An area formerly used by Iraq’s Baath party to produce chemical and biological weapons has taken a turn for the better.

The area, known to coaliton forces as the “Tri-Cities”, encompasses Iraq’s government-planned housing areas of Jiko, Sattack, Mukalan and their outlying farming areas. The Tri-Cities City Council was formed only three months ago, and has quickly established itself as the local government in the region.

But only recently has security in the area improved enough to allow the council to provide governance in the area.

According to CIA reports, the Iraqi chemical facility, the Muthanna Chemical Complex, dominated the area but was left in ruins after precision bombing attacks on Saddam Hussein’s infrastructures during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The facility employed hundreds of Iraqis, and included housing to make working there more convenient.

From 1992 to 1994, United Nations Special Commission’s Chemical Destruction Group oversaw destruction operations to dispose of the weapons and the chemicals and agents used to make them.

Later, Iraqis from numerous provinces and tribal areas moved to and now inhabit the facility’s former housing areas.

Insurgents began using the region as a transit area and the community could do little to prosper, but coalition forces and Iraqi security forces have recently had success in rooting them out.

“The security provided by the Iraqi army battalion and Iraqi police in the Tri-Cities has laid the foundation for real progress,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jayson Franco, 4th Platoon commander with Mobile Assault Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and security adviser to Iraqi security forces in the area.

The Tri-Cities’ unique history and remote location has prevented the area from being officially recognized by any district or provincial authority.

Only continued professional and structured management of the area by the city council will legitimize the local community and government, said Capt. John Spohrer, a forward air controller from St. Amant, La., with MAC, who also serves as the governance adviser to the council.

The city council has proven to be effective when addressing issues unique to the area. Ramadi Mayor Latif Obaid Ayadah recently pledged to assist in the area’s advancement.

The city council is divided into smaller committees that include economics, agriculture, essential services and projects. The two to three person committees are responsible for ensuring the continued advancement and management in their assigned areas.

The Tri-Cities’ economy is fueled by the increasingly productive agricultural output from the outlying farming areas and the small businesses and shops scattered throughout the three housing complex areas. Still, a large number of local citizens travel to more populated areas such as Fallujah and Saqlawaiyah where they work or own businesses.

But those who do not travel for work are counting on the city council to help create a sustainable local infrastructure that will support future economic growth—a major priority for the council and the Marines with MAC who are assisting them.

“[Our] role is to ensure continued [improvement in the] quality of life and to address issues of the people,” explained Spohrer. “The city council has a genuine concern for the local populace they represent.”

Spohrer and the Marines have been working with the council to make numerous advancements in regards to the essential services for the community.

Schools are now fully functional, with necessary supplies and an adequate teaching staff.

During the weeks leading up to the start of the school year, city council members led repair projects to ensure a suitable learning environment existed for their children.

“Our children are our future,” explained Muhammad Hussein, a member of the city council. “Education is important because it can solve a lot of the current issues here.”

Providing potable water to the community is another major project for the city council.

Currently, the city council manages a water delivery contract which brings potable water to the area from other regions of Iraq.

This is a short term solution, however.

The city council, with the Marines’ assistance, is in the first phase of planning and constructing a modern water treatment facility which will utilize water from the nearby canal linking northern al Anbar province with the Euphrates River.

The facility, which will be able to process 250 thousand gallons of water each day, will also provide several jobs to local Iraqis, said Hussein.

To address specific community concerns, the city council plans to foster community involvement by holding informal town hall meetings.

The meetings will facilitate communication among the Tri-Cities population regarding current and future plans for the community, and will create an avenue for the local citizen to voice their concerns.

“The council is capable and it has the means and right direction,” said Spohrer. “We can facilitate their desire to be part of a higher government.”

Although currently unrecognized by higher echelons of the Iraqi provincial or district governments, the city council and the community it represents have rooted themselves in a strong foundation of local governance while working together to find both short term and long term solutions to the issues that affect them the most.

DVIDS
By Lance Cpl. Scott Schmidt
Regimental Combat Team 1

Iraqis have been able to take charge and save lives thanks to their Advanced First Responder Network (AFRN).

AFRN works the same way the ‘911’ emergency phone service does in the United States, except they dial ‘104’ here. It serves as the backbone emergency communication link between Iraqi citizens and emergency services.

The network has now expanded across the Al Anbar region, decreasing the amount of preventable deaths across Iraq. Installed in 15 major cities, more than 18 million people have access to the system.

“Baghdad leaders depend on this network,” said Iraqi Maj. Gen. Saad, Ministry of Interior director of communication. “This is very important to us.”

With one phone call, trained dispatchers send the emergency messages to the correct responders. Police, fire and emergency services and diplomatic protection services are only some of the services available.

Before the network was created in 2006, Iraqi citizens had to find their own way to get help, explained U.S. Army Capt. Antonio McNutt, AFRN program manager.

“Now the dispatch center is receiving more than 1,400 calls a day in just Baghdad alone and dispatching the right response team,” he said.

The Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq Coalition members turned over control of the AFRN to the government of Iraq in June 2006 so they could independently manage this advanced communication system. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior also took over the financial responsibility for the system, thereby completing the transition to full Iraqi control and operation.

“The best indicator of success is they are utilizing and maintaining the system themselves,” said McNutt. “They have been working to keep it up and running.”

The implementation of the AFRN presented some unique challenges along the way. Some sites could not be accessed due to insurgency problems. A lot of training is also involved while expanding a network and technical challenges currently prevent coverage in all geographical areas.

Despite the challenges, Saad still remains optimistic about the future of the system.

“We will overcome these challenges,” he said. “We are working very hard to troubleshoot these issues.”

The network is currently using only the voice system, but a computer-assisted dispatch system is in the works.

Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ahmed, the AFRN program manager, also hopes to use a fingerprint system through the computer-based network in police vehicles.

“In five minutes through the fingerprints, we would be able to identify who is innocent or not if in case they are stopped by the police,” he said. “Using this system, we can serve the Iraqi people. AFRN is the most beautiful gift from Coalition forces to Iraq.”

Mosul was added to the network just before Anbar. A one-year contract providing maintenance, spare parts, training and technical support is held by Advanced International Electronic Equipment.

The $214 million dollar project is expected to expand to all of Iraq in the next three years. This system is still at the beginning stages, but will expand to become one of the more technologically advanced systems in the world.

MNF-I

Navy Lt. Michael W. Pruitt, 34, battalion surgeon, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, examines a 5-year-old Sudanese girl’s mouth during a medical engagement in western al-Anbar province, Iraq, Aug. 25, 2008.

A large group of Sudanese refugees living in tents were visited by a group of friendly faces, Aug. 25, 2008.

Marines and Sailors with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 visited the community of Sudanese refugees near Al Waleed, Iraq, which is on the Iraq-Jordan border, to provide them with healthcare, Aug. 25, 2008.

“It was a rewarding feeling to provide care to people who have gone through so much,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class George C. Fricke, a corpsman with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd LAR Bn. “They are good people, but they’re in a bad predicament right now, so they need someone like us to help them.”

During the visit, the service members cared for more than 200 patients in the community. One by one, the people saw a doctor to be treated for sicknesses ranging from eye infections to the flu.

“I feel very happy about the coalition forces coming here to care for me and my people,” said Abrahim Habioun, 44, who came from Darfur, Sudan. “We feel a lot safer with them and the Iraqi highway police around because of their protection and assistance.”

The Sudanese refugees originally came to Baghdad, Iraq, approximately 20 years ago to pursue a better education and jobs to help their families. According to members of the community, after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the people fled to Jordan in fear of violence, only to be forced back to Iraq to live in the desert.

“We gathered together to leave the country because the situation was horrible in Baghdad and the rest of the country,” said Whalid Salih, 17, a Sudanese refugee who was born in Baghdad. “We thought that leaving the country we would be safe, but we don’t live in fear anymore.”

It’s been three years since the people have set up the camp next to a highway in western al-Anbar province. Since the beginning of their residency, the community has been visited and supported on a regular basis by the Iraqi army, Iraqi highway patrol and coalition forces. The community is slated to be relocated to a more established and safer area in the future.

“They’re grateful and never ask or expect anything from us,” said Fricke, 25, from St. Augustine, Fla. “I love seeing the smile on the people’s faces, especially the children’s. It’s a gratifying feeling.”

DVIDS
By Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson
Regimental Combat Team 5

Marines with Regimental Combat Team 5 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion killed three insurgents Aug. 14 in southwestern Anbar province.

Near the scene of the engagement, the Marines discovered two suicide vests, two drums of 14.5 mm ammunition, 3,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one loaded RPG launcher, three AK-47 assault rifles and an assortment of TNT explosives with detonation cord.

No Coalition forces were injured in the incident.

“The security in Iraq is improving, but it’s still dangerous because bad people remain out there. No matter where the bad guys are, we’re going to find them and we’re going to get them,” said Lt. Col. Russ Smith, the battalion commander of 2nd LAR.

MNF-I

A large percentage of new businesses in the U.S. fail within the first year. Starting a business in Iraq is no different, if not harder, but with the help of Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, four Iraqi businessmen have hopes of beating the odds.

Senior leaders of the company met with the businessmen, a carpenter, a pharmacist, a car painter and a mechanic, July 7, at Gnather Iraqi police station and handed them each a micro-grant to help jump start their businesses. The grants were available as part of the Micro-grant Program, started by RCT-1 in an effort to improve the economy in its area of operations by supporting small business owners.

Approximately $10,000 was distributed among the four businessmen, who were chosen based on an assessment by Marines and IPs while on patrols.

“We had [business owners] fill out questionnaires,” said 1st Lt. Aaron Brusch, Executive Officer, Company F, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines. “Out of the 50-plus questionnaires we received back, [leaders in] our company prioritized which of them seemed most likely to benefit from the grants.”

The store owners who applied for the grants were prioritized based on the type of service they provided, how much the grant could help each individual improve their business and how their improved business could contribute to the overall economy.

Each recipient was excited to receive the funds. All said they would either hire more workers or buy supplies they previously could not afford.

“I can’t explain how happy and grateful I am to the Marines for helping me and my business,” said Wassan Ahmed Ali. “This will greatly help me, and I appreciate the Marines for everything that they have done to help me and other Iraqis.”

Marines with the company later followed up with the business owners to see how much the grants really helped their businesses.

“All have either hired new workers, bought more supplies or expanded and improved their stores,” said Brusch.

DVIDS
By Cpl. Chadwick deBree and Cpl. Steven McGinnis
Regimental Combat Team 1