Iraq/Afghanistan- What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Army News Service, Aug. 22, 2005) – Life-saving closed-heart surgery was performed on an 8-year-old Afghan girl Aug. 14 by Maj. Michael Myers at Bagram Airfield.

Karishma Naghshban had heart problems that developed at birth and doctors said the condition would have kept her from having a normal, long life. But she is currently in recovery at Bagram and expected to return home within a week.

Her family is very excited and happy about the surgery, explained the sergeant. They would never have been able to get the operation from a local hospital because it costs too much for them. Abdula is a tailor with a family of five daughters and five sons.

“I am very happy and very thankful to the Americans for helping Karishma,” Abdula said.
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http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=7807

tcmahoney · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

That's a great story, but that's in Afghanistan, not Iraq.

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

Doh

You're right I meant to call the thread IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN

Can you change it for me

Here is something on Iraq

http://www.centcom.mil/CentcomNews/Stories/08_05/8.htm

Najaf Water Projects Focus On Supplying More Potable Water

By B.J. Weiner Gulf Region South District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Tallil, Iraq – Estimates put the shortage of potable water in the area surrounding Najaf and Kufa at about 40 percent, with existing plants being old or deteriorated because of neglect or lack of maintenance.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District (GRS) has quality assurance responsibilities on 14 water treatment units and three water pipeline projects that will increase that drinkable water flow within the Najaf area.

The water projects, worth approximately $12 million, involve the installation of 14 compact water treatment units and piping, according to Darrell Flinn. These compact units require highly skilled labor to maintain them, and training the staff is part of the overall package. “These require a technical labor force that has been taught to use this equipment,” he said.

Seven of the 14 small units are finished and the rest are in various stages of completion. The three pipeline projects are 90 percent completed, or better. “It is really critical to bring water to these neighborhoods,” said Flinn. “So many people don’t have access to good clean drinking water. This is what we are trying to fix now – and I’m happy to say that everything is going very well, but for every project we do, several more are needed.”

The average person uses about 71 liters of water a day, and this includes domestic water for cooking and bathing as well, according to the World Health Organization. Each of the units can put out about 200 cubic meters of water an hour and one cubic meter equals about 1,000 liters. “Assuming the units operate for 10 hours a day, they would put out about 2 million liters of water a day,” he said. “And when you divide the total number of liters each unit puts out per day buy the number of liters each person uses, you come up with 28,109 people who are able to be served by one unit. Multiply that times 14 plants and these units can serve 393,926 people. And that is a substantial gain for the people of Najaf.”

At the time of transition to sovereignty June 2004, there were just over 200 Reconstruction projects started. Today, there are over 2,700 projects started, valued at $6.4 billion. More than 1,600 projects are finished, with a value of $1.8 billion.
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nekounam · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

tcmahoney said:

That's a great story, but that's in Afghanistan, not Iraq.
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It's the same thing to these sheep-like military types.

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

August 26, 2005
Release Number: 05-08-25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUCCESSES THIS WEEK IN IRAQ (19-25 AUG., 2005)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces continued to help Iraqi citizens with humanitarian missions and to help train Iraqi security forces to bring stability to the country. Iraqi Soldiers and police worked with local citizens to create a safer environment, and reconstruction projects like new police and fire stations are building the security infrastructure. Other reconstruction projects were able to provide potable water to citizens who otherwise didn’t have access to it.

Coalition forces turned over Camp Zulu in As Suwayrah, Iraq, to the Iraqi Army on Aug. 21. The division’s 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade will be permanently housed there. This is the twenty-fourth base to be turned over to the Iraqis, returning the land to the government elected by the people.

The 5th Infantry Battalion of the Bulgarian Army trained Iraqi Army Soldiers in engineering and medical responses, and held a live-fire exercise this week. Medics from the Bulgarian contingent also provided regular assistance to local citizens who needed medical treatment.

Ukrainian military advisers and instructors completed training for the 3rd Battalion of 3rd Infantry Brigade of the Iraqi Army, which will take control from the Ukrainians in the Wassit Province next month. Currently, ISF are manning joint-security checkpoints and conducting patrols with the Ukrainian troops.

A new Salvadorian contingent started its duty in the central-south region of Iraq on Aug. 20. The 380 soldiers, stationed at Al Hillah, will focus on civil-military cooperation , humanitarian assistance and training and advising the ISF. The last rotation of Salvadoran soldiers organized and conducted 85 projects to help Iraqi people, including water supply and sewage systems, education, health care, public security and transportation.

Early this week, workers completed rehabilitation of the domestic water network in Sulaymaniyah. This project is to rehabilitate the potable water system, intended to improve the efficiency of the system there by 20 percent. The Maissa potable water system, a $21,000 project in Mosul to replace a failed water line, was also completed. Also this week; the $27 million water treatment project in Balad Rooz District of Diyala Province will provide 40km of transmission piping and increase the water treatment plant’s capacity to serve 72,000 families, compared to the current capacity of 1,136 families. The $958,000 Al Baida water supply project, which will provide a new water line from the water tower in Al Warka to the community of Al Baida, began on the 22nd.

Approximately 25,000 Iraqis in the Dahuk, Babylon and Wassit Provinces will get treated potable water, thanks to three million dollars released for local projects. The projects will upgrade 15 systems, each including water wells, compact potable water treatment plants and pumps. Completion dates for the 15 projects vary, but are all scheduled to be finished by January of 2006.

Construction has restarted on Sadr City’s $902,000 Al Sadr Fire Station project, after a recent construction collapse while concrete was being placed. The project is scheduled for completion in March of 2006. This three-story structure is almost 10,000 square feet and features five bays; three for ladder trucks and two for SUVs. It includes a dormitory area for 20 firefighters, dining room for 30, commercial-grade kitchenette to feed 40 people, a training room for 20, a locker room, a control room and a chief’s office.

Construction also started on two new police station projects in Fallujah and one in Muthanna Province. Each of the two-story facilities in Fallujah measures more than 35,000 square feet and includes a dorm area for 100 police officers, offices, a holding cell, conference room, kitchenette, armory and covered courtyards.

The Al Khider Police Station construction project in Muthanna Province provided new perimeter walls, replaced roof systems, installed a 528-gallon water tank and piping for potable water storage, and restored electrical and masonry work to the existing police station in Al Khider.

Phase III of the $10 million Najaf Teaching Hospital project began this week with a symbolic “ground-breaking” ceremony on the second floor of the hospital. This phase of the project includes civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing rehabilitation throughout the facility. The contract also includes a physicians’ residence building, sewer treatment plant, a morgue, storage and garages, and remodeling of the main entrance to the hospital.

Five hundred children in a community west of Al Hillah will start school in a newly renovated school, thanks also to the Coalition forces in the Central-South Division, who finished work on the Abu Gharaq School this week. Other Coalition forces built a playground Aug. 19 for the children of the Tesin Orphanage in Kirkuk. Soldiers built the playground out of discarded auto parts, welding the various parts together. Coalition civil affairs Soldiers spent a busy day with the local leaders, delivering school supplies and then assessing the Musala and Al Sader Primary Schools.

Six school construction and renovation projects were started this week, while two others in Dahuk Province were completed.

Coalition forces rescued a hostage being held by terrorists, captured the kidnappers, and seized weapons from a terrorist safe-house during a cordon-and-search operation Aug. 18 in the Muthana Zayuna district of central Baghdad.

Iraqi security forces were busy as well, discovering two improvised explosive devices while on patrol in Mugdadiyah. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal team disarmed the device and removed it for later destruction, making the area safe.

Iraqi Army Soldiers, manning a traffic control point, detained one anti-Iraq force member after searching a vehicle in Mosul and finding a light machine gun and 2,500 rounds of ammunition. Soldiers of the Iraqi Highway Patrol were doing their part, as well, when they discovered an improvised explosive device 29 kilometers northwest of Bayji. An Iraqi EOD team was called in to neutralize the threat and make the area safe for the public. Iraqi Police Service officers in Mosul found two 120mm rounds, which they turned over to an Iraqi EOD team for disposal.

Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement officers and Coalition forces interdicted a small group of smugglers and a large mule train crossing the Syrian border northwest of Tal Afar on Aug. 19 when they discovered five or six men leading over 200 mules carrying fuel pods into Iraq. The smugglers were able to escape back into Syria with some of the mules, but Iraqi and Coalition forces captured 145 of the mules and their fuel loads.

Iraqi citizens continued to augment security forces this week by providing information about insurgent activity. Iraqi Police Service officers on patrol received a tip from a local citizen concerning a suspected weapons cache in the Zohour District of Baghdad. Police uncovered 68 mortar rounds buried in a field. The munitions were transported to Boob Al Sham Police Station. This was the second significant cache find in the same area in two days – 32 mortar rounds were discovered Aug. 21.

Coalition Soldiers seized an opportunity to help Iraqis who had been injured in a head-on traffic accident near Tuz while returning from a combat patrol. The Soldiers provided first aid until an Iraqi ambulance arrived to transport the victims to a hospital.

As part of a Coalition and Iraqi stability-and-support operation, several truckloads of humanitarian assistance rolled out from a forward operating base in southern Baghdad to provide Horajeb residents with basic food items, medical supplies, and recreational items Aug. 17. Toys and soccer balls were donated by friends and family members of the U.S. forces.

The mayor of Muqdadiyah, Coalition forces and Iraqi Soldiers delivered critical medical supplies to the Muqdadiyah Women and Children’s Hospital.

Since the beginning of their mission in Iraq, Ukrainian forces have given medical aid to approximately three thousand Iraqis. Locals from the Wassit Province are treated for routine injuries on the spot, or taken to the medical contingent’s hospital.

Coalition medics helped train the Iraqi Army in combat medical skills this week. Class enrollment tripled since the unit first offered the training. Other forward operating bases throughout the Baghdad area are scheduling combat medic courses to assist in increasing the survivability of the Iraqi Army as they assume responsibility for their own security.

In the Combat Leaders Course at the Diyala Regional Training Facility, Coalition Soldiers worked with their Iraqi counterparts to train soldiers from the Iraqi Army’s 5th Division to be better battlefield leaders. Training during the 14-day course builds on the Iraqi soldiers’ basic military knowledge and skills. Most of the instruction is performed by Iraqi cadre, and Coalition Soldiers are more supervisors, observing and instructing when needed.

The development of Iraqi Security forces is cultivating a more secure environment for Iraqis, and through help from many Coalition partners and Iraqi citizens, Iraq is progressing toward a stable and prosperous country.
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/news_release.asp?NewsRelease=20050825.txt

Revolt · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

George, you can change the title yourelf by editing your first post.

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

http://www.centcom.mil/CentcomNews/Stories/08_05/29.htm

Ali Base, Iraq -- Although Baher, 8, looks like a happy, healthy boy on the outside, the joint Iraqi and U.S. Air Force C-130 aircrew, who gave him the ride of his life Aug. 22, knows he isn’t healthy - at least for now.

Baher and his mother, Afaf, are headed to New Orleans, La., to repair a hole in his heart via a new program called Operation Mend a Heart.

“I was very happy to (be a part of the aircrew to) help him,” said Iraqi Air Force Navigator Atiya, Squadron 23 (Transport), whose name is protected.

Atiya was one the C-130 crewmembers who flew Baher from Baghdad International Airport to Basrah Air Station on the first leg of his journey.

He has reason to sympathize.

“I have three boys myself,” said Atiya, who held Baher on his lap to show him the airplane’s control panel. “They’re 11, 10 and 5.”

From Basrah, Humanitarian Operation Center (Kuwait) Army Civil Affairs were waiting to whisk the family to Kuwait to pick up the proper visas and paperwork.

Later in the week, the mother and son are to board a plane headed for their ultimate destination - Tulane University and Hospital Clinic where Baher will receive surgery to correct a congenital heart defect.
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Two heart stories one from each spot. Pretty cool

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

http://www.centcom.mil/CentcomNews/Stories/08_05/23.htm

ZABOL PROVINCE , Afghanistan —A platoon from the 92nd Military Police Company, Baumholder , Germany , recently joined Task Force Rock as it continues its combat and civil assistance missions in Zabol province, Afghanistan .

“The ultimate goal of our deployment here is to transition the police, who already have an extensive amount of war-fighting experience and training, from infantrymen into policemen,” Caffarel said. “We want to teach them the whole ‘to serve and to protect’ mentality and how to work with the communities to develop the relationships that define good police organizations.”
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Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/33.htm

On Target in Southern Iraq

By Tom Clarkson Gulf Region Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In not much over a one-year period, the Gulf Region South (GRS) team has completed new or rehabilitation efforts on 309 of 355 schools, are presently working on 60 medical clinics with another 21 projected, and have completed three hospitals while laboring on nine more. In addition to those efforts, they have completed six of 45 oil related projects, 23 of 64 border forts, four of 12 courthouses or prisons, seven of 16 Iraqi military projects, 19 of 29 fire stations and 121 of 198 police stations.
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Revolt · Aug 26, 2005

Good times!

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

What a Difference a Year Makes

By Col. John Ottenbacher

Baghdad, Iraq - From a bloody battlefield and one of the most dangerous places in Iraq to a safe, prosperous and growing community of over one-half million, the Najaf Teaching Hospital reflects the changes of the city of Najaf.

One year ago on August 27 the battle for Najaf ended.

A year ago the Najaf Teaching Hospital was closed. It had been looted and its medical equipment destroyed by the Sadr Militia who had used its eight floors as a military fortress. Its basement flooded, windows and walls riddled with bullet and mortar damage, to many in Najaf, the hospital looked hopeless.

Now the hospital is open, seeing hundreds of patients per day and housing 80 in-patients. It is a training hospital for 200 medical students, 50 pharmacy students, and 100 resident doctors who are looking forward to improved and expanded services.
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/21.htm

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/7.htm

Another 43 Iraqi schools funded and approved for rehabilitation

By LuAnne Fantasia Gulf Region Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Baghdad, Iraq—Slightly more than six weeks from now, approximately 18,000 Iraqi school children will sit in freshly refurbished schools when their new school year starts.

A team of Iraqi and U.S. government entities announce today that renovations of 43 schools in the northern and southern governorates are funded for repairs, with contracts awarded for the work. As part of the Iraq Relief Reconstruction Fund, over $1.3M was set aside to continue a nationwide school repair program.

Repairs include rehabilitating sanitary facilities, and electrical and mechanical systems, as well as structural repairs to schools in Karbala, Dahuk, Najaf, Basrah, and Qadisiyah.

“And, we’ll keep working toward clean, safe and healthier learning environments for the Iraqi children,” said Karen Durham-Aguilera, Director of Programs at the Project and Contracting Office, Baghdad.
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I bet these kids hate us, but for totally different reasons now

nekounam · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

georgeplmr said:

Doh

You're right I meant to call the thread IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN

Can you change it for me

Here is something on Iraq

http://www.centcom.mil/CentcomNews/Stories/08_05/8.htm
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That's great, it's good to see that in the year 2005, the whole of the Iraqi population may soon have the running water that was available to them in 2003. But of course, these are no ordinary water treatment and distribution centers. The water that emanates from these plants, is a homogenous blend of pure Iraqi tap water, and the invaluable sweat of the hard-working executive staff at Halliburton. These little freedom-infused drops of salty heaven, will finally convince the Iraqi people that things are about to change for the better. Either that, or it'll merely contribute to their collective chemical imbalance.

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

You asked about electricity ? Read this

Najaf Electricity Projects Target Distribution

By B.J. Weiner Gulf Region Southern District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Tallil, Iraq – With a major neighborhood electrical refurbishment project, getting underway in the city of Najaf, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District (GRS) has earmarked most of the money for distribution projects, which means a voltage level from 33 kilovolts down to the levels used by houses and small shops.

People appreciate distribution projects because that’s when “you bring wires into the home,” said Greg Fillers, GRS Electrical Sector project manager. “It’s kind of like an overall electric blanket. That blanket covers power generation, transmission lines, distribution networks and controls.” He added that all four components contribute equally to the system.

Fillers explained that similar distribution projects are being planned and accomplished in most of Iraq’s larger cities, for example Basrah. There, the power generation plant at Khor Az Zubahr has a dual switchyard. While the generator there doesn’t create high voltages, the voltage is converted up for transmission to 400,000 volts or 400 KiloVolts (KV), which is one standard in Iraq. The other transmission standard is 132 KV, and the level of voltage is decreased in steps as it gets closer to individual homes. The higher the voltage, the better it transmits over distances.

“When you push voltages over long distances, you get line loss and the voltage drops,” he said. “And that is fairly standard as well. So you want enough power to go through the lines to the substations where it is converted to usable voltage for the home.”

Most power plants in Iraq currently operate at 50 to 60 percent of rated output, and the total amount of electricity generated is about 9.5 GigaWatts (GW) or 9,500 million watts, at full output. To create a usable difference, the plants would have to generate about 1.5 more GW. The national load on the grid peaks from noon to four p.m. in Iraq.

“That’s what is causing the immediate problem,” said Fillers. “The plants aren’t operating at full capacity for one reason or another. The plants are old and haven’t been well maintained over the years for example. This power shortage causes the three hours on/ three hours off of electricity that Iraq experiences now because there is only half the power needed. Cities are divided up into two groups randomly with the intent that all share power equally. Some cities get power for three hours and then the others receive it.”

To increase the power by the necessary 1.5GW, more power generation plants will be needed, and existing plants need to be repaired so they can increase output. These kinds of solutions will add about one hour, making the available electricity four hours on and two hours off. “This difference is pretty significant for most people,” he said. “We and they would see that as an improvement, although anything less than full-time power is not acceptable in the long term.”

Fillers said that one of the problems with generation and distribution is that many people don’t have any access to power at all, a problem the Corps and other organizations are working hard to correct. Moreover, more power generated means more usage, such as appliances and other items electrically powered. People are purchasing items they never had before and instead of having one air conditioner, they have four, straining the already delicate grid. Fillers would like to see some conservation practiced among people, but admitted that it is difficult to ask people to do so.

“It’s a question of time and money,” he said. “We didn’t understand what the demand would be. Nor did we realize that so many people had no access to power. That’s why the Corps is doing the full court press on this issue, but it is going to take some time. There are no quick fixes.”
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Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

nekounam said:

That's great, it's good to see that in the year 2005, the whole of the Iraqi population may soon have the running water that was available to them in 2003. But of course, these are no ordinary water treatment and distribution centers. The water that emanates from these plants, is a homogenous blend of pure Iraqi tap water, and the invaluable sweat of the hard-working executives at Halliburton. These little freedom-infused drops of salty heaven, will finally convince the Iraqi people that things are about to change for the better. Either that, or it'll merely contribute to their collective chemical imbalance.
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What do you know about freedom ?

nekounam · Aug 26, 2005

Re: Iraq - What's going on there ? Please no Revolt Posts

georgeplmr said:

What do you know about freedom ?
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Well if it means having running water, I'm set.

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

Successes in Iraq (12-18 Aug., 2005)

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/34.htm

Sine Pari · Aug 26, 2005

Kabul Police Academy Graduates First Officer Class

By 1st Lt. Leslie Brown, U.S. Air Force Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan National Police grew in ranks and capability recently as the German-led Kabul Police Academy graduated the first class of police officers from its comprehensive three-year officer training course.

The 210 new officers celebrated during a morning ceremony that emphasized their hard work and accomplishments and highlighted their new responsibilities now that they are lieutenants, or sarans.

As cadets at the academy, they studied 23 subjects during more than 3,400 hours of classroom training. Topics ranged from criminal investigations and social sciences to police tactics and operations.
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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/32.htm

Wonder why this wasn't on CNN ?

Oh no one died ? Ahh I get it

yasik19 · Aug 26, 2005

georgeplmr said:

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/32.htm

Wonder why this wasn't on CNN ?

Oh no one died ? Ahh I get it
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CNN - The Crescent News Network.

Dan Loney · Aug 26, 2005

georgeplmr said:

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/32.htm

Wonder why this wasn't on CNN ?

Oh no one died ? Ahh I get it
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Since when does CNN cover Afghanistan? If those police were chasing Natalee Holloway in Aruba, they'd have their own show by now. They've worked hard to win the "Where the White Women At?" Network title.

Dammit! · Aug 26, 2005

Dan Loney said:

They've worked hard to win the "Where the White Women At?" Network title.
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Yeah, that's why they did such a wonderful job covering the Michael Jackson trial.

PS. Just do defend CNN a little, these stories don't sell. People like tragedy. FoxNews isn't all over these stories either, although maybe they do cover them more. Journalists just lean left, it's in their nature. Might as well accept it, and do what you can to get the full story.

Demosthenes · Aug 26, 2005

georgeplmr said:

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/08_05/7.htm

I bet these kids hate us, but for totally different reasons now

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I know some schools here in the homeland that could use a little renovation.

Revolt · Aug 26, 2005

Demosthenes said:

I know some schools here in the homeland that could use a little renovation.
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Or building.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/nyregion/26newark.html

Attacking Minded · Aug 27, 2005

Clerics in the town say members of the Karabilah tribe -- allied to al Qaeda -- attacked homes of the rival Albu-Mehel tribe -- many of whom are members of Iraq's new security forces in their province of Anbar.

Witnesses from the town said the tribes were involved in intense firefights and mortar attacks in the streets. The U.S military confirmed that two tribes were fighting but had no information on casualties.

Sheikh Nuri al-Rawi, the preacher of the town's main mosque, was wounded when gunmen shot him twice outside his mosque, his aide said.

Hospital officials say they have received 20 bodies in the past day but that the death toll is likely to be much higher as tribes often perform quick burials and the hospital is in the control of al Qaeda -- leaving Albu-Mehel to send their casualties elsewhere.

The Sunni infighting comes only a few days after two Shi'ite militias battled in several Shi'ite cities including areas of Baghdad.
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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.as...01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-214138-1&sec=Worldupdates

Oddly enough, stories like this are fairly common.

Roel · Aug 27, 2005

This is all nice stuff. But the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were supposed to be about protecting US interests and winning the war on terror. So,

Where is Osama?

Are al Qaeda's numbers up or down in the past 4 years?

Has that Saudi lobbyist been fired from his White House job, yet?

What policies have been implemented to prevent further nuclear proliferation by the Pakistanis?

How is the Afghan opium crop coming this year?

..., and so on.