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November 30, 2008 at 15:04:14

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Our troops: Still slogging through the "Long War" in Iraq....

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By Jane Stillwater (about the author)     Page 4 of 5 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

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Local citizen, Sons of Iraq help take weapons off the streets

Multi-National Division - North PAO

SAMARRA, Iraq - A local citizen's tip led a Sons of Iraq leader to a large cache near Samarra Nov. 23. The Sons of Iraq leader turned the cache over to Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division for safe disposal.


"He (the Sons of Iraq leader) has proven to be one of the most reliable and trustworthy SoI leaders in our area," said 2nd Lt. Samuel Ketcham, platoon leader, Co. C, 2-35 Infantry Battalion, about the leader who turned over the most recent cache and who has been an
integral part of improved security in the local area. The cache contained 80 60 mm mortar rounds, 40 105 mm mortar rounds, 18 120 mm mortar rounds, 41 155 mm artillery rounds, three barrels of TNT,a rocket, a sniper rifle and pipes.

Sons of Iraq and local citizens have turned over more than 24 large weapons caches in the Samarra area during November, helping to take dangerous materiel off the streets and increasing security for the local population.

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New school offers hope to Nablus children

BAGHDAD -The Nablus School in northwest Baghdad's Yarmouk community opened Nov. 23. The refurbishing project, also underway in more than 200 schools in Baghdad, added six new rooms, a computer lab and a science lab in addition to the school's auditorium being refurbished at no cost by the local contractor.

"The Nablus school should be the model that the other 220 schools currently under reconstruction follow," said Dr. Nihad, Karkh District Deputy Minister of Education. The Government of Iraq has placed a high level of importance on the rebuilding and refurbishing of its educational system, said Dr.Nihad. The Nablus school, along with the refurbishing, also received boxes of paper, more than 350 backpacks and 100 informative Iraqi comic
books, distributed by members of Iraqi Security Forces and the Ministry of Education.

It was also a marquee day for Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, operationally attached to the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi National Division - Baghdad, responsible for security in the area. "The refurbishing of this school gives hope to the elementary students in Yarmouk," said 1st Lt. Nicholas Anderson, a civil military operations officer with 2nd Bn., 42nd FA Regt. "Furthermore, it demonstrates the concern for academics from the local leadership."

During the event, students who will attend the refurbished school performed for the crowd. An Iraqi band provided entertainment as well. The entertainment brought a sense of normalcy, which serves as a reminder to the Soldiers who have worked so hard in recent months to improve the standard of living for the people of Iraq. The Soldiers know they are getting the job done in their operational environments, said Anderson, and they know also know that by empowering the Iraqis, they are making the transition that much easier. "This was an outstanding Iraqi-led event," he concluded.

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Leaders discuss new change for Sons of Iraq in Diyala

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GABE, Iraq - Coalition force leaders Brig. Gen.James Boozer, Brig. Gen. James Nixon and Col. Burt Thompson, along with Iraqi Army Diyala Operations Commander Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf and the 5th Iraqi Army Division Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Bayaz Ahmed Ramaden, conducted a rehearsal and meeting to discuss the future of the Sons of Iraq at Forward Operating Base Gabe in Diyala, Iraq, Nov.26.

The main focus of the meeting was to ensure the smooth transition of the SoI program with new leadership. Currently the SoI program is managed by Coalition forces; but with the new plan, the Government of Iraq will soon assume responsibility for this program. Backing the new plan, Khalaf said, "We must ensure we get the right people for the job."

In order to implement a smooth transition, Coalition forces and Iraqi Forces have implemented a plan to register each member of the SoI. CF will provide teams for securing the registration sites, said Capt. Johnny Sutton, assistant operations officer for 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

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Stillwater is a freelance writer who hates injustice and corruption in any form but especially injustice and corruption paid for by American taxpayers. She has recently published a book entitled, "Bring Your Own Flak Jacket: Helpful Tips For Touring (more...)
 

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