Coalition
Aids Iraq’s Security and Recovery
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Captain
Ken Jolley, of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, from Britain’s Royal
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, hands out sweets to
a class of girls at a village primary school near Basra.
The mixed school, thought to be one of the first to reopen
since the start of the war, is on an abandoned Iraqi military
base being used by British forces and has 107 pupils aged
between six and 10.
Vanessa
Allen / Pool / Reuters |
In
yet another sign of Coalition confidence in the stability of Iraq
and efforts there to rebuild, British diplomats have returned
to their embassy in Baghdad that had been vacated since 1991.
British diplomat Christopher Segar said, "I
see this as a symbol of the commitment of our government to working
with Iraq and the Iraqi people."
Meanwhile,
the U.K., U.S., Italy, Spain, Poland, and other members of the
Coalition, are continuing to carry out efforts to bring about
stability and security during the rebuilding process.
Removing boxes
full of weapons from schools that Saddam had used for storage
is only one of the many tasks to bring about the reconstruction
for the people of Iraq.
However, still
present are the dangers of terror and other types of attacks against
the innocent civilians in Iraq and the Coalition forces. To confront
the threats to stability and to make it safe for humanitarian
assistance operations, Coalition forces continue to actively patrol
Iraq. The danger that still exists is seen in Coalition reports
of incidents in the past week.
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A
movie theatre apparently was the target of a terrorist attack
last Thursday, where five people were wounded by a grenade explosion
in the theatre in Al Kut. Coalition troops found a second grenade
and it was blown in place by a Coalition explosive ordnance
disposal team with minimal additional damage to the theater.
Three men were detained for questioning.
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A
convoy traveling near Baghdad International Airport May 8 avoided
a mine after being alerted by local children. However, a civilian
truck behind the convoy hit the mine, destroying the truck.
There were no U.S. injuries. A High Mobility Multi Purpose Wheeled
Vehicle (HMMWV) struck a mine in Baghdad May 8, injuring two
soldiers.
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While
directing traffic in Baghdad a U.S. soldier was killed. The
V – corps soldier was approached without warning and was killed
by the attacker with a pistol in east Baghdad at approximately
1:00 pm on Thursday, May 8th.. The soldier was in the process
of directing traffic at the time of the incident. The assailant
escaped after killing the soldier and a search and investigation
is underway. Officials have asked for the help of the locals
in Baghdad in the search for the suspect.The identity of the
deceased soldier is being withheld pending notification of next
of kin.
Despite the
danger, Coalition forces remain dedicated to providing a secure
and stable environment throughout Iraq so that infrastructure
repair and humanitarian aid can continue.
Coalition
forces continue to assist in developing a safer and more secure
environment in Iraq. Among recent developments:
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Al
Hillah – Marines are training the new local police force
at a stadium in Al Hillah. About 50 Iraqis were trained Thursday.
The first police academy class graduated Thursday. Marine forces
conducted a meeting with the governor, police chief, and security
manager to discuss hiring an additional 600 personnel to assume
permanent security responsibilities at schools, civil and public
workstations, the electrical plant and hospitals.
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Karbala
– Marine forces and civil affairs personnel conducted
the final day of training for a specially selected police cadre.
As a “real world” practical exercise, trainees were
combined with the Marine/Karbala police task force that arrested
a profile fictitious general. As part of the training event,
the scenario involved the general staging a riot against the
governor of Karbala at city hall. A television announcement
will be broadcast encouraging Iraqis to bring weapons to designated
areas to turn them in.
- Ad Diwaniyah
– Military police conducted 24-hour combined patrols with
Iraqi policemen. Another 200 police officers are expected to be
hired. The broadcast discussed security, food distribution, utilities,
and education issues in the province. Navy engineers continue
electrical, plumbing and general construction at three local schools.
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An
Nasiriyah – Marines assessed two grain storage silos.
One silo contains 6 1/2 tons of mixed grain and the other contains
600 metric tons of wheat. Grain silos have been operating safety
equipment to prevent explosions. ORHA is buying grain throughout
the I MEF area and using it to feed the Iraqi people. This not
only provides food, but also stimulates the local economy. Civil
affairs troops initiated an Adopt-A-School program and received
pay rosters for teachers at the university.
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An
Najaf – Navy engineers continued repairs to Al Iman Al
Hussein School, the city jail and the police academy. Civil
affairs troops coordinated the payment of 22,000 civil workers.
Marine and Navy personnel delivered 60 refurbished desks to
a local school.
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Currently,
there are 1,736 enemy prisoners of war detained by the Coalition.
To date 3,789 Iraqis have been paroled.
Although
challenges to security and stability remain in Iraq for the Coalition,
U.S. General Tommy Franks noted that it has been about fifty-two
days since military action began in Iraq, and noted the positives
saying, "Today,
the Iraqi people no longer live in fear of a regime of Saddam Hussein,"
"Key regime figures are being brought to justice every day,
one by one."
"And
nations in the Red Sea and … the Gulf region are no longer
threatened by a regime in Iraq that attacked neighbors twice in
the last 20 years," Franks said.
Coalition
forces are also working with the government of Kuwait to find
some 600 Kuwaiti citizens still missing from Iraq’s 1990 invasion
of its southern neighbor. According to CENTCOM officials in southern
Iraq, experts are "exploiting" a mass grave found near
Samawah. Evidence at the site led the experts to believe the remains
could be those of missing Kuwaitis.
Franks noted
that Iraqi citizens are forming local governments and town councils.
"Iraq’s best days are yet to come," he said.
Coalition
forces have removed "hundreds of tons" of weapons and
ammunition from schools, residential neighborhoods and religious
sites.
Basic services,
such as healthcare, water and electrical power, are being restored
throughout the country and Iraqi children are returning to school
classrooms that previously were taken over by Saddam’s regime
to be used as weapons storage facilities.
Source:
AFPS |