IN ADHAMIYAH NETS SUSPECT IN IED ATTACK

Posted: 25 Jun 2007 04:05 AM GMT-06:00

RAID IN ADHAMIYAH NETS SUSPECT IN IED ATTACK