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Saturday, January 21, 2006

HOOAH!

Army Staff Sgt. Clarence Hutton watches an intersection in Sadr City, Iraq, as he provides security for other soldiers on Jan. 12, 2006. Hutton is attached to the Army's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, deployed to Iraq from Fort Campbell, Ky. DoD photo by Spc. Teddy Wade, U.S. Army.


U.S. Army soldiers from Alpha Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division prepare to unload two armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozers from their carriers at Al Butoma, Iraq, on Jan. 11, 2006. The soldiers will use the bulldozers to construct berms for security in Al Butoma. DoD photo by Spc. Jose Ferrufino, U.S Army.

CORDON AND SEARCH — Iraqi forces and U.S. troops conduct a a cordon and search operation in Hadem Mutleg, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2006. The Iraqi soldiers are assigned to the 9th Mechanized Brigade, and the U.S. soldiers are assigned to the 4th Infantry Division. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Charles W. Gill


Army Staff Sgt. John Newland helps an Afghan boy try on new boots in Zanto Kalay, Afghanistan, on Jan. 11, 2006. U.S. Army soldiers are bringing medical assistance, donated winter jackets, sweaters, blankets, and food to the people of Zanto Kalay during a medical outreach program. Newland is attached to the Army's 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion. DoD photo by Sgt. Andre' Reynolds, U.S. Army.


U.S. Army Military Police discuss the wreckage as they assist Iraqi firefighters and policemen at the site of a bus destroyed by a suicide vehicle born improvised explosive device in Baquaba, Iraq, on Jan 2, 2006. The soldiers are attached to the 978th Military Police Company deployed from Fort Bliss, Texas. DoD photo by Pfc. Danielle Howard, U.S. Army


Army 1st Lt. Ruben Vazquez treats a patient at the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Jan. 5, 2006. The Department of Defense is supporting the State Department by providing disaster relief supplies and services following the massive earthquake that struck Pakistan and parts of India and Afghanistan. DoD photo by Airman 1st Class Barry Loo, U.S. Air Force

Molding Iraq's Future


By Claude D. McKinney
Gulf Region North
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Dahuk, Iraq - Within a community, the activities occurring in two specialized types of buildings hold great sway and influence for the residents of the community - they are schools and religious structures. Because of the influence a school can have on the current and future society, it is important to the reconstruction of Iraq to provide sound lasting facilities that will positively influence the future of this country for years to come.

The Kovak Primary School in the Dahuk District is one of those buildings. This 12-classroom school was newly constructed from the ground up. A year in the making, it is now complete and ready to house 36 teachers and about 825 students.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had contract over watch of this project.

“The Dohuk Resident Office has managed several different types of projects throughout Northern Iraq, but the school construction and renovations are special... they make you smile. I’ve never seen children so excited to go to school,” said Derek Walker, project engineer.

“You can see the future of not just the country, but perhaps the world, in the happiness of the faces of these children who long to enter them. I can honestly say I know we’ve made a difference in their lives,” he said.

Walker is no stranger to these efforts, he has aided in the renovation or construction of 30 schools, in Iraq. He is on his second deployment in two years.

In his normal, humble manner, Walker credited others for this success.

“I refuse to take credit for this completion as it has been a team effort, as all of our projects are. Without the support, oversight and coordination of our local Iraqi architect, and our quality control engineer, Tommie Lemons, the local government, and so many others, the experience would have been terribly difficult,” he said.

Now that the school construction is complete, it is expected students will arrive and attend class in September 2006.

Many schools in Iraq hold classes in two shifts each day. As the class sizes grow to meet the school’s capacity, this will surely be the case at this school.

Story from CENTCOM
HOT JOB ? A U.S. Marine engineer with II Marine Expeditionary Force welds fabricated support structures in Camp Fallujah, Iraq, Jan. 12, 2006. Marines are conducting counter-insurgency operations with Iraqi Security Forces to isolate and neutralize anti-Iraqi forces, support the continued development of Iraqi Security Forces, and support Iraqi reconstruction. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryson K. Jones

In Today's News - Saturday, January 21, 2006

Quote of the Day
"If officers desire to have control over their commands,
they must remain habitually with them,
industriously attend to their instruction and comfort,
and in battle lead them well."
-- Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

News of Note
Rescuers Drill Into West Virginia Mine
Governor pledges reform
Fast Facts: Alma Mine Fire
Congress to Examine Mine Safety
Sago Mine Survivor in Light Coma
Video: Miners' Press Conference
Video: Rescue Operation

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Muslim Group Calls for Hostage Writer's Release
Bomb wounds 5 on Iraq president's staff
Muslim Group to Call for Writer's Release
Spate of Violence Kills 8 Iraqis and Brit

Homeland Security / War on Terror
TSA Planning to Privatize Airline Security Program
Bush Takes On NSA Critics
Analysts Scour Bin Laden Tape for Clues
Oklahoma bombing witness leaves prison
Pakistan PM: No Evidence of al-Qaida Dead
Purported Tape of Al-Zawahri Posted on Web
Pakistan: U.S. Airstrike Can't Be Repeated

Supreme Court
Frist calls Alito Democrats' "nightmare"

Oddities
Sex change saves prostitute from caning
Woman arrested in "kill for a job" case

Other News of Note
Man Who Shot John Paul II Back in Jail

Fox News
Kosovo President Dies of Lung Cancer at 61
Iranian President Meets Palestinian Leaders
Police Chief's House Torched
Celebrity Coroner Indicted
SPORTS NEWS AND SCORES

Reuters: Top News
Japan consumers worry about U.S. beef after new ban
Zawahri praises Afghan fighters - Play Video
Birds slaughtered in Iran
Snow halts China's railways
Verizon offers to buy $1.98 bln of MCI debt
Disney board set to meet amid Pixar merger talk
Chipotle brings some spice to IPO calendar
Google shock as shares fall nearly 10 percent
Abbott, Boston shares off on J&J patent threat
Kindred, others dive after Medicare freeze warning
Motorola shares fall on revenue miss
Bomb wounds 5 on Iraq president's staff
Bird flu confirmed in deaths of 2 Indonesian children
New York transport workers vote down contract
Rove tells Republicans to run on Bush's record
Fears rise for whale stranded in London's River Thames
Lebanese stay away from Syria as tensions rise
Bird flu virus survives for days in droppings: WHO
Anti-diabetes drugs may have a down side

AP World News
Nepalese Police End Protests With Tear Gas
Palestinian Security Forces Begin Voting
Group: Chinese Police Detain Activists
Poll: Australians Don't Want King Charles
Morales to Seek Blessing From Andean Gods
Iraq Shiites Win Vote but Must Share Power
U.N. Warns of Landslides in Pakistan
All 42 Bodies Recovered From Slovak Crash
Iran Pulling Foreign Reserves From Europe
Deadly Cold Blankets Most of Russia
Wen Warns China's Rural Situation Unstable

Military.com
Deadline for Reporter Passes
Bin Laden Tape Searched for Clues
F-22 Rated 'Mission Capable' By Air Force
Jury to Deliberate Army Court Martial
Army Signs Emergency Body Armor Contract
Air Force Wants to Speed Tanker Program

CENTCOM: News Releases
DRIVE-BY SHOOTING KILLS 12, TWO TAKEN HOSTAGE
CADETS FIRST TO GRADUATE FROM YEAR-LONG MILITARY TRAINING
COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATION IN HIT
APPROXIMATELY 500 SECURITY DETAINEES RELEASED FROM ABU GHRAIB

Department of Defense
Officials Reach Out to Uneasy Iraqis - Story
General Predicts Fewer Sunni Terrorist Ties - Story Video
Iraqi, U.S. Troops Repulse Insurgent Attacks - Story
Cheney: Terrorists Target U.S., Americans - Story Transcript

ON THE GROUND
Iraqi Police Graduates Positive Sign for Future - Story
Iraq’s Baquba Maternity Hospital Now Delivers - Story

IN IRAQ
Marine Unit Celebrates 55th Birthday in Iraq
Mess Night Gives Marines Chance to Unwind
Soldiers Take Out Snipers in Salah Ad Din
Millions Get First Tap Water in Eight Years

IN AFGHANISTAN
Windmills Provide Water Source for Farmers
Vendor Day Educates Business Leaders
CENTCOM Air Forces Chief Visits Troops

FACE OF DEFENSE
Air Force Husband, Wife Serve in Balad - Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Capitals Show Military Appreciation - Story Photos
Grassroots Groups Attend Event
DAV Educates Troops About Benefits

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Iraqi Forces Move Foward Video
Body Armor Continues to Improve
U.S., Iraq Begin Ops in Anbar
Pentagon Looks Into Helo Crashes
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (pdf)
Multinational Force Iraq
Eye on Iraq Update (pdf)
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (pdf)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Police Discuss Internal Security
Security Force Members Demobilize
Afghan Troops Aid Bomb Victims
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Charges Referred to Commission
Bush Meets Saddam's Victims
Americans Must Understand
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Vets Rate VA Health Care Highly
Military, Diplomats Need 'Jointness'
Soldiers Get Reimbursed for Gear
Bush, German Leader Discuss Iran
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualty - Story

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

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