IRAQ WAR TODAY
Keep Your Helmet On!




Be A Part of a Tribute to Fallen Heroes - Help Build the Fallen Soldiers' Bike
Help support the families of our deployed Heroes - Visit Soldiers' Angels' Operation Outreach
Help Our Heroes Help Others - Click Here to visit SOS: KIDS
Nominate your Hero for IWT's "Hero of the Month" - click here for details!
Search Iraq War Today only

Wednesday, June 13, 2007


HELPING HANDS
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle Harper, a truck leader with Military Police Company, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, hands a bottle of water to an Iraqi child in Al Qam, Iraq, June 5, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael J. O'Brien

Labels: , , , , ,

West Baghdad Market Thrives During Troop Surge


U.S. Army Capt. Brian McCall (left) questions a local merchant in the Hateen Market of western Baghdad. McCall, the commander of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, is joined by Maj. Raheem Kinyab, commander of 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 6th Iraqi Army Division. The two commanders conducted a combined patrol of the Hateen Market in order to assess commerce and security. U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Neil Rice



New security measures result in a resurgence of economic growth.

By 1st Lt. Brian Cooke
2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment

BAGHDAD, June 13, 2007 — Adjusted security measures have resulted in a resurgence of economic growth in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Hateen. A local market has seen a resurgence of activity as Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces give way to shopkeepers, and fear gives way to progress.


“Just a week ago, half of these stores were closed, and the ones that were open had owners who only wanted to complain to Col. Ali and I."
— U.S. Army Capt. Brian McCall
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, have teamed up with members of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army to find a way to stimulate business in the Hateen Market while still maintaining security.

As a result, economic activity in the market has increased, fostering better relations between local merchants and the Iraqi Army.

The market, located in the southeastern Mansour neighborhood of Hateen, is the economic center of the area and its activity is directly tied to the economic prosperity of the residents.

Markets in Baghdad have long been a favorite target of suicide bombers, and the previous Iraqi Army unit in Hateen worried that the market there might be next in the long line of attacks committed by insurgents. With its three blocks of grocery stores, butcher shops, cafes, and vegetable stands, the Hateen Market presented a security problem for 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Infantry Division.

In response to this problem, the Iraqi battalion blocked the roads leading into the market with concertina wire and concrete and sand-filled barriers. The concertina wire and concrete kept suicide bombers at bay, but it also limited
pedestrian access to the market. As a result, sales plummeted and a large number of proprietors closed their shops.

The local merchants were distraught by the decline in customers, and requested that the Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces find a way to secure their market without limiting pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

The new Iraqi Army battalion commander, Col. Ali Al-Obaydi, made fixing the situation in the Hateen Market his top priority. On May 21, Col. Ali toured the market, along with Maj. Jim MacGregor, 2-32 FA’s executive officer, and Capt. Brian McCall, commander of Battery A, 2-32 FA.

Together, the three leaders engaged local merchants about the status of commerce in the market and asked the shop owners what could be done to stimulate business. Most of the owners agreed that the Iraqi Army needed to remove the concertina wire and abandon its blocking position to allow local residents easier access to the market.

They also asked that Coalition Forces conduct regular combined patrols of the market with Iraqi Army units. Within one week, the blocking position was unmanned and the concertina wire was removed. Business in the market immediately picked up. Soldiers from 2-32 FA regularly patrol through the market with Iraqi Army troops, and local merchants greet both forces with smiles and, many times, an offer of a cold drink or snacks.

“It was unbelievable,” remarked McCall, following a patrol of the market a week after his tour with Col. Ali. “Just a week ago, half of these stores were closed, and the ones that were open had owners who only wanted to complain to Col. Ali and I. A week later, I felt like I was walking through a completely different market. The shops were all open. The merchants seemed happy, and best of all, there were customers everywhere.”

McCall added that his unit, in conjunction with 2-5-6th IA, will continue to evaluate economic activity in the market. He said they are currently planning an advertising campaign that will use billboards to highlight the security of the market.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


INVESTIGATION — An Iraqi army and a U.S. Army soldier engage a local citizen in a building nearby the mosque in Old Baqubah, Iraq in Diyala province, June 9, 2007. Local citizens assisted soldiers in finding information about al Qaeda terrorists involved in an earlier firefight. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army

Labels: , , , , ,

In Today's News - Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Quote of the Day
"We need to know that everyone is doing their part,
and they need to feel appreciated for doing it.
[Lack of combat service] does not mean that someone
is not totally involved in this war [on terror]."
- Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Arrests in Shrine Blast - VIDEO - PHOTOS
U.S. tries to temper expectations on Iraq progress
Pentagon: Iraqi violence still rising
Military.com Op-ed: Increased Airstrikes a Bad Sign
Miliary.com DT: The Frogman Speaks
Military.com Shock: Training the Iraqi Police

Operation Enduring Freedom
U.S. to discuss Afghanistan, missile defense at NATO
Gates: Taliban getting weapons from Iran

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Anti-Syrian Lawmaker Killed - PHOTOS
Hamas Pounds Fatah - VIDEO - PHOTOS
Hamas tightens grip on Gaza, 33 dead - Video

Fallen Heroes
Fort Hood Soldier Died of Hyperthermia

Other Military News
Navy Bans Private Body Armor

Religion(s) of Peace??
Religious extremists in 3 faiths share views: report

Worldwide Wackos
In Iran, 'Til Contract Expiration Do Us Part

Politics / Government
Harriet Miers Subpoenaed in Firings Probe
Congress subpoenas two former Bush aides
Louisiana Town: Pants Up or Pay Up
Bush job rating hits record low in NBC/WSJ poll
McCain campaign attacks Romney on abortion
China blasts Bush tribute to victims of communism
Barak wins leadership of Israel's Labor Party - Video
House tempers background checks for guns
McCain says he'll fight Clinton's 'pork'

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Senators work to revive immigration bill

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Cops: Teacher Had Relationship With 16-Year-Old
Man Guilty in Match.com Sex Case
Report: 911 Operators Refused Aid to Woman Left to Die on L.A. ER Floor
Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Exposing Woman to HIV
Florida Principal in Jail After Buying Crack Cocaine at School
Las Vegas Police Kill Woman Waving Knife at Motorists With Child In Hand
Bones Found During Search for Missing Illinois Mom Lisa Stebic
3 Adults Charged in Baseball-Bat Beating Death of Missouri Teen
Police: Child Tied in Hot Car While Parents Finished Meal
Woman Charged With Murder After Trying to Blame Her Son
Infanticide, Abortion Responsible for 60 Million Girls Missing in Asia
Police Chief Shot in Back, Killed by Suspect
Five-Finger-Discounts on Rise at Wal-Marts
Escaped inmate who cheated David Letterman nabbed
Portuguese police search for British girl near resort
Rapper The Game rejects plea deal
Fla. women sue 'Girls Gone Wild' creator
No prints found on gun in Spector case

U.N. News
U.N. Mideast line swayed by U.S., Israel: ex-envoy

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Rather Not: Katie Couric's Producer Defends Her
Actress Makes Big Waves on the Net With 'Fat Rant' Video
EU lauds Google data retention limit

Science / Medicine / Technology
Beware Toxic Toothpaste
Researchers Use Protein to Reverse MS
Doctors ID Early Signs of Ovarian Cancer
Atlantis Spacewalk - PHOTOS
School-based obesity prevention promising
Quality of care rises with more medical conditions
Dual explosions marked death of huge distant star
Human instruction book not so simple: studies
China aims to top U.S. in cyberspace: U.S. general
Food grease to fuel cars in California
Spacewalk for shuttle repair set for Friday
Government urges pandemic flu preparations
Panel rejects new weight-loss drug
Remains of giant dinosaur found in China
Kellogg to raise nutrition of kids' food

Mother Nature
Nineteenth-Century Harpoon Found in Live Whale
Strong quake rocks Central America; buildings shake

News from My Neck of the Woods
Haitian Soccer Team Vanishes in Big Apple - Seven of 18 players missing in New York

Oddities
Teacher Resigns After Garter-Belt Pose
Step on it! Man drives down Rome tourist treasure
Bush robbed? Not on my watch! - Video

Other News of Note
Injured U.S. Explorer Clinging to Life After Cement Block Crashes Through Car Windshield

Fox News
NEWS IN PICTURES: The Day in Photos
Girls Want Men Who Look Like Fathers
Paris Hilton's Parents Skip Line to Visit Her in Jail
Pop Tarts: Britney Spears Has Double Wardrobe Malfunction

Reuters: Top News
America explores Riesling, the "other white wine"
Bostonians walk to work, Portlanders cycle, but most drive
McCartney's Starbucks album heats up U.S. charts
Nikkei up 0.6 percent
Stocks soar on bond yields' retreat and data
CSC profit up, shares fall after revenue miss
Beverly Hills Bancorp explores sale, shares soar
Dollar hovers near 4-1/2-year high vs yen
Reuters Investment Outlook Summit
Yields could pinch emerging currencies
Video: Short-term upside for U.S. dollar
Disagreement over foreclosure number
Fed sees expanding economy
ICE bid for CBOT faces uphill battle, analysts say
Jones Apparel nearing sale of Barneys: reports
Retail sales, import prices surge
Investors split on "say-on-pay" at companies
Goldman, JPMorgan take minor Blackstone IPO roles

AP World News
Ruth Graham in a coma, close to death
Spurs spurn elite talk, brace for sweep
Mom: Spears 'just figuring things out'
Earnhardt to join Hendrick Motorsports
Wall Street rebounds, Dow up 187 points
Retail sales up 1.4 percent in May
Dalai Lama tours zoo of late Steve Irwin

Military.com
Proposed Military Pay Charts for 2008
World's Largest Veteran Job Board
Video News Coverage

CENTCOM: News Releases
COALITION, AFGHAN FORCES RETURN FIRE IN NAGARHAR
THREE MILITANTS DETAINED IN KHOWST
ONE SECRET CELL TERRORIST KILLED, TWO DETAINED
FOUR DETAINED IN JOINT RAID
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES THWART SUICIDE CAR BOMB ATTACK
SIX EXTREMISTS KILLED, 19 OTHERS ARRESTED DURING OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT DIYALA
SUSPECTED AL QAEDA SNIPER DETAINED IN FALLUJAH; 16 SUSPECTED INSURGENTS DETAINED IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE
FAILED TRUCK BOMBER TREATED, TALKING
TWO MINARETS AT THE GOLDEN MOSQUE IN SAMARRA DESTROYED
DETAINEE DIES FROM INDIRECT FIRE ATTACK RELATED INJURIES
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES THWART SUICIDE CARE BOMB ATTACK
JOINT STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKE AND GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS ON THE ATTACK ON THE ASKARI MOSQUE IN SAMARRA
BOMB CELL TERRORISTS CAUGHT RED-HANDED
AL-QAEDA MILITARY EMIR OF MOSUL KILLED
IRAQI FORCES DETAIN 15 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN WESTERN MOSUL
SPARTANS DETAIN 24, ARREST THREE
TWO SUSPECTS DETAINED, WEAPONS CACHE FOUND IN BAGHDAD
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR JUNE 12
205TH ANA CORPS SOLDIERS DEFEAT ENEMY FIGHTERS IN ZABUL AND KANDAHAR
209TH AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY CORPS SOLDIERS BATTLE ENEMY FIGHTERS IN KANDAHAR

USJFCOM
USJFCOM Transformation Advisory Group helps command shape future
More about the Transformation Advisory Group - podcast
Joint Transformation Command - Intelligence welcomes new commander
More about Joint Transformation Command - Intelligence - podcast
Regional Cooperation 07 begins
Transformational program demonstrates developing logistics support concept

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Soldiers seize, destroy bomb factory
Estonian Minister of Defense visits “Stone Platoon” at Camp Taji
First LAR Marines always on watch
‘Golden Dragons’ foil truck bomb attack
B-Roll of Maliki and Odierno surveying site of Al-Askariya Mosque bombing on DVIDS

DefenseLink
Gates to Discuss Afghanistan, Missile Defense
Officials Urge Calm in Iraq After Mosque Attack
Explosions Destroy Minarets at Golden Mosque
Secretary Discusses Iran, Samarra Bombing
Iraq Report Cites Progress, Challenges
Report: Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq
As Iraqi Forces Grow, So Will Skill Levels, Unity
Special Operations Growth Can Be Managed

More Headline News
Pace Stresses Noncommissioned Officers’ Role
Half of Iraq’s Electricity Demand Would Be Met
National Veterans Wheelchair Games Next Week
Extended Deployments Set Growth Conditions
Prosthetic Technician ‘Pulls’ for Troops

Military News
Exchange Offers Calling Cards for Father’s Day
Air Force Awards First Combat Action Medals
Army Path Takes Amputee Soldier to Forefront of Care
Military, Hollywood Team Up on Big Screen

War on Terror
Coalition Kills, Detains Terrorists
Afghan, Coalition Leaders Meet
Soldiers, Marine Killed in Iraq
11 Held; Bomb Factory Seized
Over 24 Enemy Fighters Killed

America Supports You
Group is Keystone of Support
'Operation Homelink' Grows
Letters Boost Troop Morale
Group’s Mission is Giving Back

Transformation
Medical Models Cut Time, Risk for Walter Reed Patients
Designer Finds Challenge in Medal
Navy Commissions USS Kidd
Meeting Focuses on Transformation

Face of Defense
Soldier Serves Many Roles
Brothers Meet in Iraq
Father, Son Seek Out Iraq
Katrina Survivor Joins Marines
F-16 Pilot Lauded

DefendAmerica
ON THE GROUND
Marines Train Servicemembers in Martial Arts - Story
Baghdad Market Thrives During Troop Surge - Story
Eye Doctors Bring Things into Focus at Kalsu - Story
Prep Course Prepares Iraqis for Police Work - Story

IN IRAQ
‘Dragon’ Soldiers Seize, Destroy Bomb Factory
Marines Kick off Operation Alljah in Iraq
Iraqi Troops Lead Security Searches in Baghdad
Marines Execute Counterinsurgency Operations

IN DJIBOUTI
Djibouti Boys Orphanage Receives Donation
Navy Exchange Brings More, Varied Products

IN AFGHANISTAN
Medical Outreach Brings Care to Afghans
Airmen Bring Hospital to Wounded In Afghanistan

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

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

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
1774
- Rhode Island becomes the first colony to prohibit the importation of slaves.
1777 - Marquis de Lafayette lands in the U.S.
1866 - The 14th Amendment passes the House (due process).
1888 - The Department of Labor is created.
1927 - NYC welcomes Charles Lindbergh with a ticker-tape parade.
1940 - Paris evacuates ahead of the German advance.
1942 - The first V-2 rocket launched (Germany) reaches 1.3 kilometers.
1944 - Nazi Germany begins V-1 (Fieseler Fi-103) buzz-bomb attacks.
1966 - The Supreme Court rules that a suspect must be informed of his / her rights (Miranda decision).
1967 - Thurgood Marshall is nominated as the first black Supreme Court justice.
1980 - Representative John Jenrette Jr. (SC) is indicted in the "Abscam" investigation.
1981 - A teenager fires six blanks at Queen Elizabeth II.
1982 - Fahd becomes king of Saudi Arabia following the death of King Khalid.
1983 - Pioneer 10 becomes the first man-made object to leave the Solar System.

Birthdays
40 - Gnaeus Julius Agricola Roman general; conquered Wales, No. England
823 - Charles II (the Bald) king of France (843-77), emperor (875-77)
1786 - Winfield Scott American army general/presidential candidate
1911 - Luis W Alvarez physicist (Nobel-1968)
1945 - Ronald J Grabe NYC, Col USAF/astronaut (STS 51-J, STS 30, STS 42)

Passings

323 -BC- Alexander the Great dies of fever at Babylon
1886 - King Ludwig II of Bavaria drowns
1977 - Tom C Clark former Supreme Court Justice, dies in NY at 77

Reported Missing in Action
1966

Burkart, Charles W., USAF (NY); B57 disappeared in bad weather

Gierak, George G., Jr., USN (NY); RA3B shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Glantville, John T., Jr., USN (NJ); RA3B shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Kerr, Everett O., USAF (MA); B57 disappeared in bad weather

Lurie, Alan P., USAF (OH); F4C shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Lambton, Bennie R., USN (IN); RA3B shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Pyle, Darrel E., USAF (CA); F4C shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - killed in plane crash in AK, 1974

1968
Carter, James D., US Army (MI); UH1D collided with USAF O2, remains returned 1993, ID'd September, 1995

1969
Story, James C., US Army (IL); convoy ambushed, KIA, body not recovered

Ward, Neal, USAF (TX); A1H crashed

1972
Fulton, Richard J., USAF (AZ); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973

Hanson, Gregg O., USAF (IL); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Labels: ,

Posting Delay Today...

Whole lot of stuff to do this morning, so posting will be up later this afternoon.


While you're waiting for me to get back to the computer, why not stop at Michael Yon's site for the latest installment in the "Death or Glory" series:

"The shepherds know every rock and cranny out there, and they know where the explosives are. Treat those shepherds bad, and soldiers get blown up. Treat them with humanity and respect, and they can be business partners."

Labels: , ,

nocashfortrash.org