Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza

I had the opportunity to speak with United States Forces-Iraq Spokesman, Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza in a Bloggers’ Roundtable today. He was able to brief us on a number of security issues and the status of U.S. forces at this time.

General Lanza told us that here are currently about 96,000 American troops in Iraq. Where there were formerly three major commands, there is now one, United States Forces – Iraq.

The troops are engaged in missions supporting Iraqi border enforcement, supporting the various Provincial Reconstruction Teams, counter-terror operations and in patrolling the “belts” around Baghdad. [The "belts" are areas outside the city proper that are usually ethnically similar in population, rural with hamlets and small towns and have not seen the level of attention from the Iraqi national government or U.S. forces that the cities have seen. In the past, the "belts" provided sanctuaries for insurgents and al Qaeda in Iraq.]

Lanza described the number of al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) members as about 1,500 to 2,000. Nearly all of them are Iraqis and the foreign fighters and foreign financing have generally left the country. AQI, as he told us, is fractured into three factions. The ideologues, the nationalists and the opportunists are each operating their own version of AQI. With foreign money nearly cut off, funds are now being raised through kidnapping and extortion.

The Quds force, Iranian paramilitary troops, remain a big concern. Lanza described U.S. and Iraqi efforts in the eastern provinces bordering Iran as having reduced smuggling and illegal border crossing. He also told us that the Syrian border has become more tightly controlled as well.

AQI remains able to conduct terror ops as small, loosely connected cells. The General said that an AQI response to the killing of their leaders was expected. Iraqi security forces are obtaining intelligence from many more individuals which has lead to the recent successes. Lanza anticipates that these bombings will generate more intelligence and more success for the Iraqis.

The small Diyala province village of Jiaffra was once a stronghold for insurgent groups, causing village residents to flee for their safety. After three years of displacement, 16 families returned home to a celebration marked with music and dancing, Aug. 15.

During the celebration, residents thanked Iraqi and U.S. forces for their help in bringing safety back to the area.

Though there are still struggles in the village for some basic needs, Iraqi government officials promised during the celebration to immediately bring the villagers water and work on providing other necessities as soon as possible.

“What a great day for Diyala,” said Maj. Chris Hyde, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division spokesman. “It’s wonderful to not only see these people come home, but know that they would not have been able to do this if the security hadn’t improved enough to for them to do so. I think it’s a testament to the enormous improvements Iraqi and U.S. forces have collectively achieved in making the region and province a safer place.”

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As the Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Panthers,” 82nd Airborne Division, walk the streets of New Baghdad, a neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, children run from their houses to shake hands with the Soldiers and ask questions about the United States.

Some of the Soldiers entertained the children while others maintained security. Panther leaders spoke with local store owners and residents in order to build stronger relationships in the community on these foot patrols.

“We are putting a face on the American Soldier,” said Sgt. Andy Zeigler, a military policeman assigned to HHC. “The unit before us primarily did mounted patrol,” said the Dumas, Texas native.

Armored vehicles provide additional protection for Soldiers on mounted patrols, but the downfalls include limited visibility and less interaction with local people.

“Now since the area is much safer, we do more foot patrols,” said Capt. Brian Englund, a native of Rochester, N.Y., commander of HHC. “By walking the streets, we can make a good impression on the people here in New Baghdad.”

Local residents and store owners became more receptive to the Soldiers once the people saw the coalition forces are genuinely interested in helping them, according to Englund. Many people invite the Soldiers in for tea or offer them food to show their appreciation for the efforts the paratroopers have made to secure and improve the community.

A local boy of the New Baghdad community walks to a park in his neighborhood April 30, with Sgt. Daniel Villalpando, a native of Yuma, Ariz., a military policeman assigned to Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Ford

“Every day we walk down the streets of Baghdad talking to local people trying to help as much as we can,” said 1st Lt. Daniel Maxfield, from Fairfax, Va., a platoon leader with HHC. “Because of our constant presence and the trust we have built, people now talk to us about all sorts of problems.”

“I think we have a great relationship with the people in the neighborhoods in which we patrol,” said Pfc. Michael Godfrey, a Senoia, Ga. native, a military policeman assigned to the company.

As the Panthers end their patrol, they give children candy and wave goodbye, making lasting impressions on the people in New Baghdad.

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Story by Staff Sgt. Peter Ford

Habbaniyah tourist village, Iraq, has seen a recent influx of vacationers, a huge improvement from last year. Once a popular vacationing area in the 1970's and 1980's, it quickly lost its appeal as it became a refugee camp for Iraqis fleeing the sectarian violence in Baghdad and Fallujah after the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Photo by 2nd Lt. Michele Perez

syed ghazanfar ali () wrote:
Once i was the rooms division manager of Habbania Tourist Village in eighties, and still carry some of the memorable moments of my life over there. Iraqis do love this HTV and to revive it to the past glory will be a great service to the people of Iraq. During my tenure at HTV, i found iraqis,fun loving and looking forward any occassion to whistle and merry. Habbania was a focal point during the war between Iran and Iraq, but this place did provide a sort of solace to the people in general of Iraq. If this place is made more functional and operational, it will be a positive distraction from the destruction of the people by the people of Iraq, may God almighty brings the same vibration to the HABBANIA TOURIST VILLAGE AMEN. abu ghazi

This time last year, the scene at the once popular vacation spot in western Iraq, Habbaniyah Tourist Village, was bleak. The village was nearly empty, and traffic of visitors and vacationers was negligible. Thoughts of the area regaining its luxurious status it once had in the 1970s and 1980s were distant thoughts after it became a haven for refugees fleeing the sectarian violence of Baghdad and Fallujah after the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

A March 2008 Reuters news article reported that “after years of war and sanctions, all that remains of the village’s once lush gardens is dirt and scrub…rusted carousel horses seem suspended in the air, and eerie headless elephants are all that’s left of another fairground ride.”

Today, only a year later, Marines and Sailors with a detachment of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, the security force for Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, have witnessed firsthand a complete turnaround in the Habbaniyah Tourist Village. HTV has seen a recent upward trend of visitors with the numbers racking up to 4,000-5,000 people a weekend.

The 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment last deployed to Ramadi, Iraq from October 2007 to March 2008. Maj. Christian M. Rankin, 1/8 executive officer and the security force detachment commanding officer, says the success in HTV came as no surprise to him and his Marines.

“There was never doubt in our minds that victory over the insurgency would be achieved so long as we persevered, stuck by our Iraqi partners, and stayed true to our principles,” Rankin said. “We all understood that at some point, the insurgency would be defeated because they had absolutely nothing to offer the Iraqi people.”

According to Rankin, the success in HTV serves as further proof that the people of Al Anbar Province have rejected the goals, aims and ideology of al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Instead of focusing on dodging attacks and violence, the local populace has shifted their focus to commerce and vacationing, as they travel throughout the province to visit the newly reinstated tourist destination. He has complete confidence that the recent success of HTV will spread to other regions throughout Iraq.

“Where there was once violence and murder, we now have children and their families picnicking and enjoying the beach in a safe, peaceful environment,” Rankin said. “People now realize there are alternatives to living in fear… I am supremely confident the success of places like HTV will be replicated everywhere.”

HTV has all of the same attractions we would expect to see at any other resort town: its beach front has a boardwalk, food vendors, playground, amusement rides and a hotel overlooking the water.

The HTV Park Store is a staple in the village and is seated snuggly between the shore and the resort. The store is poolside and has several patio tables and umbrellas lining the front window. Recently, the storefront was filled with dozens of children listening to music and taking in the sights.

Fera Mezhir Hamed, the store owner, says his business has increased by at least 30 percent over the past year. Hamed attributes the increase in visitors to better accessibility to the area.

“Last year you need a badge to get through to HTV and we talked to [local authorities],” Hamed said.

He added that an agreement was made to lessen the restrictions on who could get into HTV.

The focal point in the village is the hotel, which stands at five stories high and has approximately 200 rooms.

Hamed Najem Al-Khelefowi, a worker in the food and beverage department, serves guests in the hotel lobby. Al-Khelefowi has been in the area since 2002 and says things are better now than he ever remembers.

“Business has been very good.” Al-Khelefowi said. “This year is better… very nice, very beautiful year.”

He stood behind the counter with a huge smile on his face as he talked about the improved situation in the area and how a normal flow of visitors has returned to the hotel. Initially, a joint effort led by the Iraqi army, Iraqi police and coalition forces helped increase the safety in the area. But now the IPs are solely responsible for providing security, according to Al-Khelefowi.

“The IPs assist in traffic, make everything more organized,” he said. “Some people act up, so they move them.”

The constant presence of the Iraqi Police has made the area safer, according to Al-Khelefowi. He is also confident that the local police force will be able to maintain the security once the coalition forces leave.

“Yes, of course, absolutely,” said Al-Khelefowi. “They can do the job when the coalition forces leave.”

The general manger of HTV, who has a 25-year career working in the village, is very excited about the area’s prospects for the future. Hameed A. T. Aladai recently returned to reassume his position after he was ran off November 2005 following insurgent death threats.

“This is my life,” Aladai said. “Always my dream to get back.”

Now that he’s back, he has noticed a dramatic change in tourist activity from what he remembers a few years ago when HTV became a safe haven for refugees from Fallujah and Baghdad.

“2004, 2005 no tourist traffic,” Aladai said. “Absolutely nothing … not a chance for there to be tourist attractions, a lot of military traffic [and tourists] could not get through.”

In fact, Aladai explains that the situation was so bad the resort was on the verge of closing over the last three years. He attributes the recent turn of events to the stable security situation in the area and the trust the local populace started to gain in their security forces.

“The security was unstable, especially in ’05,’06 and ’07. These were very difficult times for us,” Aladai said. “The security is the main reason [for the improvement]. People started to trust coalition [forces], trust IPs and the Iraqi army.”

Aladai wishes that one day he will see the same traffic as the ’80s, but is very happy with the recent turn of events. He recognizes the coalition forces for the part they played in setting the improved conditions in motion.

“I have to thank [the] coalition,” Aladai said. “[They] helped provide safety, projects, make things happen…dreams real.”

Although the stability and security situation in Al Anbar province is new and still flourishing, the Marines and Sailors of 1/8 who were here during the height of the insurgency in 2007 and are now back in 2009, are confident the success in the region will be long-term as they carry out their new mission from aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq.

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Story by 2nd Lt. Michele Perez

Here are some photos from a recent patrol in Zambraniyah, Iraq.

Members of U.S. Department of Agriculture visit future chicken farms along with U.S. Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, in order to check the conditions and to give the owners some tips on growing the chickens in Zambraniyah, Iraq, on March 2, 2009. Photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen

U.S. Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and members of U.S. Department of Agriculture visit a chicken farm in Zambraniyah, Iraq, to make sure everything is running smoothly on March 2, 2009. Photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen

Iraqi girls from Zambraniyah, Iraq, smile and watch as U.S. Army Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, pass by during a visit to the neighborhood on March 2, 2009. Photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen

Iraqi army 1st Lt. Gazwan Majead pets a baby cow during a visit to a neighborhood in Zambraniyah, Iraq, on March 2, 2009. Photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen

Brightly colored Iraqi workers clean the streets of Jamilla Market, the economic hub of Sadr City on Jan. 28

Under the direction of Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, commander, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division–Baghdad, the last ten months brought significant engineering progress to Baghdad, specifically in Sadr City.

The creation of Task Force Gold and Gold Spike provided reconstruction projects aimed at employing the people of Baghdad and improving essential services.

“We bring employment back into the community,” said Master Sgt. Tracy Jackson, TF Gold Spike’s operations non-commissioned officer in charge. “And keep the projects equal on both sides; Sunni and Shia.”

The 926th Eng. Bde. is in the process of handing this reconstruction mission over to the incoming 225th Engineer Brigade, under the command of Col. Owen Monconduit, of Pineville, La.

Since arriving in Baghdad just over a week ago, the Col. Monconduit has toured construction projects throughout Baghdad with Col. Jared Olsen, TF Gold’s commander.

“The projects are impressive,” said Monconduit. “They were of good quality and very professional. The 225th Eng. Bde. will maintain work on a continuum of the same level of quality that has a direct impact on the local economy.”

Formed in September, 2008, TF Gold acted as a catalyst towards the successful reduction of violence in Sadr City, after achieving similar results in the Rusafa district of Baghdad. Jackson said the 926th engineers assembled a team to work closely with the local government and Iraqi contractors to enhance the quality.

Monconduit explained his Louisiana-based engineers will continue to build relationships in the community and with Iraqi leaders.

“We will work in partnership with the government of Iraq and provide a ‘can-do’, positive environment, a safe environment, that the community can self-sustain and really build themselves. It’s in the capacity of the community to provide that work.”

The al Fadhel district of Rusafa, once filled with standing pools of raw sewage and piles of trash to walk, now have cleared alley ways and streets, all signs of progress in the area. Freshly painted columns lining the main streets and areas slotted for solar lights are additional projects the commanders surveyed.

“Some of the main projects include trash, sewage, sidewalk repair, solar light installation and column repair,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Rogers, pay agent for TF Gold Spike.

In Jamilla Market, the economic hub of Sadr City, delivery trucks lined the busy streets while the interior was packed with shoppers and goods for sale on the newly paved streets and sidewalks, a sign of the revitalization of the area that has improved dramatically over the last year.

“The combination of U.S. and Iraqi funds, coupled with the hard work of local Iraqis and coalition forces, have positively impacted the essential services and public infrastructure in both the Sadr City and Rusafa sectors of Baghdad,” Olsen. “These positive impacts contribute to sustained security and create a sense of hope for the citizens in these areas of Baghdad.”

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By Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jennifer Keefer
926th Engineer Brigade Public Affairs Office

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.

MNF-I

Along a road a man sells hot, fresh rotisserie chicken under a string of lights. Nearby, two men stand in warm coats and knitted caps casually sipping a hot drink at a store front where another man in a blue “USA” sweatshirt moves quickly back and forth behind a glass counter tossing fresh ingredients in warm pitas for a growing line of patrons.

It’s just a typical evening Dec. 18 along the street market near the Jamilla and Al Quds Road in Baghdad’s Sadr City district.

“It’s really bustling isn’t it,” said Lt. Col. Michael Pemrick deputy commanding officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad.

Pemrick is excited when he walks this street now because only seven months ago his Soldiers along with their partners in the Iraqi Army, fought a pitched battle on this street, and others like it to take control of this once volatile district.

“Before, when you heard the word Sadr City, you pictured an urban war zone,” he said. “Now, the people are relaxed, they are comfortable around Americans, and the IA have a good relationship with the people.”

Today, store fronts once littered with broken glass, and doorways that once covered U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers from sniper fire and rocket propelled grenades are home to barber shops, clothing stores and restaurants.

“Looking back on it, it just doesn’t seem like the same street,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Condreay, a military policeman for 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. and patrol leader for Pemrick’s command security detachment.

He believes the change in Sadr City is largely in part to the rise in confidence and professionalism displayed by the Iraqi Army who patrol the streets there.

“The IA have become very productive. They have a real sense of pride in what they’re doing,” Condreay said.

Pemrick spoke with Iraqi Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division before touring the street and talking to citizens.

“We’re glad you’re here,” he tells an Iraqi company commander. “You’re doing a great job.”

The Iraqi Army have controlled Sadr City north of the wall along the Jamilla and Al Quds Road since May, and they partner with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers south of the wall where many of Sadr City’s markets operate and thrive thanks to the reconstruction efforts of 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

He said he thinks the efforts of the IA have effectively defeated the criminal elements that once terrorized Sadr City and have now set the conditions for a much better future for all of Sadr City’s residents.

“The cooperation between the U.S. and the IA has turned this place around,” Condreay said.

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Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Life at Baghdad Zoo Returning to Normal With Stable Security

Iraqi police and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers visited Zawra Park in the Karkh District of Baghdad for a firsthand view of the bustling area on Oct. 5, 2008.

Huge numbers of visitors came to the busy city park as part of Eid al Fitr, the three-day celebration that marks the end of the Ramadan month of fasting.

“It’s a big celebration today,” said Lt. Col. Robert Kirby, commander of 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “You’ve got the end of Ramadan festival when everyone breaks the fast, and this has always been a historic place for them to gather.”

It has been years since the people have gathered in such numbers following Ramadan.

“We have a lot of people coming in and out of the park, an increasing number of people,” said Iraqi police Brig. Gen. Ali, leader of the policemen who are in charge of the Karkh area, to include Zawra Park.

“The man in charge of the park told me today 500,000 visitors have come each day for five days,” said Ali. “Last year, it was probably half that many.”

The reason behind the huge influx in numbers of visitors this year is evident in the faces of the people as they feel safer now which makes them more willing to get out with their families and enjoy an evening at the park.

“We come to the park typically on holidays,” said Jameela, a Baghdad resident who was at the park with her children. “This time is much better than before [in terms of safety], better than last year or the year prior to that.”

“Now security is very good. It is safe and I think people are coming here because of that,” said Ali.

The effects of improved security can be seen in the smiles and the music and the picnics in gathering places around Baghdad like Zawra Park.

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By Staff Sgt. Brock Jones
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

Local Iraqi construction workers completed an irrigation canal and water pump on the outskirts of Amarah in the Maysan province Sept. 29.

The new structure, which took one month to complete, will give 20 local farmers the ability to farm an additional 400 hectare of land annually and provide the farmers with an improved irrigation system to grow more crops during the upcoming season.

“We are very appreciative of these improvements,” said Sheikh Haj Hatim Sadkhan, a local city leader. “We will continue to support the government of Iraq and Coalition forces.”

This project and similar ones can now be completed due to the increased security in the Maysan province. The 38th Iraqi Army Brigade, partnered with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, is conducting counter- insurgency operations along the southeastern border of Iraq.

MNF-I

With more than five million Iraqis and five army and national police brigades in Baghdad, anonymity is a great weapon for insurgents.

Even if a unit identifies suspicious activity by a local national on their base, what is there to stop that individual from moving down the road to a new base? The answer for coalition forces is simple: biometrics.

The Soldiers of Company A, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, have fingerprinted, photographed and eye-scanned more than 400 individuals in their efforts to keep Forward Operating Base War Eagle safe.

Capt. Mike Poaletti, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., and the FOB War Eagle mayor, said he appreciates the biometric scanning.

“They enhanced force protection by screening local nationals with the [intelligence] system. Their screening enabled us to keep unwanted personnel off the FOB,” he said.

There are two Striker Brigade Soldiers who are primarily responsible for the biometric screening and badge issuing operations on FOB War Eagle. Staff Sgt. Matthew Valek, a Ceres, Calif., native, who serves as the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of badge operations, has seen the benefits of his works. In four months of operations he has identified one previously identified insurgent.

“It is reassuring to know that each local national we hire has not been involved in insurgent activities before. Force protection is important to us,” Valek said.

First Lt. George Rolston, the War Eagle Base Defense Officer, said he agrees.

“Badges are critical. They enable us to quickly identify local nationals and vehicles allowed on the FOB. Their badges explicitly state who is authorized where and with what; it’s a big help,” said Rolston, a Conrad, Iowa, native, who serves with Company B, 3rd STB, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

The Soldiers of Company A and Base Defense work hand in hand to ensure optimal force protection on FOB War Eagle. Their hard work is amplified by other brigade’s biometric efforts resulting in a vastly improved, theater-wide tracking effort.

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By 1st Lt. Delaney Brown
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Once riddled with trash, Route Irish was a major road for violence and attacks against coalition forces. Now it is a reliable route for service members traveling into Baghdad.

The Rhino shuttles drive on that dependability, as they travel the road several times a day to bring people from Victory Base Complex to the International Zone and back. The Rhino is a 22-passenger bus as big as a trailer home with an up-armored protection.

“We can help them get there, especially with helicopter flights [being less available,]” said Spc. Edric Boneham, of Seattle, Wash., a driver for the Rhino crew, which is operated by Headquarters & Support Company, 18th Airborne Corps.

“We operate whether or not the weather is nice. Rain or shine, every day we’re out there, three times a day.”

Route Irish is not only the most reliable route from Victory to Baghdad, but the most scenic one as well.

The overpasses and bridges along the road are painted in bold, fluorescent colors. They look as if children splashed buckets of paint onto them as canvases. On one bridge, images of people uniting together spread out as far as the overpass’s columns can reach. The roads are clean again. No trash in sight.

An even pavement pushes any road damage caused by explosions away into memory. The guardrails have made their return to the side of the road, and approximately every couple of hundred meters a member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard to make sure violence stays off.

This wasn’t always the scene on that route. “Oh man, it’s a lot different,” he said. “Our route status was always black. We always had to take alternate routes.”

“Now, it’s a lot more secure,” said Sgt. Roger Francisco, of Passaic, N.J. one of the crew truck commanders. “It’s the road most travelled.” Francisco would know, since he worked on the Rhino crew three years ago when he was stationed on Camp Victory in 2005.

“It was a little stressful [before] because the route, the way we ran it, wasn’t like we do it now,” Francisco said. “Before, we’d run it [once] at various hours. Sometimes, in the morning; sometimes, at crazy hours at night.”

Back then, insurgents could easily disguise roadside bombs among the trash, as the highway was littered with garbage. Car parts lay on the side like metal carcasses.

“There were no fences. No barriers,” Francisco said.

The guardrails had to be taken down since they too disguised improvised explosive devices.

One of the entry control points along the road was also shut down due to constant attacks. Iraqis couldn’t share the road with military convoys in order to safeguard service members from car bombs, which exploded two to three times a week. The road wasn’t cared for, and overpasses were bleak sights that allowed attack opportunities from above.

All of that has changed.

The rhino crew and their passengers don’t have to fear traveling the road anymore.

“Obviously the Iraqis are taking more charge of their own country, providing more security,” Francisco said.

“They’re stepping up. They’re doing better for themselves,” he added.

All of that has translated into safer roads both coalition and local civilians can share. Military and Iraqi leaders can meet together for conferences and discuss important matters face-to-face. Soldiers can enjoy Freedom Rest, a three-day getaway located in the IZ, thanks to the Rhino. None of this would have been possible without the security gains.

Some days, there are so many service members requesting travel to Baghdad that the crew will provide extra seating using mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles. They’re not as trendy as a giant bus with the picture of a Rhino stamped on the front, but the transportation gets Soldiers’ missions accomplished all the same.

“The most rewarding part is a lot of people show gratitude for being transported back and forth safely,” said Sgt. Cory Waldock, crew chief and native of Chisago City, Minn.

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By Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret
Multi National Division – Central

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.

After much communication with different organizations, Lt. Col. Robert Sindler, a veterinarian with Multi National Corps – Iraq and Capt. Jason Felix, the project manager for 2nd BSTB, found the Conservators’ Center of North Carolina.

The Conservators’ Center is a nonprofit educational wildlife organization that preserves threatened species through responsible captive breeding, helps rescue and place wildlife in need and offers resources for educators and scientists.

The center had two bengal cubs, Hope and Riley, who were taken in after the zoo they lived in closed in 2007.

The Baghdad zoo passed intense scrutiny by the Conservators’ Center, which initially expressed concern over the safety and welfare of the tigers. However, they recognized the tigers would be in a safe environment where they would be highly appreciated and bring enjoyment to the people of Iraq. The center decided to donate Hope and Riley to the people of Iraq with the approval of the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife to export the tigers.

After months of work, the tigers arrived in Baghdad, Aug. 4, 2008, and were welcomed by U.S. Army veterinarians and the Soldiers of the 2nd BSTB.

The tigers were unveiled to the public at the Baghdad zoo, Aug. 8, 2008.

Hope and Riley were in playful form as the cameras snapped and Iraqi families walked by, enjoying the sight of Baghdad’s newest residents. They are one more attraction that will bring visitors flocking to the peaceful environment of the zoo, proving once more that security is continually progressing throughout Iraq.

“I think the zoo’s progress, culminating in today’s arrival of the two tigers, exemplifies that there is significant good news coming out of Baghdad as life continues to return more to normal here and in many other areas of the country,” said Felix, a native of Tucson, Ariz.

Dr. Addel Salman Mousa, the director of the Baghdad zoo, said it means a lot to him and the people of Iraq to receive such a gift.

“This day is a historical day for the Baghdad zoo,” said the director. “We are really happy today. We want to bring smiles back to the kids and the public, who faced years of deprivation.”

As the security situation in Baghdad continues to improve, so does the attendance at the Baghdad zoo. At least 2,000 Iraqis visit the zoo each weekday, with tens of thousands visitors on the weekends.

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By 1st Lindsey Travis
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborn Division

Thirty-seven females attended the first day of training at the Kirkuk Police Academy outside of Kirkuk City, Aug. 16.

It’s been a year since the academy has seen any Iraqi females in blue, and never a class of this size.

“We need these females badly,” Lt. Col. Muid, a cadre at the academy said. “It is our religious custom not to touch our women, so we cannot search females. Our female IPs will be extremely important to use at checkpoints and government buildings throughout the province.”

The cadre pointed out that they would also be bringing a different perspective to policing.

“Women think differently than men,” he said. “They will bring fresh ideas to how we conduct business.”

The 37 females are split into squad-like elements. Each squad will have a female military police Soldier assisting – Sgt. 1st Class Sumalee Bustamante and Spc. Jennifer Swierk.

“This is going to be a big challenge,” Swierk said, referring to the cultural differences, “but I’m proud to be a part of this page in Kirkuk’s, if not Iraq’s history.”

“This is going to be an amazing experience for all of us,” Bustamante added. “I’m looking forward to helping my fellow female police officer and being a part of the positive historic changes occurring here.”

For Nowal, 30, a trainee who has never held a job and lives with her brother – also a member of the Kirkuk police force – the experience so far has her realizing she has a lot of work ahead of her.

“I am very tired,” she said of the first day of training. However, she is determined to “serve my country.”

In lieu of the recent increase in female suicide bombers, these women are undaunted by the dangers of the field they have chosen. When asked what they would do if they were to spot one at a check-point, as a group they did not hesitate to answer:

“Man or women, if you come through our check point we will stop you.”

“Terrorists are not welcome in the province of Kirkuk,” Intesar, 29, said. “They are not Iraqis – they are not Muslim. It is not our way.”

The women must complete a four-week course and fulfill the same standards as the males to graduate. Following two hours of calisthenics each morning, which consists of marching, running and various drills geared toward team-building, the day is spent rotating from indoor to outdoor classroom instruction on law enforcement procedures ranging from democratic policing, human rights, hostage survival, basic first aid and responding to an ambush.

MNF-I
By Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division