Bombings Bear Signs of al-Qaida in Iraq, General Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2011 – Bomb explosions that have killed at least 58 Iraqis today appear to be the work of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq said here today.

The explosions, similar to an attack launched in August last year, struck cities from Tikrit to Baghdad to Basra, with the largest loss of life in Kut.

The attacks are proof that Iraq remains a dangerous place, Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said.

“We haven’t seen claims for these attacks, but given the targets, the methods, it very much looks like al-Qaida’s work,” Buchanan said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

But though al-Qaeda in Iraq still can launch spectacular attacks, the general said, the organization’s membership, funding and freedom of movement have continued to decline.

At one time, he said, al-Qaida in Iraq was able to launch these attacks almost daily and posed an existential threat to the Iraqi government. Today, al-Qaida is a shadow or its former self, and even horrendous attacks like today’s do not represent a threat to the government, Buchanan said. “[Al-Qaida in Iraq] is between 800 to 1,000 members of all stripes, from financiers to smugglers to media people to fighters,” he added.

The terrorists remain dangerous, Buchanan said, but they have been under attack by U.S. and Iraqi forces, and have lost any support they had from the Iraqi people by their callous bombing campaign that kills fellow Muslims.

Al-Qaida in Iraq has never changed its ideology, the general noted, and Iraqis know this. “They will do anything they can and murder anyone to try to overthrow the government,” he said, “but they have very little support.”

The terror organization has lost its freedom of movement in the country, Buchanan said. At one time, he added, the terrorists were able to move from Mosul and Tikrit to throughout Anbar province, and in and around the suburbs of Baghdad. They had a network of supporters that gave them that mobility.

The group also has lost much of the funding stream it counted on in the past, Buchanan said, and reportedly has been robbing banks and gold stores to mount its operations.

Finally, he said, the stream of foreign fighters flowing in to Iraq over the Syrian border has almost dried up.

Face of Defense: Brothers Enjoy Friendly Rivalry

By Army Spc. Brittany Gardner

U.S. Army Reserve

BASRA, Iraq, July 29, 2011 – Sibling rivalry isn’t always about animosity or jealousy. Sometimes it can spark healthy competitions between brothers or sisters and helps them accomplish their goals. One soldier here attributes his success in the military to the rivalry between him and his brother.

Army Spc. Andrew Deason of the Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion said he strives hard for military excellence to out-do his older brother, an active-duty Army specialist.

Deason serves as an Iraqi security forces knowledge management representative at Contingency Operating Base Basra here. His brother, Army Spc. Brian Brown, is a combat medic with the 10th Mountain Division.

Although he enlisted two years after his brother, Deason said, he so far is winning the competition between the two to be the first to achieve certain military goals. Graduating from basic combat training and advanced individual training, as well as being promoted, are a few of those goals.

“After he enlisted, I still considered myself better than him,” Deason said. “I told him, ‘All right. I can do everything you do, and better.’”

His brother attained his current rank in two and a half years, he said. Deason was a specialist in two. They both graduated from basic military training, but Deason was an honor graduate. His brother was an honor graduate from his advanced individual training course, but Deason one-upped him and was distinguished honor graduate at his.

The brothers also compete to see who can meet the highest-ranking military officials.

“When it comes to meeting people, I’ve got him beat so far, Deason said. They’ve both met the commander of U.S. Forces Iraq and the Army chief of staff, but Deason also has met the sergeant major of the Army. “So I’m a little ahead of him so far,” he said.

When Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III visited Contingency Operating Base Basra, he gave Deason a coin for excelling in his mission here. While handing him the coin, Chandler complimented Deason on his demeanor.

That excellence has not gone unnoticed by his leadership here.

“Specialist Deason is an invaluable part of our section,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class James R. Gifford, Iraqi security forces section noncommissioned officer in charge. “He has a great personality, and his positivity promotes a higher level of morale in our section daily. He has an extremely strong work ethic and continues to search for ways to improve through both civilian and military education, as well as daily experiences and others jobs.”

Deason said the rivalry between him and his brother keeps him motivated to accomplish his goals, but he also attributed his drive to succeed as just being part of his personality.

Texas Guard member’s rivalry with brother beneficial

By Army Spc. Brittany Gardner

Army Reserve

BASRAH, Iraq (7/26/11) - Sibling rivalry isn’t always about animosity or jealousy. Sometimes it can spark healthy competitions between brothers or sisters and helps them accomplish their goals. One soldier attributes his success in the military to the rivalry between him and his brother.

Army Spc. Andrew Deason, of the 36th Infantry Division Special Troops Battalion, Texas National Guard, strives hard for military excellence in order to out-do his older brother, an active duty specialist in the Army.

While Deason serves as an Iraqi security forces knowledge management representative at Contingency Operating Base Basra, his brother, Army Spc. Brian Brown, a combat medic with the 10th Mountain Division.

Although Deason enlisted two years after his brother, Deason said he is so far winning the competition between the two to be the first to achieve certain military goals. Graduating basic combat training, advanced individual training, and being promoted are a few of those goals.

“After he enlisted, I still considered myself better than him,” Deason said. “I told him, ‘Alright. I can do everything you do and better.’”

His brother obtained his current rank in two and a half years, he said. Deason was a specialist in two.

Brown graduated basic military training. Deason graduated basic training, too, but as an honor graduate.

And though his brother was an honor graduate from his AIT, Deason one-upped him and was distinguished honor graduate at his AIT.

The brothers also compete to see who can meet the highest-ranking military officials.

“When it comes to meeting people, I’ve got him beat so far, Deason said. “He’s met [Army] Gen. Austin [and] the chief of staff. Me, I’ve met Gen. Austin, the chief of staff, and the sergeant major of the Army. So, I’m a little ahead of him so far.”

During Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III’s visit to COB Basra, Deason was presented with a coin for excelling in his mission here. While handing him the coin, Chandler complimented Deason on his demeanor.

This same excellence has not gone unnoticed by his leadership here.

“Spc. Deason is an invaluable part of our section,” said Army Sgt 1st Class James R. Gifford, Iraqi security forces section noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “He has a great personality and his positivity promotes a higher level of morale in our section daily. He has an extremely strong work ethic and continues to search for ways to improve through both civilian and military education, as well as daily experiences and others jobs.”

The rivalry between him and his brother keeps Deason motivated to accomplish his goals, but he also attributes his drive to succeed as just being part of his personality.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn.

Spc. Daniel L. Elliott, 21, of Youngsville, N.C., died July 15 in Basra, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 290th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command, Cary, N.C.

For more information, the media may contact the 200th Military Police Command public affairs office at 301-677-1079.

Minister hits bottom to rise as an Army Guard Chaplain

By Sgt. David A. Bryant

36th Inf. Div., U.S. Div.-South

BASRAH, Iraq (6/3/11) - Life was good for Harold B. Bender. He had it all; a nice house, nice car, a wonderful wife and three kids, and what he considered his dream job – the youth, singles and recreation minister at a church in Colorado Springs, Colo.

An incident in high school had opened his eyes, and mind, to matters of eternal significance and set him on the path to what soon became apparent was not only his calling, but also his gift; ministry. So he pursued an undergraduate degree in church recreation at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., and then went to seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, for his master’s degree in religious education, with an emphasis on recreation.

“My two loves were the Bible and basketball,” Bender said.  “I thought that church recreation was the perfect marriage of the two. I had often wondered why God would put an NBA heart in a churchly body, and I finally realized it was because he wanted me in the church league. So I viewed that as an opportunity, a perfect fit for me.”

Finding a ministry in Colorado Springs was merely the icing on the cake; every kind of recreational activity from hiking in the mountains, bike riding, skiing and snowboarding was readily available, he said.

It was so perfect that he recalls stopping in the middle of a lesson one time to tell his students that his wish for them was that they, too, would find a job that made them so happy.

Unfortunately, life – and all its problems – soon intruded. Bender’s world was destroyed in an instant because of a divorce. The family, the house and his ministry were all taken from him, sinking him into the depths of depression.

“In the church, especially in Baptist circles, there’s not a big demand for divorced ministers. In my youthful genius and naïveté, I had never prepared myself for anything other than ministry,” Bender said. “I found myself without a job and without any skills to support myself. So I enlisted in the military.”

It was the beginning of 2004 when then 33-year-old Bender headed off to Fort. Jackson, S.C., to begin his new life as an active-duty Soldier. His prior education qualified him to enlist as a specialist and his new job would train him as a satellite communications operator and repairer.

A little over a week after arriving for basic training, on a bitterly cold Sunday morning, Bender trudged through the ice with a small group of trainees on their way to the drill hall for Bible study. Although his faith had been severely damaged, the habit of going to church was still deeply ingrained, he said.

The day was Feb. 7, a day he said he can never forget.

“It’s crazy the things you can remember – like the crunching sound of the ground as we marched to the drill hall. Two days before I had arrived at Fort Jackson, they had closed the entire military post down because of an ice storm, so it was an especially cold winter,” Bender said.

“I can remember wishing that the drill hall were closer, that the drill sergeant would pick up the pace, because it was unbearably cold. Just when I thought I was going to get relief from the chill, the drill sergeant unexpectedly gave us the command halt, then a right face. He didn’t say a word; he just kind of walked around us in silence.”

As he stood there waiting for the drill sergeant to speak, Bender said his mind began to wander. He noticed the bare branches of the trees and the cold, dead, ice-covered ground. Looking up, however, his eyes were greeted with a stark contrast to the winter-laden earth.

“The sun was shining brightly and the sky was blue as any I could remember,” Bender reminisced.

“It was the kind of sky you would associate with spring, or a pleasant summer morning. But on the other hand, that wind was just so cold, and everywhere I looked was just the barrenness of winter. It was a stark contrast; on the one hand there was such a bright and beautiful sky, and yet all around me there was death. I’m thinking about the irony of it all when the drill sergeant tells us, ‘Privates, you go in there and do whatever it is you do, feel whatever it is you feel. But when you come back out here, you’re Soldiers.’”

With that, they filed into the drill hall.

“At first I was a little taken aback, because he was definitely giving us the message that what we were about to do was not soldierly. I can see his fear of us forgetting our military bearing as I walked through that door and the drill hall was completely changed,” Bender said.

“Because on the other side of that door was a table filled with every type of forbidden boot-camp fruit imaginable. I mean, there were doughnuts, cookies and Doritos and sodas – it was just a spread you couldn’t believe. Pleasant, warm, welcoming faces of a lovely young couple greeting us with their three small kids and the sound of praise music filling the air, Veggie Tales playing on a big screen TV in there. I’m sure their intent was to boost our morale, but it only plunged me deeper into a state of depression. Because it reminded me of everything I had lost.”

The music highlighted and accentuated how desperately sad he was already feeling, and the Veggie Tales cartoons reminded him of how many times he had sat on the floor with his own children, watching those very same episodes, said Bender. But the most painful part was seeing that family all together.

“I was thinking, ‘That’s supposed to be me. I’m supposed to be ministering to people with my family together with me. I’m supposed to be setting the example for my kids, helping them to catch a vision and a passion for the work of the kingdom. I’m supposed to be speaking words of healing and encouragement; not be the one needing those words,” he added.

It was then, Bender said, that he was at rock bottom.

“I looked around at all the 17 and 18-year old kids around me, and I remember thinking; I had been to college, I had been to seminary, I had gotten married, had a beautiful home in Colorado Springs, I was independent – and all that had been taken away from me. And now, after all that hard work, here I was no further along in life than these 17 and 18-year olds around me,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, I was worse off than they were because I was saddled with debt and my car had been repossessed. I was lonely, sad and just defeated. It’s the only word I have for that feeling at that moment in time.”

While sitting in the drill hall with his eyes lifted to heaven, crying out silently “God, how could it have come to this? How could you allow me to reach this point?” his eyes lit upon the Soldier’s Creed written on the wall.

“As you know, the creed starts with the Warrior’s Ethos: I will always place the mission first,” Bender said. “As my eyes came across that, I couldn’t even tell you what was being talked about that morning. It wasn’t even associated. It was one of those unique moments when God really got my attention and put the thought in my mind of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: he was in that garden, pouring out his heart to his father, crying, sweating great drops of blood, with anguish in his soul over what he was about to face. And there, for the first time, I saw a connection between Jesus and I that I had never felt before. I felt that I could identify with him.”

Jesus prayed the same prayer Bender did that morning. God, can you get me out of this? God, is there any way you can let this cup pass from me? But then Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”

“It was then that I realized, Jesus always places the mission first. At that moment, in that garden, he set aside his desires and he placed that mission of our salvation first,” Bender said.

“That was a turning point for me, because God began to whisper in my ear; ‘That mission of salvation I began in you, I’ll be faithful until completed. I’m never going to quit you, I’m never going to accept defeat for you, and I’m never going to leave you in your fallen condition.’ Seeing Jesus in that light, how he lived the Warrior Ethos for us is really what made the difference, not in my circumstances, but in my spirit. It gave me a new perspective; kind of renewed my faith and restored my joy. That was the beginning of the healing process for me.”

It was during advanced individual training for his new military occupational skill at Fort Gordon, Ga., that Bender’s life took on a new direction. He got to know the chaplain, Capt. Michael Zell, quite well during his customary attendance to Sunday chapel service. When Zell learned of Bender’s story, he asked a question that would alter Bender’s military career.

“Have you ever thought of becoming a chaplain?”

“He really took an interest in me and helped me put together a package,” Bender recalls. “He said, ‘You should consider, or at least pursue, this opportunity and see what doors, if any, God opens for you.’ He walked me through the packet process, and while I was in AIT I submitted it and went before a board.”

The board accepted Bender, but the commission was in the Army Reserve instead of active duty. On Sept. 30, 2004, he graduated from AIT with the rank of specialist. The very next day he stood outside his company’s barracks and received his reserve commission as a first lieutenant in the Chaplain Corps.

“It was kind of a big deal I guess, because it’s not very often that an enlisted Soldier gets commissioned at AIT,” Bender says with a laugh. “Those senior enlisted who were re-classing with us got a big kick out of the fact that I was an (enlisted grade 4) promotable to (officer grade 2)!”

Bender attended the Chaplain Officer Basic Course the following September. There he met a fellow student who was a Texas Army National Guardsman stationed with the 449th Aviation Support Battalion out of San Antonio. The Guardsman had put in a packet to transfer over to active duty, but his unit was preparing for deployment to Iraq and needed a chaplain. So he put Bender in touch with the Texas Guard.

“I graduated from Chaplain Officer Basic Coarse in December of 2005,” Bender said. “In February of 2006 I was at Fort Hood, Texas, training for my first deployment to Bilad, Iraq. I’ve been in the Texas Army National Guard ever since.”

Bender said he is proud to call Texas home and is now a resident of Dallas. He currently holds the rank of captain, and is serving his second tour in Iraq as the deputy division chaplain for the 36th Infantry Division at Contingency Operating Base Basra, where the division has taken command and control of U.S. Division-South.

It was a long and difficult road, but God eventually led him back to doing what he loves most – ministering.

“There’s nothing I feel more pressure in doing than preparing and delivering sermons, but there is nothing more satisfying than when you know you’ve been used by God to speak truth to people and they are touched, moved and encouraged by it. That makes it all worthwhile,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine that I can be enjoying what I do so much because it was never in my agenda, never in my dreams or plans, to be in the military.”

“But I love Soldiers and I love the military; I love the camaraderie. I love [Soldiers’] hearts and their honor. It’s such a privilege to serve such fine people. They are by far my favorite congregation in the world. The best part of being a military chaplain is the opportunity to touch people’s lives through counseling and preaching, my favorite thing to do.

“I even like that better than basketball, now.”

British Commanders Brief Chairman in Basra

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 18, 2007 - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen stopped here today and spoke to British commanders about the recent transfer of the province to Iraqi control. The British-commanded Multinational Division Southeast transferred control to provincial officials Dec. 16. It was the last province in the south – and the province with the largest population – to transfer from the coalition to provincial leaders.

Some 4,700 British soldiers are in the province. They will move back to Basra International Airport and overwatch the Iraqi security forces. They will be available for call if Iraqi soldiers and police run into situations they cannot handle, officials said. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that the British commitment will drop to 2,000 soldiers in the spring.

Mullen said that while he has been briefed on the process the British went through, nothing beats speaking to the people who devised the strategy and then made it work. British Army Maj. Gen. Graham Binns and his senior staff briefed Mullen and his party. The admiral broke off from his USO Holiday Tour to speak with the British leaders at Basra International Airport.

"They have created a whole new strategy and new laydown (of forces) in recent months," Mullen said. He said Binns and his staff deployed to Basra in August "and have been at the leading edge of this change. I wanted to talk to them about how they got to that strategy, how they did it and what the impact has been."

The division also has a few U.S. personnel assigned, and the admiral got a chance to meet with them. "It's all a part of getting into this job and learning more and more about the complexities of Iraq," he said. Mullen took over as Joint Chiefs chairman Oct. 1.

The transfer is a "huge deal" for Iraq, but coalition planners must be careful, Mullen said.

The British experience has lessons for other coalition forces, but the chairman warned it is not a cookie-cutter solution.

"We've got to be mindful that just because you do it in one place, it doesn't apply directly to the circumstances or same timeline," he said.

Basra Province Returns to Iraqi Control

By B.J. Weiner and Mohammed Aliwi
Special to American Forces Press Service

Dec. 17, 2007 - Multinational Division Southeast relinquished control of Iraq's Basra province to the Iraqi government yesterday at Basra International Airport. Basra Gov. Mohammed Musabeh Al Waelee signed the official transfer papers along with British Maj. Gen. Graham Binns, the division's commander. Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie spoke at the ceremony along with Binns and Waelee.

Rubaie thanked the crowd of more than 100 dignitaries, including the British and Australian ambassadors, the British foreign minister, and members of the U.S. State Department and military for their support and assistance during the transition period.

"The Iraqi forces are ready to receive the security file (for Basra) from the British," he said. "We all celebrate today a new marriage (beginning) in the life of the Iraqis to the bridegroom of the (Persian) Gulf, Basra. This event ensures the progress of the abilities Iraqi armed forces in training, efficiency and personal integrity." He added that Basra province is the ninth province to fall under provincial Iraqi control.

"This is a big step towards taking over the responsibility of all provinces of our beloved Iraq, which may happen by the middle of next year," he said. "Taking responsibility of Basra means a great deal to Iraq's national government because of its strategic location, which highly affects the economic prosperity of our country."

Waelee added that all people of Basra welcomed the support of coalition forces. "This event synchronizes with Eid Al Adha, (the Hajii, a journey to Mecca required of all Muslims during their lives)," he said. "The Iraqi police are well positioned to assume control of Basra province. What the police and Army are to do during the future will be in accordance with what is written in our constitution.

"We are ready to apply the law to protect our people in Basra and will give a helping hand and will be grateful to any Iraqi person who wants to contribute and help rebuild our province," he added. "We will wield a very sharp sword in order to punish those who might try to circumvent the rules, negatively affecting the security of our province. As governor of Basra, I am ready to join hands with all political and religious parties to cooperate and rebuild our province."

The Iraqi forces have improved its capability to the point that they can control the security situation in Basra, Binns said, and now it has assumed that responsibility. "In April 2003, the coalition forces began to enhance security here," he said. "And now, four and a half years later, we returned the province and the city to the Iraqi security forces. We came to protect Basra from its enemies, and now we return it officially to its friends."

Col. Stephen Hill, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District, said that the event could impact the corps' mission there in a number of ways. "First positive indicator is that this provides an improved opportunity for international and Iraqi investment when you tie in stability," he said. "The (provincial Iraqi control) lends credibility to improved security situation. The ceremony is not the end, but clearly the beginning; it opens doors to the next level of construction and economic opportunity."

Basra province has unique chances of broader success because of the size of its main city -- Basra, the second largest in Iraq -- and the desire of its people and the significance of resources in the region, such as oil.

"Much like in other PIC provinces, this creates a potential improved connection with Iraqi security forces that will ultimately enhance our project access," he said. "Our construction rates will increase as will the overall quantity of projects completed, providing better services for the people. It allows us to reinvest in the city."

When a reporter for the London Times asked Rubaie about the ceremony taking place at the airport and not in Basra city because of the potential for violence in a clash between the city government and a militia, he said a celebration was being planned for the city and that the security situation would allow such a celebration.

"I am not saying things in Basra are perfect," he said. "I am saying that things are improving on a daily basis and will only get better. And we look forward to that day."

(B.J. Weiner is a public affairs officer with the Gulf Region South District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Iraq.)

British PM Says Basra to Soon Come Under Iraqi Control

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 10, 2007 - Basra, the second-largest city in Iraq, will be turned over to Iraqi provincial control in the next two weeks, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced yesterday during a visit to Iraq. The city will be the largest population turned over to the Iraqis and will complete the turnover to the Iraqis of the southern provinces of the country.

Brown told British soldiers gathered at Basra International Airport that he had spoken with Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki by phone. "He asked me to pass on his thanks to you for what you have done to help rebuild the democracy of Iraq," Brown said. "And it is because of all the operations that we have done over these last few months, indeed over these last few years, and particularly in recent times, that the security situation has not only improved, but he was able to tell me that he is now recommending that we move to provincial Iraqi control within two weeks so that the Iraqis can take far more responsibility for the security of the country."

British and Australian forces have trained 30,000 members of the Iraqi security forces in the region. "So, as a result of that, we can move to provincial Iraqi control over the next few weeks," he said.

"The reason why security is so much better here, the reason why things have improved, the reason why there is progress is because of you, because of what you have achieved, what you have done," he said. "And I want to thank all your leadership, and I want to thank every single one of you for what is being done."

British forces will assume overwatch position in the area, British defense officials said. About 4,700 British servicemembers are in Iraq now. These forces will move to the airport and be on call if needed by Iraqi security forces. British forces will continue to train Iraqi forces and will continue to monitor their progress, but all operations will be under Iraqi command, officials said.

Brown told the soldiers that the world admires their professionalism, courage and dedication. "We have managed now to get Iraq into a far better position, not that violence has ended, not that there is no security problem, not that it is safe in all the different areas in which you operate, but we are able to move to provincial Iraqi control, and that is thanks to everything that you have achieved," he said.