National Policemen from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st NP Division, conducting combined operations with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, discovered a large amount of Iraqi and U.S. currency in a potato chip factory in Baghdad’s Karadah district Jan. 21.

The factory is suspected of being used in the production of improvised-explosive devices and in funding terrorist operations. The combined forces seized more than 51 million dinar and more than $100,000. Three AK-47 assault rifles were also seized.

A combined investigation with the Baghdad Operations Command is currently ongoing.

“We will continue to work with our Iraqi Security Force partners to disable terrorist networks and prevent future attacks,” said Lt. Col. William McRae, commander of the 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. “If our investigation finds that there is no wrongdoing, all property taken will be returned to its rightful owner.”

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One of the theories about America’s success in the 1900′s involves public libraries. Access to books for free or a very nominal fee allowed anyone who wanted to be a reader, and thus educate themselves. Here’s an example of that from Iraq.

Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and Iraqi Security Forces joined local civic leaders Jan. 21 to commemorate the opening of the Doura Public Library in the Rashid district, christening a cultural and educational landmark for the Iraqi citizens of southern Baghdad.

The public library, capable of housing approximately 10,000 books and a score of personal computers for use by Iraqi citizens and school children, is an indicator of Iraq’s growing emphasis on education and civilization, said Zahra Hussein, media supervisor for the Doura Library.

Zahra, an active volunteer for schools in the area, said that she hopes the Doura Library will serve as one of many educational institutions created to foster the spirit of civilization and intellectualism in Baghdad and Iraq.

“The library has been opened today with the support and all of the good efforts (of the people) in order to promote the idea of re-opening public libraries in Baghdad,” she said.

“We all remember how this library was destroyed due to the violent acts, and books were scattered all over the floor,” said Hashim Dahash, Rashid District Council deputy chairman.

In conjunction of the opening of the Doura Public Library, Hashim said that he hopes Jan. 22 will become the Rashid district’s official “Reading Day” for future generations of Iraqis.

“This (library) is considered as proof of security and stability, helping the people to return to their lives normally, especially the educational life,” he said.

“Iraq is developing every day, and this library is part of this civilization’s development as a result of security provided by the Iraqi forces supported by the Americans,” said Yaqoub. “This accomplishment is a result of neighborhood stability combined with the efforts of the Doura residents.”

Staff Sgt. Aja Andreu, civil affairs team leader assigned to Company D, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, served as the project manager and conducted the initial assessment on the renovation necessary to restore the building’s educational services.

Working with the 1st BCT Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team, the U.S. Department of State, and a nongovernmental organization, Friends of the Library, Andreu hired a local Iraqi contractor to refurbish the building, acquired furniture from a local carpenter and restored a children’s room and a computer room with 15 personal computers with desktop monitors, and internet service.

She also acquired a generator for the Doura Library, which is open to the general public Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Andreu said she used the NGO to procure the library’s educational materials for public use, and that nearly 1,000 children books and more than 150 adult education books are on back order to complete the project started in September of 2008.

“I would like to thank everybody who helped make this happen,” said Andreu. “It is a special day for me. This has been a very hard project, and it has taken a lot of work by both the military and the residents of Doura.”

Andreu, who hails from North Plainfield, N.J., said that she hopes the library will soon become a public institution for the benefit of all of Rashid’s citizens.

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As the sun crests the horizon and local merchants open their doors for another business day, a line of dump trucks forms in the Abu Ghraib city market.

This caravan sits waiting to receive their cargo of mangled steel, rubble and concrete lying nearby. The foreman issues sharp, quick commands to the drivers. As quickly as they come, they go. Each time, one truckload less of rubble and debris clears the area.

In an area synonymous with scandal, now there is renewed hope for continued progress and lasting security.

The truckloads of rubble come from a building destroyed during the height of fighting in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad. A car bomb targeting innocent civilians and Iraqi Security Forces destroyed the building in 2007. Since then, the heap of rubble remained a reminder of the violent past.

The owner, Muhammad, has not been able to afford the removal of the debris and reconstruction of his building until now. As part of the Abu Ghraib market revitalization effort, a combined endeavor by the local government and Coalition forces, Muhammad applied and was approved for a small business micro-grant.

Work began the day he received his micro-grant payment and the change to the face of the north market is already significant.

The area had been restricted for safety reasons due to the instability of the remaining structure. It now thrives as other market vendors take advantage of micro-grants to renovate and enhance their businesses.

“I am losing money every month, because my building was destroyed,” said Muhammad. “But now, I have the chance for a new start, a new beginning.”

He said he will rebuild and then lease the units in the structure to new business owners.

The revitalization of the Abu Ghraib market is one of many essential service and public progress efforts underway throughout the Abu Ghraib Qada. It is one of the top efforts of Iraq government officials and Coalition forces in the area.

The market campaign targets an area of Baghdad previously known for stalled progress and poor security using an infusion of micro-grants, new projects and additional security. Cooperation between the local government and tribal and security leaders has paved the way for success in the area.

Solar lights are being installed to allow shopping past dark and for increased security. Roads and sidewalks have been paved, awnings installed over storefronts, sewage and trash cleaned up. Two large market annexes are near completion south of the main road through the market.

These will house the several hundred vendors currently occupying ramshackle booths along the busy road. Once complete, the vendors will be able to move away from the highly travelled avenue to a climate-controlled structure where they can better serve their patrons in a safer, more efficient and secure area.

In addition to the numerous structures and improvements underway, the ISF have developed a plan for combined security of the area and have emplaced several security barriers and checkpoints to ensure the area remains safe for local residents and market goers.

“Abu Ghraib has turned the corner,” said Khamel Abas, qada council chairman. “We have always been a resilient city. Better security has paved the way for progress and happiness.”

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Iraqi Security Forces, local leaders and Multi-National Division Baghdad Soldiers participated in a ground breaking ceremony marking the widening of the Bawi Canal Jan.18 in the Salman Pak region, southeast of Baghdad.

The ceremony is one of a series of ground breaking projects to improve the infrastructure of the Mada’in and Marquez Qadas to improve the quality of live for the citizens.

Maj. Jason Joose, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad executive officer, welcomed Iraqi Army Brig. Gen. Hussein, 45th Brigade Iraqi Army commander, Shaykh Qais, Mada’in tribal council chairman, and other representatives to the ceremony.

“Water goes from the water station to Salman Pak and flows from Wahida to Narwhan, so this benefits a large amount of people and land,” said Capt. Dustin Gray, battalion fire support officer.

The widening project will enable the water from the Bawi pump station to reach more people in the Salman Pak and Wahida area.

“The Bawi water pump station does not work at full capacity. It has four engines, able to put out five cubic meters of water per minute into the irrigation canal. Because of the size of the canal feeding water to the engines, only one or two engines can run at a time. By widening the canal, all four engines can run at once,” said Sadiq Hassim, project contractor.

The expansion will provide the area of Wahida with more irrigation and drinking water. The project will increase the overall capacity of the Bawi Canal an additional four cubic meters per second as the water moves through it, which is fed from the Bawi pumping station.

“This is a great day for all the citizens of the Mada’in,” said Joose. “Soon water will flow to arid areas due to the hard work by an Iraqi company, with local Iraqi labor, secured by Iraqi Security Forces and the Sawah. I am pleased the Coalition forces can play a part in this brighter future.”

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Leaders from the 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, local Sheiks and Task Force Thunder, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad participated in a bridge reopening ceremony Jan. 18 in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.

The improvement in security and reduction in sectarian violence made it possible to reopen the bridge which had separated a tribal community. The reopening also returns the area to a sense of normalcy.

Iraqi Col. Rasheed, commander of the 55th Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division, discussed how important the bridge over the Salty River is with local shaykhs and how its opening is another step to improving the Mahmudiyah region in Iraq.

“This is one of the good things we are doing in the area. There will be more coming, including water purification and road paving. This will alleviate the suffering of the people,” he said.

The Mamour tribe occupies much of the area on both sides of the bridge and was split when the bridge closed. Relatives had to drive many kilometers east or west of the bridge to find another way across. Now, a more direct route is available to visit their families. Children who traveled a long distance to receive their education now only have a short bridge to cross on school days.

“This is one of the biggest things we can do as Coalition Forces to get life back together for the Mamour Tribe,” said Capt. Gregory Martens, Company A, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad executive officer.

The bridge was shut down for an extended period of time due to an insurgent attack on Coalition forces.

Rasheed and the shaykhs spoke of how the IA will be responsible for providing security for the bridge and of how improved security will benefit the Iraqis living on both sides of the Salty River. The IA intends to have a system where only those with badges will be authorized to cross over the bridge. Some who stand to benefit from the bridge’s reopening include those whose families are split by the Salty River, children going to school, and those requiring access to work on the other side of the river.

“The bridge opening today symbolizes the barriers we all work together to break down, each towards a brighter future for Iraq,” said Maj. Eric Savickas, 4th Bn., 27th FA Regt., 2nd BCT, 1st AD, MND-B, executive officer.

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