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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

DISMOUNTED PATROL - U.S. Army 1st Lt. Steven Robinson, conducts a dismounted patrol with his soldiers in Hor Al Bosh, Iraq, July 18, 2008. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army Photos by Spc. Daniel Herrera

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Iraqis, Soldiers Make New Friends During Patrol in Suwayrah

From Multi-National Force - Iraq:

Staff Sergeant Brian Doty (left), of Orange, Va. and Cpl. Sam Weaver, of Fayetteville, N.C., both with Company B, 13th Psychological Operations Battalion, are accompanied by local children while on a foot patrol in the city of Suwayrah in northern Wasit province. Photo by Sgt. David Turner.


Wednesday, 23 July 2008
By Sgt. David Turner
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

COMBAT OUTPOST SUMMERS — Walking down the busy streets of Suwayrah at sundown, the city’s residents met Soldiers with handshakes and friendly smiles. Children gathered everywhere the Soldiers stopped to talk to residents.

As the patrol of Soldiers from 1st Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment continued on its way, the children followed, practicing their English and enjoying the early evening stroll.

“Wherever we roll, it’s like a parade,” said Sgt. Robert Delong, an infantryman from central Minnesota, whose previous deployment to Iraq was in Ramadi. This time around, he said, things are different.

Soldiers of Co. B, 2nd Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. conducted joint patrols with their Iraqi Army counterparts in the northern Wasit province. The patrol was not only a way of showing their presence, but to gather information on local businesses and to hear local citizens’ concerns.

Soldiers of Co. B’s 1st Plt. began their day with an early morning patrol in Raminiyah, along the west bank of the Tigris River, visiting Sons of Iraq checkpoints and talking with local citizens and community leaders. In the rural parts of Co. B’s area, where there are few police, the SoI help keep the roads safe and prevent insurgents and weapons from coming into the area. It’s an around-the-clock task, and many of the checkpoints have tents or shelters nearby where SoI members rest between shifts.

The Soldiers of Co. B, attached to the 1st Bn., 76th Field Artillery Regt., 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, make sure the checkpoints are manned and the SoI have what they need as part of their patrols.

Later, they met up with IA Soldiers of the 3rd Bde., 2nd IA Div. in the city of Suwayrah. After pairing up with their IA “battle buddies,” the Soldiers conducted a joint patrol on foot, taking them through the city’s main streets.

“At this stage we try to get the population on our side,” Delong said. “We try to maintain their happiness and give them things that they need. Basically, we ask them what they need, and we take notes.”

“It’s been unusual for me, because I’m not used to working with the population. This deployment, it’s candy and sunshine every day. People come out of their houses to see you. It’s been difficult for a lot of us vets to get used to. It’s just like talking to friends back home.”

Another difference Delong noted is the quiet.

“When I go to sleep, I don’t hear bombs going off. I don’t hear gunfire,” he said.

In recent years, Suwayrah has been a relative island of peace in comparison to its neighbors to the north and west. Since Company B arrived here more than two months ago, there have been no attacks aimed at Coalition forces, said Capt. Dustin Ornatowski, commander of Company B. With little insurgent or criminal activity in the area, his company’s main mission now is to help local citizens repair damaged infrastructure and build their economy, he said.

“Economics and infrastructure are the biggest problems in this area,” said Ornatowski, of Edwardsburg, Mich. “You’re always going to have leftover insurgency elements and criminal elements wherever you go. Right now, those elements are not actively fighting against us in this area,” he said.

Company B Soldiers are working to identify key leaders and find out what the communities in their area need the most. Currently, they hear mostly of the need for reliable electricity and water pumps to keep the region’s irrigation canals flowing, said Ornatowski. Many pumps are damaged or missing, and getting them running again is necessary to supply farmers in the area.

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Whodathunkit?

Fallujah KFC
Local teenagers from the Hey Al Dubat area of Fallujah, Iraq, hang out during the afternoon near a Kentucky Fried Chicken, July 16, 2008. Since the opening nearly seven months ago, the business has flourished and attracts many customers. Photo by Cpl. Chris Mann, Regimental Combat Team 1.

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In Today's News - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Quote of the Day
"Terrorists oppose nations such as the United States and Australia
not because of what we have done but because of who we are
and because of the values that we hold in common. "

-- Australian PM John Howard

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Baghdad or Bust? Iraq Looks to Promote Tourism
New Signs of Peace Continue in Amarah
Baghdad Police College Graduates Largest Class Ever of 1,698

Operation Enduring Freedom
Top Taliban Leader Surrenders to Pakistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Bin Laden driver knew 9/11 target: prosecutor
U.N.'s Ban details Hezbollah letter on prisoner swap
Bulldozer in Jerusalem rampage before Obama visit - Video

Other Military News
Navy Scraps Plans to Build More Than Two Stealth Destroyers
Police: Husband of Fort Bliss Soldier Stabbed, Raped Her

Worldwide Wackos
Chavez Claims Alliance With Russia Will Protect Venezuela
Rice to push North Korea on verifying mechanism

Politics / Government
Obama Downplays Troop Surge - BOURBON ROOM
ELECTION HQ: McCain Fights for the Spotlight
Video: OVideo: Obama still wants Iraq timetable
Obama says he'll work for Mideast peace
Candidates Pursue Proactive Health Care Approach
McCain may be zeroing in on a running mate
Roll with the punches, Rice tells ASEAN host
Sharpton's lawyers say feds have dropped tax probe
Bush asked not to commute Marion Jones' sentence
U.S. to meet three Syrians, but no warming in ties

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Murder Case Puts Sanctuary Law in Spotlight
Despite smuggling conviction, agent has no regrets

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Caylee's Mom 'Person of Interest' - VIDEO - PHOTOS
Jeffs Facing Child Sex Charges
Teen Accused of Strangling Girlfriend After Watching 'Natural Born Killers'
Christian Bale Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Mother, Sister; Actor Denies Allegation
Ex-Teacher Arrested Again for Having Sex With Teen
Bond for Missing Florida Tot's Mom Set at $500G - PICS
911 Tapes Released in Slain N.C. Mom Case
Railroad to Pay Record $102M Settlement for Wildfire
ON THE SCENE: Rosenberg Trial Resurfaces
Suspect in pregnant teen death had baby obsession

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Man Wins Divorce From Angry Wife in YouTube Video
Groups Want Michael Savage Fired for Autism Remarks
Blog: Online viewing won’t kill TV
Yahoo profit down, outlook intact; CEO set to stay
Some FCC votes cast, but no verdict on XM: Sirius
MySpace joins shared identity service OpenID

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Well-Preserved Thousand-Year-Old Mummy Found in Peru
What Your Doctor's Thinking (But Would Never Tell You)
Government to release revised US HIV estimates
Merck's magic act
FDA, CDC back Gardasil shot as safe
FDA OK of Ranbaxy drugs probed
Dark skies over Solar IPO
Nissan to test electric cars in Tennessee
California green energy proposal has thin support
California ports' pollution plan proves a big haul
Video: Beijing's anti-smog traffic cut
Commercially bred bees spread disease to wild bees
School failure harder on girls than boys: U.S. study
Day care babies gain more weight: study
Parasitic worms may help fuel AIDS epidemic: study
Viagra helps depressed women get satisfaction, too
Microsoft turns to users for new wave of Xbox games
Crowd-sourcing the e-car
Video: Anti-smoking vaccine on trial
Foreign-born TB cases need better control, US says

Mother Nature
Hurricane Dolly Takes Aim - PHOTOS - VIDEO
WEATHER BLOG: FOXCaster Janice Dean Follows Dolly
WSI ups '08 Atlantic hurricane forecast
Dolly shuts some Gulf oil, gas output
Factbox: Dolly's impact on oil
Judge Reinstates Protection for Rocky Mountain Wolves
Hundreds of Dying Baby Penguins Wash Up on Brazilian Beaches
Last Three Gorges Dam migrants evacuate as water rises
Lonesome George may end bachelor days on Galapagos
Japan feeds animals recycled leftovers

News from My Neck of the Woods
New York state passes video game labeling law

Oddities
Six-Legged Deer Recuperating After Dog Attack
Mother of Groom Stabbed in 100-Person Wedding Brawl
Pastor Injured in Dirt Bike Accident During Church Service
Largest Animal Shelter in U.S. Will House 2 Dogs Trained to Have Sex With Women
Italians Shocked After Sunbathers Relax on Beach Near Dead Bodies
Not everyone can meet our nudist standards
Court rules lesbians are not just from Lesbos
Man blows up apartment spraying for bugs?
Chavez may hug king, won't shut up
With this fake wife, I divorce thee
Video: High heel sprinters
Blogs: Oddly Enough: The Odd Blog
R.I. police say man had 0.491 blood alcohol level

Other News of Note
High-Octane TV
GAS TRACKERS
Pickens: U.S. Paying for Both Sides of Iraq War
FOXBusiness: Oil Tumbles as Hurricane Fears Ease
Karadzic arrested in Serbia, worked as doctor - Video
Karadzic encounter
Karadzic arrested posing as doctor
Arrest marks break with nationalism
Snared by spy tip and political will
Stunned, happy, Sarajevo awaits trial
Karadzic shocked West with total war
Angry Serb nationalists protest Karadzic arrest

Fox News
FDIC Chair: More Banks in Danger
FOXBusiness: Freddie, Fannie Key to Economic Turnaround
Bush Says Wall Street 'Got Drunk,' Needs to Sober Up
NBA Changes Referee Operations Amid Scandal
Pop Tarts: Megan Fox 'Eats and Seduces Everyone,' Hates Being Called Hot
Mick Fleetwood's Daughter in Critical but Stable Condition After Pool Accident
Wendy Williams Calls Omarosa 'Delusional, Pathetic' During Talk Show Spat
FOXSexpert: Can You Be in Love With More Than One Person?

Reuters
Middle class under pressure
Blog: How consumers affect earnings
Young adults face tough struggle
Video: Consumer worries rise
Full Coverage: Economy Watch
In Hollywood, bad times may be good news for TV biz
Walk of Fame gets makeover
Infrastructure could spur new stimulus: Rep
Oil falls, supporting Asia stocks; dollar firm
L.A. fast-food moratorium one step closer to reality
Infrastructure could spur new stimulus: Rep
Indian government wins confidence vote - Video
OTC market overhaul could backfire
Small Business:The lure of merchant cash advances
Asian Affairs:China's inequality looms large
Personal Finance:Marriage and money
Wachovia, other U.S. banks post dismal results - Video
Huge oil trading loss sinks energy trader SemGroup
Charles Schwab founder stepping down
Thrifty U.S. shoppers could bruise gadget maker profits - Video
United, US Airways, JetBlue post losses on fuel woes
GE, Abu Dhabi firm in $8 bln joint venture
National City trying to sell money-management unit: WSJ
United Air parent reaches deal to boost liquidity
"Golden Girls" star Estelle Getty dies at 84
Christian Bale denies assault allegation - Video
Disney names new hosts to replace Ebert and Roeper
Hollywood's Walk of Fame gets makeover, new "star"
Batman film nears $200 million after first weekend - Video
Video: Batman star talks to police
Stuck in Jakarta traffic? Hop on a limobike
Menswear goes loose and easy on NY fashion runways
School failure harder on girls than boys: U.S. study
George Michael's tip for Obama -- run with Clinton
New Orleans museum exalts the art of the cocktail
Video: Make your own souvenirs
Humble U.S. look to charm their way to gold
Phillies stun Mets in ninth to grab NL East lead
Spurs re-sign forward Kurt Thomas
Top players want World Series ring, not medal
Djokovic opens Toronto title defence in style

Associated Press
Phillies rally for 6 runs in 9th to beat Mets
LeBron leaves Team USA practice with ankle sprain
AP IMPACT: Traffic deaths fall as gas prices climb
A-Rod signs with William Morris talent agency
Wachovia loses $8.9B, cuts 6,350 workers, dividend
Oil market bill's future dim despite big vote
Mets closer Wagner has muscle spasm near shoulder
Rescue of mortgage giants could hit $25 billion
Paulson says financial stability is top priority

News Blaze
PHOTOS: Locked and Cocked
PHOTO: MND-B CG talks with Killeen Muslim Leaders
Soldiers' Angels and Patriot Guard
Iraq News
Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM
Iraqis gain responsibility for security in Qadasiyah
Mullen: Timeline for drawdown would be dangerous
Gates: Pakistan must do better job near border
General says Iran launch justifies missile defense
Marines strengthen relationships through medical care

USJFCOM
Conference to foster medical advancements in Anbar province
Business grows in Ramadi with USJFCOM-provided task force assistance
Task Force Ramadi helping to restore water in the desert
USJFCOM demonstration aims to enhance combat identification amongst coalition forces
USJFCOM hosts Keystone course for command senior enlisted leaders - podcast
New USJFCOM-funded close air support capability takes off at China Lake - podcast

Multi-National Force - Iraq
2,000 Baghdad Residents, Businesses Receive Quality Water
IED attack wounds 11 in Mosul
MND-B Soldiers detain known Special Groups criminal in Abu T’shir
Iraqi soldiers detain 3 suspected criminals in Haideriya
5 local citizens killed in Diyala blast
Iraqi Police find surveillance camera under bridge (Baghdad)
Reconciliation efforts taking shape in Ninewa province

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Mullen: Readiness Starts with Families

MILITARY NEWS

Pentagon Leader Praises Diversity
Integration Brought Strength, Credibility
Air Force Captain Earns Olympic Berth
Texas Guard Gears Up as Storm Nears

IRAQ NEWS

Najaf Airport Gives Boost to Southern Provinces
Library Kiosk Bound for Camp Victory Troops
Coalition Captures Alleged Cell Leader, 13 Others

AFGHANISTAN NEWS

Afghan Forces Hold Key to Success, General Says
Team Supports Reconstruction of Health System

FACE OF DEFENSE

Infantryman Rejoins Army

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU

Couples to Wed with Hollywood's Help

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
0636 - Arabs take control of most of Palestine from the Byzantines.
1253 - Jews are expelled from Vienne, France on the order of Pope Innocent III .
1298 - Jews are massacred at Wurzburg, Germany.
1798 - Napoleon captures Alexandria, Egypt.
1877 - Cincinnati Southern becomes the first US municipal railroad.
1886 - Steve Brodie supposedly jumps off the Brooklyn Bridge and lives to tell the tale.
1904 - At the Louisiana Purchase Expo, Charles E. Menches creates the ice cream cone.
1914 - Austria-Hungary issues the ultimatum to Serbia that will lead to WWI.
1920 - Kenya becomes a British colony.
1931 - France announces they can't afford to send a team to the 1932 Olympics (LA).
1940 - The "Blitz" begins with an all-night raid on London.
1944 - U.S. forces invade Japanese-held Tinian.
1947 - 1st (US Navy) air squadron of jets, Quonset Point, RI.
1952 - General Neguib seizes power, ending the monarchy in Egypt.
1956 - The Bell X-2 rocket plane sets a world aircraft speed record of 3,050 kph.
1958 - The British House of Lords sees the first four women named to peerage.
1964 - The Egyptian munition ship "Star of Alexandria," an Egyptian munitions ship, explodes dockside, killing 100, injuring 160, and causing $20 million of damage.
1974 - The Greek military dictatorship collapses.
1978 - Israel rejects Egypt's call for the return of parts of Sinai.
1980 - Billy Carter admits to being paid by Libya.

This Day in Terrorism
1968 - The PLO hijacks an El Al plane for the first time.
1977 - A Washington jury convicts 12 Hanafi Moslems on hostage charges.

Holidays
Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Oman - National Day (1952)

Birthdays
1888 - Dr. Milan Stoyadinovich Serbia, fascist, Yugoslavina PM
1892 - Haile Selassie emperor of Ethiopia
1919 - Pee Wee Reese, baseball great
1927 - Elliot M. See Jr., astronaut
1936 - Anthony M. Kennedy., U.S. Supreme Court Justice
1947 - Don Imus, radio personality
1950 - Kaity Tong, news anchor (WABC-TV NYC)

Passings
1844
- Christian Gobrecht, 4th U.S. chief engraver
1885 - Ulysses S. Grant, 18th U.S. President

Reported Missing in Action
1962

Matagulay, Roque S., US Army (CA); interred by the Japanese as a child on Guam, "Atomic Soldier", also exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, captured while out with a hunting party, released December, 1962 - deceased December, 1999.

1966
Newsom, Benjamin, USAF (USVI); F105F shot down, remains returned March, 1974

Pemberton, Gene Thomas, USAF (MO); F105D shot down

Smith, William W., USAF (AR); O1E shot down, KIA, body not recovered

1968
Gosen, Lawrence D., USN (MN); A4F impacted water and exploded immediately following launch, KIA, body not recovered

1972
Shank, Gary Leslie, USN (KS); A7B shot down, KIA, remains returned July, 1984

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