Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Soldiers remain cool after contact
Monday, 18 December 2006
By Spc. Leith Edgar,
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment



Capt. Hans Pinto, troop commander, Troop B, 3rd Squad., 61st Cav. Regt., 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div, Soldiers in Salman Pak, Iraq, the day before he and his troops encountered an improvised explosive device during a tactical movement and effectively reacted to the threat.CAMP RUSTAMIYAH — The dull drone of the Humvee traversing a seemingly vacant road; the awkward beeps and steady static of radio chatter passing between vehicles during a tactical movement; and the thoughts of 20 Soldiers are all suddenly silenced by a thunderous boom, which seems to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.

An improvised explosive device has made contact with the convoy.

This was the picture Soldiers of Headquarters Platoon, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, were painted into by enemy forces during a movement one day, said Capt. Hans Pinto, Troop B’s commander.

“All was well when I heard a large explosion. We knew immediately that it was on us,” said the native of Miami. “Everybody just went into their reaction drills right there, instantaneously.”

Indeed, there was no mistaking the sound, said 1st Lt. Steven Migliore, a fire support officer with the troop.

“This is the first one to go off on our headquarters platoon. It shocked everyone. I know I was, initially. I’m glad no one was hurt,” said Migliore, who hails from Eden, N.Y. “It’s always a surprise when something like that happens. You’re never expecting it. We’ve trained to react to it, and I think we did a good job today.”

Though surprised, the Soldiers let their training do the bulk of the work, Pinto said.

“It’s interesting how (all the) training we conducted just kicked in like muscle memory. I didn’t even flinch,” Pinto added. “I feel the training we conducted over the eight months prior to coming here was, without a doubt, the best training anybody could have gotten.”

Troop B conducted two training exercises in preparation for operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Soldiers trained at the National Training Center of Fort Irwin, Calif., and at Pinon Canyon, Colo., before deploying from Fort Carson, Colo.

The IED contact served as a wake-up call for Troop B, which recently deployed to Iraq, Migliore said.

“It’s an eye opener. It’s the first contact we’ve made. It shows there is an enemy out there who is trying to kill us and we need to be on our toes at all times,” Migliore said. “We’ll be ready to go out there and accomplish the mission again.”

The attack came as Pinto’s troop was conducting a joint operation with Iraqi national policemen. It gave the Soldiers and NPs a chance to work together, Pinto said.

“I think the incident actually had a positive effect in that we had the NPs come with us hand-in-hand,” he said. “We established a stronger bond with the Iraq security forces because of it.”

The attack was also a sign of things to come, Pinto said.

“The expectation is that the NPs will not only be at our side, (but) at some juncture they will lead those patrols,” Pinto said. “I think the NPs gained a great deal of trust in us, because we were there and stayed on throughout the night. I think we made good progress.”

Pinto said he was also proud of his troops for their professionalism.

“It was picture perfect. I was proud of these guys,” Pinto said. “Pure (standard operating procedure) all the way.”

Marines bring smiles to refugees
Monday, 18 December 2006
By Pfc. Parish, Timothy T.
15th MEU



Lance Cpl. Katherine L. Davis, motor transportation, Combat Logistics Battalion 15, hands out candy to children at a Sudanese refugee camp as part of a resupply mission outside Camp Korean Village, Iraq.CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE — The candy coated grins on the children’s faces were matched only by the smiles of the Marines handing out the treats.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Marines supplying the dusty refugee camp outside Camp Korean Village, Iraq were greeted with glowing eyes and high-fives, and the sound of little feet dancing around the gift-bearers.

Each month since June 2005 the same scene occurs as a convoy of Marines and Sailors has left the wires of Camp Korean Village to travel a few kilometers down the road. Their destination is a dusty outpost next to a gas station that houses 140 Sudanese refugees who have been displaced for over a decade.

These missions foster amicability and build bridges between Coalition Forces in Al Anbar Province and local nationals, according to Lt. Col Henry M. Hyams, Commanding Officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 15th MEU (SOC). “I think in the process of transitioning over to the Iraqi government and to the Iraqi Army forces, it’s an important part to show good will,” he said.

The 15th MEU (SOC) has taken on the mission of caring for the refugees. The 15th MEU (SOC), in cooperation with relief organizations, supplies the refugees with pre-packaged meals and bottled water.

Fifteen years ago, this group left the persecution of their homeland to find opportunity and stability in Iraq. After coalition forces dislodged the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the exiles once again found themselves the subject of harassment.

In May 2005, the refugees attempted to leave Iraq, hoping for a better life across the border in Jordan, according to Chief Warrant Officer John M. Wills, Civil Affairs team leader, detachment 4/2, 4th Civil Affairs Group. “When they got to the border, the border was closed. So, they were kind of stuck at that point,” Wills said.

The Iraqi Red Crescent relief organization led the group back to the area around Camp Korean Village and gave them a few comforts to get them started.

In June 2005, the operating forces at Camp Korean Village became aware of the refugees presence, and started to provide support to the group, according to Wills.
Each command rotated through Camp Korean Village since the initial contact has continued to maintain relations with the refugees.

Past commands from Camp Korean Village have also provided relief from the sometimes overbearing weather conditions in the form of cold-weather clothing and shelter tents. The men, women, and children of the refugee group have used a little improvisation to better equip themselves in this barren desert, Wills said. “They don’t waste anything,” Wills said. “The boxes that we deliver their meals in become additional shelter for the refugees.”

The 4th CAG, composed of reservists from Naval Annex, Anacostia, Va., arrived at Camp Korean Village in September 2006, and learned of the refugees shortly after. The initial visit to the refugee camp was a stark revelation to the Marines. “Your heart goes out to the refugees, to see the conditions they’re living in,” Wills said. “But at the same time, they’re a very peaceful, and almost content people, that just need help,” he continued.

The work and charity displayed by the 15th MEU (SOC) Marines and Sailors assigned to Camp KoreanVillage, should not go unnoticed, Wills said.

“Any Marine or Sailor that has taken part in providing this humanitarian aid to the refugees should deserve some type of recognition,” perhaps the Humanitarian Service Medal, he said.

The final decision on the future of the refugees is in the hands of the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security, or counterparts in the U.K. or Canada. Wills hopes the answer will come within a few months, he said.

“I would like to see the refugees relocated from their current location,” he said. “That would be a very good sense of accomplishment for all the efforts of my Marines and all the Marines of Task Force Rutbah and the 15th MEU, and previous Marines and Sailors that have supported the refugees,” he added.

The impact that the Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU (SOC) made on the citizens of Al Anbar Province is likely to linger on in their hearts and minds, according to Sgt. Maj. Gonzalo A. Vasquez, sergeant major, Combat Logistics Battalion 15. “The little kids receiving the candy, it only last half an hour in their mouths, but the impression lasts a long, long time,” Vasquez said

Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) arrived in
Iraq four weeks ago and provide security to this region of the Al Anbar Province.

Monday, 18 December 2006
By Sgt. Tony White
5th Mobile Public Affairs Det.

SAMARRA — Members of the largely Shiite Iraqi National Police made a clothing donation to the Sunni-dominated Red Crescent Tuesday.

In a show of good faith, the predominantly Shiite national police force presented the Red Crescent, an organization similar to the Red Cross, with three truckloads of clothing to be distributed among the nearly 1,500 displaced Sunni Muslims living in the Samarra area.

Meant as a way to promote positive relations between the two factions, the national police were pleased to help, said one Shiite police officer.

“Doing something like this will help these families,” said the police officer, who wished to remain anonymous.

Sgt. 1st Class Edward Rodriguez, 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, said this was first time in the Samarra area that a gesture of this scale has been made.

“They (Iraqi National Police) wanted to do something for the families and we had this extra clothing,” Rodriguez said. “So they asked us if they could donate these clothes as a sign of support. We hope this is a positive step towards helping the differences between the Iraqi people.”

With about 40 boxes of clothing donated for the nearly 1,500 refugees, Rodriguez said he believed the operation would have an impact.

“It made a difference,” he said. “The director of the Red Crescent was pleased; not only because she received clothing to help the displaced people, more importantly she was pleased because it was the Shiites showing a sense of unity between the two Muslim factions

Kurdish authority is in need for a dramatic shift in policy?


Monday, December 18, 2006

KurdishMedia.com - By Abdul-Rahman Mawlood

It is evident that Baker-Hamilton report already did damage to Kurdish-USA relationship and, expecting more damage to this relationship is inventible. There is no doubt that cutting tie to USA government is going to be costly for Kurdish as it is the case with surrendering to USA policy. Hence, it is understandable why KRG tries hard to use all diplomatic means and method to convey their opinion about the latest development in Iraqi dossier to USA government. But, frankly I do not think that the diplomatic means alone going to be affective. The Kurdish authorities should know that they are dealing with America and American follow the slogan “show me the money,” i.e. show me what you capable of. I think it is about the right time for KRG to use all its options and show it to the USA government that the Kurdish people will not hesitate to use all its cards to prevent any disaster to be brought upon their people.

Among several options Kurdish people have, one radical option would be to reach Iranian and its allies inside Iraq, whom a portion of Baker-Hamilton report written against them, to see what they need for exchange for “Iraqi Kurdistan” independency. I believe, Kurdish authorities should cut a deal with any force welling to acknowledge the independency for “Iraqi Kurdistan”.

As for Turkish threat, Kurdish authority should make a dramatic shift to its policy toward Turkey. The KRG have implemented successfully the first part, the generosity part, of the cooperation theory and, it is about the time to implement the second have of the same theory, “Tit for Tat”, with Turkey. In other words, Turkish authority openly supports hard-line Turkmens and religious and terrorist group in Kirkuk and Telehfer against Kurds. KRG should make it clear to the Turkish government that KRG will interfere in Turkish affair unless they stop interfering in Kurdistan affair, KRG will support PKK unless Turkish government stop providing logistic to Turkmens.

Change in USA policy is inventible and friendless Kurdish will be the victim to this policy change, unless Kurds work on opening up a new backup exit door immediately. The strongest options Kurds have now would be reaching Iranian and, following the tit for tat policy with Turkey. Any other policy other than these will be proof of Kurdish inability to take dramatic measures and bold steps and will bring nothing except the humiliation to the KRG and our people.

I might have stumbled onto something. I will keep it updated here: http://www.rolclub.com/rumors-predic...my-source.html For now, I am Testing it. All have a look, to follow where my Posting, in the Rumor Section, will be.

Failure Is Not An Option in IraqRev. Ken Joseph
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted GMT 12-18-2006 19:49:16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The contrast could not have been more dramatic - the previous day advisors to the Baker Commission held a dire meeting saying things such as 'Iran has done more than anyone else in helping Iraq's current government' and essentially a message of failure and hopelessness with one panelist saying 'there is nothing the US can do to influence the course of events in Iraq.'

What a breath of fresh air was Tariq al-Hashimi, the Vice-President of Iraq. His message? 'Stay the course - Iraq is going to make it.'

Opening his address with a quote from Thomas Jefferson 'All men are created equal' he went on to recite much of the famed address.

Listening to the Baker Commission and the legion of naysayer's in Washington who seem to take joy and glee in failure in Iraq, the Vice President could not have been more different.

'If the United States pulls out of Iraq there will be a massacre and chaos.' he said, answering one of the most debated questions simply and easily. 'Of course all Iraqis want to be on their own but any timetables must be clearly linked with progress in managing our affairs.'

Saying as clear as he could without mentioning Iran and Syria by name he said 'we all know which of our neighbors and other countries are behind all this trouble and working to make things fail'

His theme? 'I am an Iraqi' he proudly said. 'This whole Shia, Sunni, Kurd, Assyrian debate is something that is not part of our history - it just began following the Liberation - in fact there has never been divisions like that - it is not a sect against sect situation, it is something being set up by those from outside.'

In a blatant rebuke to the Baker Commission and as Senator John McCain phrased it 'the recipe for failure' in Iraq', the Vice President was upbeat, hopeful and had a plan.

The main problem, according to Hashimi was the decision to fire the army. This triggered a series of unfortunate events that according to the Vice President allowed outside forces to use the opportunity.

'Please don't forget that 90% of the Army was Shiite - this whole Shia/Sunni battle is a myth.' he continued. 'Somehow the US received wrong and outdated information on Iraq and assumed this serious divide which in fact did not exist - we all marry together, live together and nobody knew who was Sunni, Shia Assyrian, Kurd etc.'

'This wrong information formed the basis for the wrong decision that Government should be divided into the various sects. This has created ministries in the Government that simply work for their particular group going so far as to touch even the Hospitals where often if you are not of the proper sect they will not treat you and in fact kill you if you if they find out you are from another group.' he said.

Reform

'We too have dreams of peace and freedom and democracy.' Hashimi forcefully challenged. 'What we need is very simple - we need to reform the governmental structure in the way any normal government should be set up. The division according to the mistaken idea of sects is wrong.' Answering questions about the Assyrian Christians, 10% of the population who have recently applied for one Province in Northern Iraq under the Iraqi Constitution, he had a message of hope too.

'The Assyrian Christians have a future in Iraq. They are our brothers and as fellow Iraqis we need them and call on them to help rebuild our institutions and move forward. There is nothing for them to fear. We are behind them and will help them.'

Hinting at the urgent need for a new set of 'fair' elections to properly set up representative bodies, the Vice-President went on to outline a plan forward - dramatically in contrast to the Baker Commission including reforming the army and security forces so they were not based on sects, reforming the various ministries so they were not controlled by various sects and reforming the judicial system so that crime is punished. 'Iraq is free' he said

'The terrorists from neighboring countries will not win. The Iraqi people will with your support and success in our country is achievable. We cannot give in.

Failure in Iraq would have consequences not just in our country but in the whole region and the world.'

Was the Baker Commission and the stunned United States Institute for Peace which organized the speech listening?

If it comes to a choice between believing Iraqis who have a stake in the future and those who have a stake in failure the choice is clear.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rev. Ken Joseph Jr. was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, where his parents met following the call of General Douglas McArthur for 10,000 young Americans to come and help rebuild postwar Japan. An Assyrian, his grandparents escaped Northern Iraq during the Assyrian Holocaust of 1917 and came to the United States and settled in Chicago.
Ken graduated from the Christian Academy in Japan and Biola University in La Mirada, California, with degrees in Intercultural Communications and Mass Communications, returning to Japan in 1987. A Christian minister, Rev. Ken Joseph Jr. currently serves as a pastor in Tokyo Japan, is founder and director of The Japan Helpline, a worldwide 24-hour emergency hotline and relief assistance organization, and is founder and director of the Japan-based Keikyo Institute, which studies the historical roots of Christianity in Asia.
He is currently ministering in Baghdad, Iraq.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Views and opinions expressed in guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of AINA. Guest Editorial Policy

Activists Defy Extremists in Call for Tolerance

Female civil society campaigners work with clerics from different faiths to promote dialogue and unity.

By Haider al-Musawi in Najaf (ICR No. 206, 15-Dec-06)

With sectarian tension growing by the day, the Iraqi women’s NGO Al-Khansa recently sought to do its bit to counter the trend by organising a conference on religious tolerance and dialogue in Najaf.

For three days last month, a hotel hall in the holy Iraqi city teemed with 90 mainly female human rights activists and journalists, as well as clerics and religious scholars.

The event attempted to bring together Iraqi Muslims and Christians in a common front against sectarian violence.
Due to security concerns, the meeting had to be postponed several times.

The idea for the conference emerged following the violent reactions to the controversial speech of Pope Benedict, which appeared to associate Islam with violence. The speech upset many Muslim believers in Islamic countries all over the world.

In Iraq, the furore over the Pontiff’s remarks made the already tense situation for Christians worse. While protests in Najaf remained peaceful, demonstrators in Basra burned an effigy of the Pope. Christians felt increasingly targeted by Islamic extremists, prompting al-Khansa - which campaigns on women’s issues and human rights - to set up the dialogue meeting.

“We don’t react to a speech of the Pope by setting churches on fire and expelling our Christian brothers. We try to help Iraqi people get out of their current misery,” said Layla al-Rubai, head of al-Khansa.

Islamic, Christian and secular women NGOs from the provinces Najaf, Baghdad and Babil attended the conference. All were urged to speak out against violence and to call for unity among Muslims and Christians as well as Sunni and Shia.

In nine workshops, the participants discussed different aspects of religious life and tolerance and of Christian and Muslim co-existence.

The situation for Christians in Iraq has deteriorated considerably since the fall of the former regime. Whereas in the past, Christians lived peacefully with the Muslim majority, they have been subject to threats and attacks by Islamist extremists over the past months.

Many have fled the capital for the north to areas like Iraqi Kuridstan. Several new churches have been built in Ankawa, the Christian quarter of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region. Crosses on church roofs illuminate the streets at night, a sight unthinkable in Baghdad these days.

Other Christians have left Iraq for good, making their way to neighbouring countries with Christian communities, like Syria, Lebanon or Armenia. Some have even headed for Europe and America.

Nidhal Hanna, head of Taqadum (progress) women rights NGO in Baghdad, says she feels safe amongst her Muslim colleagues, but has problems outside the organisation, which is why she is set to join other members of her community in Erbil.

She recalls a time when the country’s different faith groups got on well, “My parents have lived in Iraq all their life, and I don’t remember being offended by Iraqi Muslims. We studied together and there was no discrimination. I used to attend Islamic education and Koran classes at school.”

Islamic clerics who attended the Najaf conference suggested that Muslim radicals were largely responsible for Islam’s worsening reputation in the western world.

”Islam is religion of tolerance not terror,” said Ali Abdul-Rahim, a Shia cleric from Najaf. “We don’t represent those who kill civilians and claim to be Muslims.”

He believes that clerics from all Iraq’s communities should join together to campaign for unity in order to “build a new Iraq free of violence”.

Nadin Boutros, a Christian woman from Babil who attended the conference, is convinced that such events will help bring religions closer. “The role of NGOs is not only to educate the public how to vote and about women’s rights. We can do more because we interact with the people,” she said.

Another conference will be held in January. Cleric Abdul-Rahim said that over the holidays Christians should ask God “to bring peace and aid to Muslims”.

Haider al-Musawi is an IWPR contributor in Iraq.

CAIRO, Dec 18 (KUNA) -- Iraq's Charge D'affaires in Cairo Saad Redha described the Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations as excellent and indicated that Kuwait and other neighboring states could play a role in stabilizing conditions in the country.

Redha affirmed in a statement to KUNA, on sidelines of a gathering held by the Bahraini embassy celebrating the country's National Day, held last night, necessity of boosting these ties further at various levels.

These relations have been improving on basis of the historic and cordial links between the two peoples, he said.

Kuwait and the other neighboring states can play a role in efforts aimed at restoring stability to Iraq, he said, affirming that such stability is crucial for all countries in the region.

Kuwait and Iraq restored relations following the 2003 ouster of the regime of Saddam Hussein, whose troops invaded the Gulf country on August 2, 1990, and occupied it for seven months before they were driven out by a coalition of national and allied forces.

Kuwait has repeatedly declared robust support for efforts aimed at restoring law and order in Iraq.

Originally Posted by $onedaysoon$

just found this page is NEW IRAQ CURRENCY

PLEASE LOOK AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

New Iraqi Currency / New Iraqi Dinar

Scroll down, you'll see one with George Bush on it, and a three dollar bill from the United States of Islam!

UAE Welcomes Iraq's Reconcilaition Conference





RELATED NEWS

» UAE PRESS EDITORIALS 18Dec06
» GCC Summit wrapped up 10Dec06
» Divided counsels about Maliki Washington in search of a policy 05Dec06
» But will Bush listen? ISG: An urgent change of course needed in Iraq 11Dec06
» Iraq Crisis Dominates GCC Summit 10Dec06


Abu Dhabi, December 18th, 2006 (WAM)--Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, has welcome the "positive delebrations" of the Iraqi National Reconciliation Conference, which concluded Sunday evening.

Abdullah has expressed his hope that the conference would serve as a springboard for effective move and practical steps towards reaching a comprehensive reconciliation in Iraq, something he considered as a mainstay for stability and security there. He also called on Iraqis to join forces in the best interest of their country and its national unity and regional integrity.