Military News: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya

I have eight articles for your pleasure today and afterward, I would like to comment on Sen. Obama's knowledge (or lack thereof) of our missle defense systems. In order to keep this post clean, I will provide the title and a small summary.

IRAQ.

Iraqi National Police graduate Carabinieri training.
by MC2 Erica Gardner
MNSTC-I

BAGHDAD (Feb. 19, 2008) - Iraqi National Police graduated from the second Carabinieri-trained Iraqi National Police Course Feb. 19 at Camp Dublin in Baghdad.

More than 500 graduates were commended by Iraqi Army Gen. Babakir, chief of staff for the Iraqi ground forces; Iraqi Police Maj. Gen. Hussein, Iraqi National Police commander; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik, NATO Training Mission - Iraq commander; Italian Maj. Gen. Alessandro Pompegniani, NATO Training Mission - Iraq deputy commander; U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Phillips, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, Coalition Police Advisory Training Team commanding general; and Italian Ambassador Maurizio Melani. [Continue reading at BlackAnthem.com - Military News.]

These men have been trained by the Ministry of the Interior, and they are known as the Carabiniere (I think). These are the professionals, and they are being trained to be able to provide security and train others so that they are not dependent on foreign governments for their security.

Joint operation helps displaced families return home.
by Kirby Rider
MND-N PAO

BAQUBAH, Iraq (Feb. 20, 2008) — Families displaced from a town near Baqubah, Iraq, were escorted back to their homes by the Iraqi army and Coalition Soldiers Feb. 13 during Operation Fierce Thrasher.

Soldiers from Company F, 52nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., helped 39 families dislocated due to fear of terrorist attacks return to their homes in the town of Durah, Iraq.

“Today’s mission was to secure the village of Durah to allow the repatriation of the Sunnis into the village,” said Capt. Troy Mills, commander of Company F. [Continue reading.]

This is a great article. Not only are these families moving back home, but they are setting up a Sons of Iraq group. The people are willing to work with the Iraqi Police, Coalition Forces, and against al Qaida. Another town turned. This is a good thing not only for us but for them as well.

Iraqis rebuild power line towers in Sayafiyah.
by Luis Delgadillo
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FOB KALSU, Iraq (Feb. 20, 2008) — With assistance from coalition troops and Iraqi security forces, ministry of electricity workers are rapidly reconstructing three high-tension power line towers in Sayafiyah, 25 kilometers south of Baghdad.

Soldiers of Troop A, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and members of an Iraqi police security detail are providing security for 130 workers from the MoE rebuilding the structures, which form part of Baghdad’s ‘power belt.’

“There is a 400 kilovolt distribution ring that goes around Baghdad and this (section) is the southern part of it,” said 1st Lt. Matthew Shoop, electrical projects engineer, 2-3 Brigade Troop Battalion, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. [Continue reading.]

I do not know too much about electricity, but I do know about human behavior. Once these men were reassured of their safety, they were ready to get to work. I am proud of them.

First basic recruits graduate from IP Academy.
by Elvyn Nieves
MND-B PAO

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Feb. 24, 2008) — History was made when the inaugural class of more than 1,100 Iraqi police recruits graduated from a two-week Basic Recruit Training Course, Feb. 21, at the Furat Iraqi Police Training Academy in Baghdad.

During the initial phase of their training, the graduates successfully completed training on weapons familiarization, law, ethics, crime scene, handcuffing and various additional skills during the course. [Continue reading.]

This is outstanding! This is the largest number of volunteers I have seen yet. Some say they joined because of the violence caused by the terrorists. They want to protect their country. Very admirable.

AFGHANISTAN.

ANA adds new capability to arsenal.
by Timothy Dinneen
CJTF-82 PAO

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Feb. 19, 2008) — A new program instructing Afghan National Army soldiers to effectively provide indirect artillery fire is due to graduate its first platoon in Paktya Province Feb. 25, according to a Combined Joint Task Force-82 official.

The 21-day program instructs ANA soldiers on NATO firing tactics, techniques and procedures converting them for use with Russian 122 mm howitzers. The field artillery course focuses on fire direction and gun-line procedures allowing the ANA to compute all firing data. [Continue reading.]

I am going to admit that I do not understand indirect-fire, but these Afghan National Army soldiers are learning how to be effecient using these weapons. Once they've been trained how to use these weapons (as they do in NATO--er, huh?--), then they will be able to stay where they are. See, they usually just yank these men away whenever they need someone, and that is not good for cohesion. Oh, this is a new 'toy' for guys. (They are the same everywhere, I swear! lol)

Police grads bring 'hope and peace' for Afghan people.
by Steven Parks
ARSIC-S Public Affairs Office

A color guard of Afghan National Policemen from the Bala-Beluk district listen to a speaker during their graduation ceremony Feb. 21. (U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Votroubek)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Feb. 21, 2008) — On Feb. 21, 259 Afghan National Police from Zabul province graduated from the Focused District Development eight-week training initiative at the Regional Training Center here.

The graduation ceremony included numerous ANP and Coalition senior officers, as well as the governor of Kandahar, Assadullah Khalid, all of whom offered congratulations to the proud and well-trained graduates.

“With you graduating, it gives us hope and peace; you are the ones who stand against the bad people,” Governor Khalid said. [Continue reading.]

It appears that there are many natives graduating from training to be either police officers, national police, or Army personnel in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a good thing. It has taken many years, but there is hope that we are turning or have turned a corner. Let us pray for all of men and women to remain safe, and that they come home in one piece when it is time for them to come home. God, please watch them and protect them. Thank You. Amen.

Troops provide ton of aid to Kandahar.
Bagram Media Center.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Feb. 24, 2008) — Afghan national security forces, assisted by Coalition forces, provided medical treatment to 210 patients and provided more than one ton of humanitarian aid for 400 Afghans in Hajyano-Qala in the Arghandab District of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 19.

Kuchi elders attended a community development council recently and requested medical and humanitarian aid from the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan representatives. [Continue reading.]

I don't know why (yeah, right), but for some reason the new name of Afghanistan REALLY bothers me. Anyway, they are doing good works.

KENYA.

Vets treat hundreds of animals in Kenya.
by Michelle Halpin
CJTF-HOA.

MANDA BAY, Kenya (Feb. 16, 2008) — A Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa civil affairs team worked side by side with host nation veterinarians and other locals to vaccinate and treat more than 400 animals for various ailments during a veterinary civil action program that kicked off on Manda Island in Kenya's Lamu District, Feb. 14.

...All the animals were treated for internal and external parasites and ticks...The Manda "cattle crush" is the first of several sites the 350th CACOM FXSP and their Kenyan partners visited in the region..."It was a great first day. We (also) got to work with the Kenya Red Cross and the National Youth Service. They did a great job helping move the goats and working with the animal herdsman. I was really pleased with their [Kenyans] work ethic. They were willing to get in there and get dirty and get the herds run through. I think it's going to be a great mission," said Army Capt. Karin Hamilton, 350th CACOM FXSP veterinary corps officer...The VETCAP personnel expect to treat over 20,000 animals during their current mission, where at its peak they expect to take care of over 10,000 animals in a single day. [Continue reading.]

It is good that they made their way into Kenya. I swear I hope they did more than just take care of the animals. I love animals, but come on! There's a freakin' war going on in Keyna and the whole region. Sheesh.

Now to discuss our missle defense system. Are you aware that, according to Barack Obama, that our system does not work? Oh? Then explain to me how, HOW, did we hit a satellite moving at the speech of 15-20,000 mph that is was the size of school bus and at the point of impact hit the fuel tank which was only 14 inches at a distance of 130 miles above the earth and it only took one minute for the missle to get there? Yes, we got it. We don't know if it hit the fuel section, but daggone! What a shot! Whoohoo! Heh hem, Sen? Better go back to school, eh? lol.

Posts I've trackbacked to: 123beta: Good Stuff Wednesday. Digg!