Members of the Iraqi Army and police department, Balad Ruz government officials and Soldiers from the 5-73 Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, join the Balad Ruz mayor, Mayor Mohamed Maroof Al-Hussein, in the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the doors to the Al Noor radio station, Dec. 18. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 21, 2006
SR# 122106-02


By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs


BALAD RUIZ, Iraq (Dec. 18, 2006) -- In a city where there is no means for releasing information to its people, coalition forces have developed a project to give the people the chance that many Americans take for granted – the privilege of free speech.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Al Noor radio station, also known as the “The Light,” located in Balad Ruz, Iraq, opened its doors to many with high hopes and happy faces from the Iraqi Army and police department, city officials of Balad Ruz and members of the 5-73 Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

“This is a great day for Balad Ruiz and its people,” said Mayor Mohamed Maroof Al-Hussein, mayor of Balad Ruiz. “I think this is a new stage for our city and a new way to serve our people.”

“This is a free station,” he continued. “The people can say what they want. The people can speak freely.”

With the help of 5-73, the civilians will now be able to here the news and get more information in their homes other than what the terrorist want to put out, said Al-Hussein.

“I remember the first night we were here [at Forward Operating Base Caldwell] and hearing Iranian broadcast in English to target the American Soldiers,” said Capt. John Pratt, Company B, 404th Civil Affairs. “These terrorists were getting their message out and the people here didn’t have a way to get their’s out.”

“This is a pro-government radio station that is to counter act what the terrorists are saying,” said the Myrtle Beach, S.C. native. “It also lets the people know what the coalition forces are doing in their area to help them.”

Pfc. Timothy Bramhall, a member of 5-73, and said this mission was one of the most important missions he had been on. Not just for the coalition forces, but for the Iraqi people, said the Bronx, NY native.

“This is a chance for the city and its officials to reach out to their people,” Bramhall said. “It is also a chance for us to let them know we are here to help them and try to make Balad Ruz a better place.”

Balad Ruz, which is primarily farm land, is currently behind in technological progress. Pratt feels this is a big chance for the government to prove to its people that changes in the economy are just waiting to happen.

“This is a primarily agricultural community and this is proof that Balad Ruz’s new government, along with the progress that is being made in Iraq, that the city is able to take that first technological step to bettering their economy,” said Pratt. “This means more jobs and growth for the community.”

After the ceremony, spectators were given a tour of the new facility and talked with the new employees. The station, which is now up and running, will start operations at 7 a.m. and end at 1 p.m., and will change its hours when employees are further trained.

Though the hopes of progress are high, Balad Ruz government officials and the coalition forces primarily hope the radio station raises awareness and the morale of the Iraqi people.

“I hope this new service will encourage other cities to start stations to better serve their people,” said Al-Hussein.

“I hope the [Iraqi citizens] feel good about this,” said Bramhall. “I hope it gives them a chance to say what they want to say. I think its better for them to hear information from their own people then from us.”

“It’s also their people getting the chance to reflect their own points of view,” he added. “It’s a chance to let those out there know that they are not alone with their views. There are others also that feel the way they feel.”
Bramhall said he hoped the Iraqi people would understand this freedom to say what they feel.

“Something we, as Americans, forget about at times – our right to freedom of speech,” he said. “They will now know what that’s like.”

“This radio station is for the people,” Pratt added. “It’s a way to put out information about what’s happening in their community to better serve the people.”
Employees of Al Noor are currently sending out flyers across the city to promote the station and begin its mission of informing the people.



Capt. John Pratt, Company B, 404th Civil Affairs and a native of Myrtle Beach, S.C., speaks with the Balad Ruz mayor, Mayor Mohamed Maroof Al-Hussein, after the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the doors to the Al Noor radio station, Dec. 18. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)



Capt. John Pratt, Company B, 404th Civil Affairs and a native of Myrtle Beach, S.C., greet members of the Balad Ruz community, along with Mayor Mohamed Maroof Al-Hussein, the mayor of Balad Ruz, after the ribbon cutting ceremony which opened the doors to the Al Noor radio station, Dec. 18. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)