In what was once a recruiting hotbed for terrorist and Special Groups elements in northern Baghdad, a pool complex now serves as a spot of relief for residents.

The pool re-opened Aug. 26 as community leaders and residents gathered to celebrate the return of the Al Asafah Pool complex.

The complex was in such a state of disrepair that residents had long stopped patronizing it and squatters had taken up residence there, with some even raising sheep on the pool deck; additionally, the pool hall located inside the main building had become a makeshift recruiting center for extremists.

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Traffic builds as a truck struggles to make it up a sandy on-ramp as the vehicles driver travels an alternate route in an attempt to bypass a damaged bridge. After some time, Iraqi police and locals give the driver a push.

The scene replayed every few minutes, frustrating military and civilian drivers alike near the city of Taji. A steep slope on the on-ramp, coupled with a lack of a hard surface, were making it hard for traffic to travel the road and causing traffic to regularly back up for half a mile.

This is where the Soldiers of the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion serving with the 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, along with eight Iraqi Army engineer soldiers, combined their efforts and offered their construction skills to help resolve the confounding issue for the local community.

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The town of Rawah has had many improvements since coalition forces arrived. With the help of coalition forces and several organizations from Colorado, the local residents will soon be able to see the progress a little better.

Coalition forces delivered over 700 prescription eyeglasses to help provide the residents of Rawah with badly needed prescription lenses.

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Iraqi army soldiers operating in an area shared by Regimental Combat Team 1, escorted local sheiks and tribal leaders across a newly constructed bridge in the Bagharra region of Iraq, Aug. 19, 2008.

The passage marked the re-opening of the Salem Bridge, an important link in connecting local citizens with cities on the other side of the Thar Thar Canal. Insurgents had demolished the original bridge with improvised explosive devices more than a year ago, forcing locals to travel nearly five hours to cross the canal.

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The reopening of the lake park brings with it hope for and a hint of a return to normalcy, particularly for members of the Department of Tourism. Eventually, Iraqi tourism officials hope to use a project such as this one to send the message to the rest of the world, explained Machen. The message is that Iraq has something to offer, just like other major cities such as Paris, London and New York City, relayed Machen, saying that hopefully this will positively affect commerce in the region.

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The resettlement of Iraqis into their homes in Baghdad’s Rashid District is also a testament to the Iraqi people, who are working to rebuild their lives, said Lynch.

“This is your achievement – the achievement of the people of Jihad,” said Lynch, who hails from Fairfax, Va.

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In December 2007, the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division – Baghdad, began working with the Baghdad zoo and contacts in the United States to foster a partnership that would bring two new tigers to the zoo.

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Members of the 542nd Support Maintenance Company work with local Iraqis to help sustain the flow of water into Contingency Operating Base Adder and Camp Cedar. Serving under the 7th Sustainment Brigade, the 542nd fuels and services generators located at nearby homes off base. Locals are hired to monitor water pumps and canals that run into the Euphrates River, so the team also practices community relations. Their efforts provide a steady water supply to the thousands of service members on COB Adder and Camp Cedar.

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Ahmed Adnan Hashim is passionate about yogurt. He’s passionate about cheese and cream and the other products produced at the Nu-Nu factory in Bada, a small town in northern Babil province.

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In the southern Rishad valley of Kirkuk province lies the remote village of Gaydah, located several miles off the nearest main road and even further from the nearest substantial city or district.

Already accustomed to seclusion, the village residents were surprised when Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division showed up in their community in February. The residents were more surprised when they announced that they would set up operations there; living and working with the residents for the next two months.

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