By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 31, 2008 - The new commander of U.S. Central Command brings experience from Iraq that he can apply to the region as a whole, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. Gates spoke to reporters traveling with him after a stop at Kings Bay Naval Base, Ga., where he visited the Trident submarine the USS Rhode Island. Earlier in the day, he presided at the ceremony where Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey passed the CENTCOM flag to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus.
The need to integrate military and civilian efforts is a theme common to both Iraq – where Petraeus served as the commander during the surge – and Afghanistan – which is now part of his command, and Petraeus "brings a broad strategic understanding of the challenges we face," Gates said.
The secretary said that Petraeus also surrounds himself with highly talented people. Gates called the general a "magnet" for these people and he expects Petraeus will do the same at Tampa. These people "bring a lot of creativity, a lot of experience, a lot of background in this that will help him in formulating broader strategies for the entire command and specifically Afghanistan," Gates said.
Gates said that at the core of any solution in Afghanistan is the rapid expansion of Afghan military forces.
"Because this needs to be an Afghan war, not an American war and not a NATO war," he said. "There is very broad support among all the coalition partners for expansion of the Afghan National Army."
The Afghan government wants an Army of 134,000, but it may not stop there. Gates pointed out that in Iraq – a country with four million fewer people and covering a smaller geographic area – there are 1 million people involved in some aspect of national security.
The Army expansion is the long-term solution in Afghanistan, Gates said. Army Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, has asked for three more brigade combat teams for the nation. The secretary said that one of the first calls for additional troops should be to play a training role.
"I think we would be making a terrible mistake if this ends up being called America's war," he said. "This is the Afghans' war for their own country."
Afghanistan and Iraq must remain the priorities for Petraeus at Central Command, but there are a lot of other areas that need attention.
"He needs to be the one who has the overarching view, in terms of trying to put us on the same path toward success in Afghanistan, that he put us on in Iraq," the secretary said.
Gates paid Petraeus the extreme compliment of comparing him to Dwight D. Eisenhower. "One of my favorite (General of the Army George C.) Marshall quotes was about Eisenhower, whom he described as a model of a modern commander: part general, part diplomat, part administrator," Gates said. "I think that's an apt description of David Petraeus."
Gates said that the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan needs greater coherence, and he thinks Kai Eide – the United Nations ambassador who coordinates reconstruction in Afghanistan – needs more support and assets. "As an example, Kai Eide does not have a database of what all the different countries (or non-governmental organizations) are doing or spending (in Afghanistan)," Gates said.
The secretary promised Eide that the United States would start the process.
"It's going to be hard for him to get the economic piece of it and the governance piece of it more coherent if he doesn't know what everybody is doing," Gates said.
Showing posts with label rhode island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rhode island. Show all posts
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- July 23, 2008
Georgia reports two cases of anthrax
“Two cases of anthrax have been registered in western Georgia's Imereti Region, the national disease control center said on Wednesday. Two villagers from the region's Zestaponi District became infected after contact with a sick cow. ‘After putting the cow down, they discovered signs of the disease and buried the animal,’ the center's chief, Paata Imnadze, said. ‘Several days after, they were admitted to hospital with anthrax.’ Both patients are currently in a stable condition.” (RIA Novosti; 23July08) http://en.rian.ru/world/20080723/114765125.html
Bioterrorism Threat Is Disputed
“William R. Clark, the chair emeritus of immunology at the University of California, doesn't think that bioterrorism is a serious threat, right now. He just wrote a book on the politics of bioterrorism called Bracing for Armegeddon? In an interview with Matt Palmquist in May, Professor Clark explained how he really feels about reports of a bioterrorism threat […].” (About.com; 23July08; Amy Zalman, Ph.D.) http://terrorism.about.com/b/2008/07/23/bioterror-threat-is-hotly-debated.htm
FDA [Food & Drug Administration] Finds Salmonella Strain on Jalapeno Pepper
“More than 1,200 Americans have gotten sick and two people have died after eating produce contaminated with Salmonella Saintpaul. With an investigation spanning many weeks, food safety regulators have had a challenging time trying to track suspected tomatoes and peppers up or down the supply chain, hampered by paper records and repacking practices that effectively hide the identity of produce in the distribution chain. Today FDA announced an important breakthrough in the case: A Jalapeno pepper from a Mexican farm -- repacked at a Texas distribution facility -- has been found with the identical strain fingerprint of Salmonella as the human victims.” (CSPI Newsroom; 21July08) http://cspinet.org/new/200807213.html
Testimony of Jeffrey W. Runge, MD before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology
“Good morning Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee on this important and timely issue. My colleagues and I have testified before your Subcommittee on several occasions on this topic, and I appreciate your continued interest in ensuring that an outbreak of a disease, intentional or natural in origin, does not threaten our Homeland Security, economic stability, and our Nation's critical infrastructures and key resources. I am thus pleased to have the opportunity to share our views with you and your constituents through this hearing in Providence, RI.” (Homeland Security; 22July08) http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/testimony/testimony_1216677175660.shtm
Dr. Jeffrey W.] Runge [of the Department of Homeland Security] Stresses Threat of Anthrax Attack
“Al Qaeda continues to plot terror attacks that would include biological agents, and the terror group has focused specifically on the use of anthrax as a weapon, the chief medical officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told a congressional panel during a field hearing in Rhode Island Tuesday.” (HS Today; 23July08; Mickey McCarter) http://hstoday.us/content/view/4375/128/
Pentagon Slices and Dices DARPA [Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] Budget
“The Pentagon's storied research and development arm turned 50 years old this year, and its birthday present appears to be another $100 million in budget cuts, according to a Defense Department document provided to DANGER ROOM [Wired Magazine Blog Network]. Cognitive computing systems, which has previously been hit by congressional cuts, will lose another $13 million, while Network Centric Technology is sliced by $19 million. Another $18 million is being diced from biological warfare defense, and a big cut is taken out of DARPA's Electronics Technology program, which loses $26 million.” (Wired; 22July08; Sharon Weinberger) http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/07/pentagon-slices.html
Foreign-born TB [Tuberculosis] cases need better control, US says
“Tuberculosis cases continue to fall in the United States, but some immigrants have disturbingly high rates of the disease, according to a study released Tuesday that called for more aggressive action. TB rates were highest among residents from lower Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. Most drug-resistant TB cases also were from foreign-born residents, the study noted. The researchers called for wider testing, including efforts to seek out latent cases of TB from long-term immigrant residents in certain populations.” (FindLaw; 23July08; Lindsey Tanner) http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/o/1500/07-23-2008/20080723002006_17.html
Biofilms use chemical weapons
“Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig have now identified one of the fundamental mechanisms used by the bacteria in biofilms to protect themselves against the attacking phagocytes. The scientists are now publishing their findings in the renowned specialist publication PLoS ONE, together with colleagues from Australia, Great Britain and the USA – the discovery being that biofilm bacteria use chemical weapons to defend themselves.” (Nanowerk News; 23July08) http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=6491.php
EMA [Emergency Management Agency] official loses $8,300 weapons detector
“A Delaware County Emergency Management official lost a chemical weapon detector worth $8,300 last month, reporting that it fell out his truck. Delaware County sheriff's investigators reported no leads recently in the case where Jeff Evans, EMA deputy director, reported the device lost while be was driving home to Anderson. […] The device detects chemical agents such as weaponized Sarin and VX nerve gases, and also has civilian uses to detect chemical spills.” (The Star Press; 22July08)
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/NEWS01/807220318/1002
Court rejects appeal by bomb plotters
“Five men jailed last year for plotting an Al-Qaeda-linked bombing campaign lost an appeal against their convictions Wednesday.Omar Khyam, Waheed Mahmood, Jawad Akbar, Anthony Garcia and Salahuddin Amin were found guilty last April and jailed for a minimum of between 35 and 40 years for plotting to cause ‘indiscriminate death and suffering.’ […] One of the five also discussed trying to buy a radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ from the Russian mafia to be ‘bigger than 9/11’, but nothing appeared to have come from his enquiries, the trial was told.” (AFP; 23July2008) http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9D5Cxun1qXFG-qyVcoAOKWFaCNw
Is Bioterrorism Threat Credible?
“Even terrorists play pranks on WMD use these days! Late May 2008 a purported terrorist video caught media attention and some serious coverage. As per the reports, the Al Qaeda video message urged Islamic jihadists to use ‘biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.’ Experts suspecting the authenticity of the video message dismissed the threat as a prank and not ‘Qaedaesque’ enough to get scared. The big question is whether the threat of biological weapon use is real or a product of fearful future thinking? As far as terrorist groups are concerned, they not only wish to survive, but endeavor to thrive with continuous innovation and improvisation. The paucity of empirical data on terrorist use of biological weapons does not limit their future planning concerning biological weapon.” (Counterterrorism Blog; 22July08; Animesh
Roul)
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/07/is_bioterrorism_threat_credibl.php
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
“Two cases of anthrax have been registered in western Georgia's Imereti Region, the national disease control center said on Wednesday. Two villagers from the region's Zestaponi District became infected after contact with a sick cow. ‘After putting the cow down, they discovered signs of the disease and buried the animal,’ the center's chief, Paata Imnadze, said. ‘Several days after, they were admitted to hospital with anthrax.’ Both patients are currently in a stable condition.” (RIA Novosti; 23July08) http://en.rian.ru/world/20080723/114765125.html
Bioterrorism Threat Is Disputed
“William R. Clark, the chair emeritus of immunology at the University of California, doesn't think that bioterrorism is a serious threat, right now. He just wrote a book on the politics of bioterrorism called Bracing for Armegeddon? In an interview with Matt Palmquist in May, Professor Clark explained how he really feels about reports of a bioterrorism threat […].” (About.com; 23July08; Amy Zalman, Ph.D.) http://terrorism.about.com/b/2008/07/23/bioterror-threat-is-hotly-debated.htm
FDA [Food & Drug Administration] Finds Salmonella Strain on Jalapeno Pepper
“More than 1,200 Americans have gotten sick and two people have died after eating produce contaminated with Salmonella Saintpaul. With an investigation spanning many weeks, food safety regulators have had a challenging time trying to track suspected tomatoes and peppers up or down the supply chain, hampered by paper records and repacking practices that effectively hide the identity of produce in the distribution chain. Today FDA announced an important breakthrough in the case: A Jalapeno pepper from a Mexican farm -- repacked at a Texas distribution facility -- has been found with the identical strain fingerprint of Salmonella as the human victims.” (CSPI Newsroom; 21July08) http://cspinet.org/new/200807213.html
Testimony of Jeffrey W. Runge, MD before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology
“Good morning Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee on this important and timely issue. My colleagues and I have testified before your Subcommittee on several occasions on this topic, and I appreciate your continued interest in ensuring that an outbreak of a disease, intentional or natural in origin, does not threaten our Homeland Security, economic stability, and our Nation's critical infrastructures and key resources. I am thus pleased to have the opportunity to share our views with you and your constituents through this hearing in Providence, RI.” (Homeland Security; 22July08) http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/testimony/testimony_1216677175660.shtm
Dr. Jeffrey W.] Runge [of the Department of Homeland Security] Stresses Threat of Anthrax Attack
“Al Qaeda continues to plot terror attacks that would include biological agents, and the terror group has focused specifically on the use of anthrax as a weapon, the chief medical officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told a congressional panel during a field hearing in Rhode Island Tuesday.” (HS Today; 23July08; Mickey McCarter) http://hstoday.us/content/view/4375/128/
Pentagon Slices and Dices DARPA [Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] Budget
“The Pentagon's storied research and development arm turned 50 years old this year, and its birthday present appears to be another $100 million in budget cuts, according to a Defense Department document provided to DANGER ROOM [Wired Magazine Blog Network]. Cognitive computing systems, which has previously been hit by congressional cuts, will lose another $13 million, while Network Centric Technology is sliced by $19 million. Another $18 million is being diced from biological warfare defense, and a big cut is taken out of DARPA's Electronics Technology program, which loses $26 million.” (Wired; 22July08; Sharon Weinberger) http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/07/pentagon-slices.html
Foreign-born TB [Tuberculosis] cases need better control, US says
“Tuberculosis cases continue to fall in the United States, but some immigrants have disturbingly high rates of the disease, according to a study released Tuesday that called for more aggressive action. TB rates were highest among residents from lower Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. Most drug-resistant TB cases also were from foreign-born residents, the study noted. The researchers called for wider testing, including efforts to seek out latent cases of TB from long-term immigrant residents in certain populations.” (FindLaw; 23July08; Lindsey Tanner) http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/o/1500/07-23-2008/20080723002006_17.html
Biofilms use chemical weapons
“Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig have now identified one of the fundamental mechanisms used by the bacteria in biofilms to protect themselves against the attacking phagocytes. The scientists are now publishing their findings in the renowned specialist publication PLoS ONE, together with colleagues from Australia, Great Britain and the USA – the discovery being that biofilm bacteria use chemical weapons to defend themselves.” (Nanowerk News; 23July08) http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=6491.php
EMA [Emergency Management Agency] official loses $8,300 weapons detector
“A Delaware County Emergency Management official lost a chemical weapon detector worth $8,300 last month, reporting that it fell out his truck. Delaware County sheriff's investigators reported no leads recently in the case where Jeff Evans, EMA deputy director, reported the device lost while be was driving home to Anderson. […] The device detects chemical agents such as weaponized Sarin and VX nerve gases, and also has civilian uses to detect chemical spills.” (The Star Press; 22July08)
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/NEWS01/807220318/1002
Court rejects appeal by bomb plotters
“Five men jailed last year for plotting an Al-Qaeda-linked bombing campaign lost an appeal against their convictions Wednesday.Omar Khyam, Waheed Mahmood, Jawad Akbar, Anthony Garcia and Salahuddin Amin were found guilty last April and jailed for a minimum of between 35 and 40 years for plotting to cause ‘indiscriminate death and suffering.’ […] One of the five also discussed trying to buy a radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ from the Russian mafia to be ‘bigger than 9/11’, but nothing appeared to have come from his enquiries, the trial was told.” (AFP; 23July2008) http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9D5Cxun1qXFG-qyVcoAOKWFaCNw
Is Bioterrorism Threat Credible?
“Even terrorists play pranks on WMD use these days! Late May 2008 a purported terrorist video caught media attention and some serious coverage. As per the reports, the Al Qaeda video message urged Islamic jihadists to use ‘biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.’ Experts suspecting the authenticity of the video message dismissed the threat as a prank and not ‘Qaedaesque’ enough to get scared. The big question is whether the threat of biological weapon use is real or a product of fearful future thinking? As far as terrorist groups are concerned, they not only wish to survive, but endeavor to thrive with continuous innovation and improvisation. The paucity of empirical data on terrorist use of biological weapons does not limit their future planning concerning biological weapon.” (Counterterrorism Blog; 22July08; Animesh
Roul)
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/07/is_bioterrorism_threat_credibl.php
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Commander Says al-Qaida 'Virtually Destroyed' in Kirkuk
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
May 12, 2008 - Violence in Iraq's Kirkuk province Iraq has dropped by 70 percent, and coalition and Iraqi forces have "virtually destroyed" al-Qaida in Iraq in the region, the commander of the U.S. brigade combat team in the area said today. Army Col. David Paschal, commander of 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, said that as security improves in the strategic northern province, changes are happening in the economy and in governance that help cement the security progress in place.
Four developments have helped the battle against insurgents in the Rhode Island-sized province of 1.5 million, Paschal told Pentagon reporters in a teleconference from his headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The developments are:
-- Precision targeting against insurgent leadership;
-- The growing capabilities and capacities of the Iraqi police and army;
-- Establishment of a "Sons of Iraq" program, in which citizens aid in the security effort; and
-- Partnership with Kirkuk's provincial reconstruction team, composed of State Department and military personnel working along with experts from other governmental and nongovernmental agencies to aid local development.
The brigade arrived in September 2007 and has killed or captured 20 high-value targets. U.S. soldiers also captured 63 "persons of interest" in the area, the colonel said. Enemy activity began trending down in August and remains low, he added.
None of this would be possible without the improvement in the Iraqi security forces, Paschal said. Iraqi police are responsible for maintaining security in Kirkuk, a city of roughly 800,000 people. The 15th Brigade of the 4th Iraqi Army Division conducts independent, intelligence-driven operations outside the city. The Iraqi army unit has also conducted joint operations with the fledgling Iraqi air force.
The Sons of Iraq program has been a cornerstone to security in the region, he said, noting that 400 men who were part of the Sons of Iraq program from the brigade's Arab areas are graduating from two months of police training this week. They'll be reassigned to the outer district on the western side of the province.
With more security, the Iraqi people are feeling more confident, Paschal said.
"The information and actionable intelligence that they provide has grown exponentially," he said. "That actionable intelligence is in the form of the turning of caches, location of [roadside bombs] and, in many cases, instances of insurgent or terrorist leaders throughout the province," he said.
The reconstruction team helps rebuild the province and gives the Iraqis the tangible benefits of peace.
Kirkuk is the northern oil center of Iraq, and it is providing the lifeblood to the country. "Since our arrival, there has not been an interdiction on the oil pipeline," Paschal said. "In fact, we have exceeded all ... pre-war level exports. Just last month, the Northern Oil Company exported 13 and a half million barrels of oil, which has been a phenomenal increase in its capacity."
Kirkuk may turn over to provincial Iraqi control in November or December this year. "That will be based on the capability of the Iraqi security forces to maintain the security gains that we've achieved and continue to defeat the insurgents," the colonel said. "I think it all ties back into the economic opportunities that we are working in conjunction with the provincial reconstruction team."
The PRT is working with the Iraqi government in sponsoring a technical training school in the province, and it is working on an adult literacy course. The team also is encouraging outside investors to come to the province. "With the increased security, we've had some outside investors come that are interested in ... conducting some projects within the Kirkuk province," Paschal said.
The Iraqi government also is hosting a small-loans program, anywhere from about $2,500 to $10,000, which opens up small businesses. "With the increased security, what we're starting to see is some of these that I would refer to as smaller 'mom and pop' businesses that are coming back into play," Paschal said.
The challenge ahead is to sustain the new security climate, Paschal told reporters. "When we first arrived, the enemy was the al-Qaida in Iraq," he said. "We have virtually defeated al-Qaida in Iraq within the Kirkuk province. It's important that we continue to maintain the pressure."
American Forces Press Service
May 12, 2008 - Violence in Iraq's Kirkuk province Iraq has dropped by 70 percent, and coalition and Iraqi forces have "virtually destroyed" al-Qaida in Iraq in the region, the commander of the U.S. brigade combat team in the area said today. Army Col. David Paschal, commander of 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, said that as security improves in the strategic northern province, changes are happening in the economy and in governance that help cement the security progress in place.
Four developments have helped the battle against insurgents in the Rhode Island-sized province of 1.5 million, Paschal told Pentagon reporters in a teleconference from his headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The developments are:
-- Precision targeting against insurgent leadership;
-- The growing capabilities and capacities of the Iraqi police and army;
-- Establishment of a "Sons of Iraq" program, in which citizens aid in the security effort; and
-- Partnership with Kirkuk's provincial reconstruction team, composed of State Department and military personnel working along with experts from other governmental and nongovernmental agencies to aid local development.
The brigade arrived in September 2007 and has killed or captured 20 high-value targets. U.S. soldiers also captured 63 "persons of interest" in the area, the colonel said. Enemy activity began trending down in August and remains low, he added.
None of this would be possible without the improvement in the Iraqi security forces, Paschal said. Iraqi police are responsible for maintaining security in Kirkuk, a city of roughly 800,000 people. The 15th Brigade of the 4th Iraqi Army Division conducts independent, intelligence-driven operations outside the city. The Iraqi army unit has also conducted joint operations with the fledgling Iraqi air force.
The Sons of Iraq program has been a cornerstone to security in the region, he said, noting that 400 men who were part of the Sons of Iraq program from the brigade's Arab areas are graduating from two months of police training this week. They'll be reassigned to the outer district on the western side of the province.
With more security, the Iraqi people are feeling more confident, Paschal said.
"The information and actionable intelligence that they provide has grown exponentially," he said. "That actionable intelligence is in the form of the turning of caches, location of [roadside bombs] and, in many cases, instances of insurgent or terrorist leaders throughout the province," he said.
The reconstruction team helps rebuild the province and gives the Iraqis the tangible benefits of peace.
Kirkuk is the northern oil center of Iraq, and it is providing the lifeblood to the country. "Since our arrival, there has not been an interdiction on the oil pipeline," Paschal said. "In fact, we have exceeded all ... pre-war level exports. Just last month, the Northern Oil Company exported 13 and a half million barrels of oil, which has been a phenomenal increase in its capacity."
Kirkuk may turn over to provincial Iraqi control in November or December this year. "That will be based on the capability of the Iraqi security forces to maintain the security gains that we've achieved and continue to defeat the insurgents," the colonel said. "I think it all ties back into the economic opportunities that we are working in conjunction with the provincial reconstruction team."
The PRT is working with the Iraqi government in sponsoring a technical training school in the province, and it is working on an adult literacy course. The team also is encouraging outside investors to come to the province. "With the increased security, we've had some outside investors come that are interested in ... conducting some projects within the Kirkuk province," Paschal said.
The Iraqi government also is hosting a small-loans program, anywhere from about $2,500 to $10,000, which opens up small businesses. "With the increased security, what we're starting to see is some of these that I would refer to as smaller 'mom and pop' businesses that are coming back into play," Paschal said.
The challenge ahead is to sustain the new security climate, Paschal told reporters. "When we first arrived, the enemy was the al-Qaida in Iraq," he said. "We have virtually defeated al-Qaida in Iraq within the Kirkuk province. It's important that we continue to maintain the pressure."
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Security Promotes Sunni-Shiite Reconciliation
By Kristen Noel
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 28, 2008 - Security improvements have spurred reconciliation in the Madain Qada region along the Diyala and Tigris rivers in Iraq, an area that had been plagued by brutal sectarian violence, a U.S. commander there said. "We have made amazing progress along all lines of operation, but it is security that opened all the doors to allow us to get (reconciliation) going," Army Col. Wayne Grigsby, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, said during a teleconference with online journalists and "bloggers" Jan. 25.
Grigsby said his unit has conducted 166 named operations in Madain Qada province -- an area about the size of Rhode Island with a population of 1.2 million -- since April.
"These operations to date have resulted in about 149 extremists killed, 500 extremists captured, and 36 of those (captured) were high-value individuals," he said. The unit also cleared over 3,300 buildings, found 78 weapons caches and 151 improvised explosive devices through operations in Madain Qada, he said.
As a result, extremist violence against civilians in the region has decreased significantly. The murder rate has dropped from an average of 53 murders per month in 2006 to an average of nine a month over the past few months, Grigsby estimated. And there were only two kidnappings in December, compared to a peak of 22 in May, he said.
"When we arrived here, many people had fled the area," he said. "Now, we see more and more families coming back to live here."
With violence down, concerned local citizens groups are standing up to help coalition and Iraqi police forces maintain security by manning checkpoints to prevent extremists from returning, Grigsby said. "In our area, the concerned local citizens took root in Arafiyah in August," he said.
The concerned local citizen groups are setting the grounds for reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite sects in Madain Qada. "We have ... about 5,800 concerned local citizens -- 50-50 split on Shiia and Sunni -- and some of these concerned local citizens groups are both Shiia and Sunni," Grigsby explained. "It's forcing the Sunnis and the Shiia to work together."
In addition to the sects working together within the concerned local citizen groups, he said, there is still cooperation with the mostly Shiite Iraqi police force in Madain Qada in areas where these groups are mostly Sunni.
For example, Grigsby recalled, a sheikh's son was killed deterring an al Qaeda suicide bomber's attempted attack on a mostly Sunni concerned local citizens group meeting in August. "Within hours, they were working with the predominately Shiia national police, who arrested the (al Qaeda in Iraq) cell that was responsible."
He said the reconciliation between the two sects is working because of an attitude shift among people in Madain Qada.
"So what we're seeing right now is, it doesn't make a difference what team you're on. If you are threatening any people in the Madain Qada, we don't like you," he said. "The people are standing up and saying, 'We don't want the violence any more.'"
The citizens' front against violence also is deterring extremism organically, Grigsby said, because extremists count on being able to hide behind the people.
"The concerned local citizens now stood up and said, 'Stop, you can't hide behind me any more,'" he said. "So (the extremists) have to leave the area and go find another place where they don't have all the security."
(Kristen Noel works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 28, 2008 - Security improvements have spurred reconciliation in the Madain Qada region along the Diyala and Tigris rivers in Iraq, an area that had been plagued by brutal sectarian violence, a U.S. commander there said. "We have made amazing progress along all lines of operation, but it is security that opened all the doors to allow us to get (reconciliation) going," Army Col. Wayne Grigsby, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, said during a teleconference with online journalists and "bloggers" Jan. 25.
Grigsby said his unit has conducted 166 named operations in Madain Qada province -- an area about the size of Rhode Island with a population of 1.2 million -- since April.
"These operations to date have resulted in about 149 extremists killed, 500 extremists captured, and 36 of those (captured) were high-value individuals," he said. The unit also cleared over 3,300 buildings, found 78 weapons caches and 151 improvised explosive devices through operations in Madain Qada, he said.
As a result, extremist violence against civilians in the region has decreased significantly. The murder rate has dropped from an average of 53 murders per month in 2006 to an average of nine a month over the past few months, Grigsby estimated. And there were only two kidnappings in December, compared to a peak of 22 in May, he said.
"When we arrived here, many people had fled the area," he said. "Now, we see more and more families coming back to live here."
With violence down, concerned local citizens groups are standing up to help coalition and Iraqi police forces maintain security by manning checkpoints to prevent extremists from returning, Grigsby said. "In our area, the concerned local citizens took root in Arafiyah in August," he said.
The concerned local citizen groups are setting the grounds for reconciliation between Sunni and Shiite sects in Madain Qada. "We have ... about 5,800 concerned local citizens -- 50-50 split on Shiia and Sunni -- and some of these concerned local citizens groups are both Shiia and Sunni," Grigsby explained. "It's forcing the Sunnis and the Shiia to work together."
In addition to the sects working together within the concerned local citizen groups, he said, there is still cooperation with the mostly Shiite Iraqi police force in Madain Qada in areas where these groups are mostly Sunni.
For example, Grigsby recalled, a sheikh's son was killed deterring an al Qaeda suicide bomber's attempted attack on a mostly Sunni concerned local citizens group meeting in August. "Within hours, they were working with the predominately Shiia national police, who arrested the (al Qaeda in Iraq) cell that was responsible."
He said the reconciliation between the two sects is working because of an attitude shift among people in Madain Qada.
"So what we're seeing right now is, it doesn't make a difference what team you're on. If you are threatening any people in the Madain Qada, we don't like you," he said. "The people are standing up and saying, 'We don't want the violence any more.'"
The citizens' front against violence also is deterring extremism organically, Grigsby said, because extremists count on being able to hide behind the people.
"The concerned local citizens now stood up and said, 'Stop, you can't hide behind me any more,'" he said. "So (the extremists) have to leave the area and go find another place where they don't have all the security."
(Kristen Noel works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service.)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Economic Program Builds on Concerned Citizens' Success
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 18, 2008 - The concerned local citizens groups in Iraq have made a huge impact in areas that were once al Qaeda fiefdoms, and the program is expanding to include the economic aspects of the counterinsurgency fight, Army Col. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr. said today during a phone interview from Iraq. Grigsby commands the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He is responsible for an area east of Baghdad that is the size of Rhode Island.
Grigsby's area of operations contains a mix of Shiia and Sunni neighborhoods, and the concerned local citizens program has brought security. With 1.2 million people, the murder rate is now about equal with that of Detroit, the colonel said.
Coalition and Iraqi officials want to provide a means to continue progress made by the area's concerned citizens groups by establishing the Iraqi Civilian Conservation Force, Grigsby said.
The concerned local citizens man checkpoints and have developed a good working relationship with the Iraqi National Police, Iraqi army and coalition forces in the area, Grigsby said. There are roughly 4,600 members of the concerned local citizens groups in the area, all organized by local sheikhs.
Coalition officials think about 25 percent of the concerned local citizens will transfer to the local police departments or the national police.
"We have to create gainful employment for the rest," Grigsby said. "In this culture, providing for one's family is a grave matter of honor. We've known all along that the CLCs were a temporary expedient."
The Iraqi Civilian Conservation Force is based on the U.S. version formed in the early 1930's to put unemployed young men to work during the Great Depression. The Iraqi version will pave roads, conduct neighborhood sanitation and work on other infrastructure improvements.
"They will accomplish civil works projects as determined by the mayor's council and the sheikhs, and provide a way to earn an honorable living without resorting to the extremists," the colonel said.
There are around 320 men in the group now in Grigsby's area. "They will provide the template for other groups when they are ready to transfer out of the security role," he said.
In addition, the program aims to provide scholarships to concerned local citizens to attend vocational schools. Grigsby said the command is also providing funding to a local brick factory that will potentially employ 7,000 more people by spring, and they are sponsoring a small-business program that provides training and loans for people to start businesses.
With unemployment in the area around 40 percent, "We have to increase the employment rate because idle hands will attract insurgents," Grigsby said.
All of this is done in close coordination with local tribal leaders. "In this country, if you cut the sheikhs out, you might as well tell them to go work for the extremists," Grigsby said. "They have to be part of this."
The program is also beginning in other parts of Iraq.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 18, 2008 - The concerned local citizens groups in Iraq have made a huge impact in areas that were once al Qaeda fiefdoms, and the program is expanding to include the economic aspects of the counterinsurgency fight, Army Col. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr. said today during a phone interview from Iraq. Grigsby commands the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He is responsible for an area east of Baghdad that is the size of Rhode Island.
Grigsby's area of operations contains a mix of Shiia and Sunni neighborhoods, and the concerned local citizens program has brought security. With 1.2 million people, the murder rate is now about equal with that of Detroit, the colonel said.
Coalition and Iraqi officials want to provide a means to continue progress made by the area's concerned citizens groups by establishing the Iraqi Civilian Conservation Force, Grigsby said.
The concerned local citizens man checkpoints and have developed a good working relationship with the Iraqi National Police, Iraqi army and coalition forces in the area, Grigsby said. There are roughly 4,600 members of the concerned local citizens groups in the area, all organized by local sheikhs.
Coalition officials think about 25 percent of the concerned local citizens will transfer to the local police departments or the national police.
"We have to create gainful employment for the rest," Grigsby said. "In this culture, providing for one's family is a grave matter of honor. We've known all along that the CLCs were a temporary expedient."
The Iraqi Civilian Conservation Force is based on the U.S. version formed in the early 1930's to put unemployed young men to work during the Great Depression. The Iraqi version will pave roads, conduct neighborhood sanitation and work on other infrastructure improvements.
"They will accomplish civil works projects as determined by the mayor's council and the sheikhs, and provide a way to earn an honorable living without resorting to the extremists," the colonel said.
There are around 320 men in the group now in Grigsby's area. "They will provide the template for other groups when they are ready to transfer out of the security role," he said.
In addition, the program aims to provide scholarships to concerned local citizens to attend vocational schools. Grigsby said the command is also providing funding to a local brick factory that will potentially employ 7,000 more people by spring, and they are sponsoring a small-business program that provides training and loans for people to start businesses.
With unemployment in the area around 40 percent, "We have to increase the employment rate because idle hands will attract insurgents," Grigsby said.
All of this is done in close coordination with local tribal leaders. "In this country, if you cut the sheikhs out, you might as well tell them to go work for the extremists," Grigsby said. "They have to be part of this."
The program is also beginning in other parts of Iraq.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
