CENTCOM Chief Visits Afghanistan, Meets With Military Leaders

By Tim Kilbride
Special to American Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2007 – The new commander of U.S. Central Command met with U.S. military leaders in Afghanistan last week as part of an introductory tour of U.S. operations in the Middle East and Horn of Africa.

Army Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 82, briefed CENTCOM chief Navy Adm. William Fallon during an office call March 29 about progress in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Fallon assumed his new role March 16, taking over from Army Gen. John Abizaid, who retired. The admiral is charged with overseeing U.S. combat and humanitarian efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the Horn of Africa and greater Middle East region. He previously served as the commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

Rodriguez provided the admiral an update on U.S. and coalition efforts to combat a resurgent Taliban, dismantle the al Qaeda terrorist network within Afghanistan, secure the border region with Pakistan, improve the Afghan economy and improve quality of life for Afghan men, women and children.

As head of Combined Joint Task Force 82, Rodriguez is responsible for directing U.S. troops in eastern Afghanistan.

Yesterday, Rodriguez traveled to Nangarhar province to take a firsthand look at security and rebuilding activities in the northeastern part of the country. There he met with leaders of the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team, as well as the commanders of Task Force Spartan, the U.S. military team assigned with securing the region.

From his office in the provincial capital of Jalalabad, the commander of TF Spartan, Army Col. John Nicholson, briefed the general on regional operations and reviewed the array of allied and enemy forces in the area.

Rodriguez asked staff members about the local populace, government, terrain, logistics, projects and security. Paying particular attention to TF Spartan’s collaboration with Afghan authorities, Rodriguez emphasized the importance of communication and coordination of allied efforts.

In a separate meeting with PRT leaders, Rodriguez discussed regional development, allied border operations and collaborative security efforts among the Afghan security forces, the Pakistani military and coalition personnel.

Photo: Members of the Combined Joint Task Force-82 Joint Visitors Bureau welcomes Navy Adm. William Fallon, left, U.S. Central Command commander during an office call Mar. 29 on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher.

Afghan gov’t, Coalition partners aid flood victims in Laghman

3 April 2007
Combined Joint Task Force-82 Press Release.

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The Laghman provincial government, Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition partners provided vital humanitarian assistance to flood victims in northeastern Afghanistan March 31-April 1.

The relief efforts came in the wake of severe flooding to the south of the provincial capital of Mehtar Lam. The flooding, which filled some areas with waist-high water, stranded around 200 Afghan civilians and left many without food, dry clothing or shelter.

Gov. Gulab Mangal of Laghman and ANSF spearheaded efforts to house villagers displaced by the flooding. Afghanistan International Transportation helicopters rescued around 150 stranded citizens.

Connecticut National Guardsmen from Task Force Iron Gray and members of the Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team, meanwhile, assisted Mangal and ANSF in the relief efforts.

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan government and Coalition forces delivered food items including prepared meals, rice, beans and water. They distributed such clothing articles as jackets, gloves, sweaters, socks and gloves as well as tarps and blankets to the Qhargahe District Center for distribution through the Red Crescent.

Rain and melting snow in eastern Afghanistan has caused rivers and creeks to rise above normal levels prompting the flooding.

The allied effort brought life saving relief to dozens of Afghan families imperilled by the flooding. Coalition leaders praised the decisive efforts of Afghan government leaders during the crisis.

“Governor Mangal did an excellent job of coordinating all of the rescue and relief operations,” said Army Lt. Col. Steven Gilbert, the commander of Task Force Iron Gray. “He demonstrated how effective the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is with taking care of its people.”

“As Coalition forces are here to help the people of Afghanistan we did everything in our power to render assistance when Governor Mangal called,” Gilbert added. “I am very pleased with evacuating the flood victims and to arrange for the helicopters to assist in the rescue of so many citizens of Laghman. My Soldiers felt very good about the opportunity to deliver food, blankets and clothing in such a time of need.”

Photo: Villagers from Qhargahe District, Laghman Province observe as an Afghanistan International Air helicopter prepares to land and rescue villagers stranded by flood waters April 1. AIT transported the villagers to the Zangaray Refugee Camp nearby. Coalition forces from Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam assisted with humanitarian assistance goods and helped coordinate rescue efforts by AIT and U.N. helicopters. (Photo by Air Force Capt. Gerardo Gonzalez).

Iraqi Police Graduates Key to the Future

3 April 2007
By Pfc. Nathaniel Smith
4th BCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs.

BAGHDAD – Recruits of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division graduated from training at Forward Operating Base Falcon, March 28. This is the first group of “shurta,” Arabic for police, to come onto a U.S. forward operating base and receive complete, 24-hour-a-day training by a National Police Training Team.

Capt. Scott Hubbard, the operations officer of 3-6 NPTT from Vassar, Mich., said the initial focus of the team was not to train.

“Immediately when we took this mission on, we noticed the biggest problem was that they (Iraqi National Police) were not trained,” Hubbard said. “Training is not what we thought we would do, but we had to put a huge band-aid on the situation so they would not endanger themselves or the coalition forces they are working with.

“Our job is to teach them to teach themselves.”

Hubbard said that after noticing the initial deficiencies, the team came up with a two-week training program that would empower the police to perform their primary mission of protecting the neighborhoods.

The training program includes weapons marksmanship, drill and ceremony, physical training and ethics classes. Once the recruits execute those tasks to standard they move on to team exercises such as precision room clearing and conducting raids.

The trainers, who prepared for their deployment at Fort Riley, Kan., all have some form of experience training U.S. Soldiers, from reserve drill sergeants to instructors in advanced individual training. Likewise, many of the recruits have prior experience in the Iraqi army.

Abd Al-Ameer Kadum, a graduate from the class who also served in the Iraqi army since the Iran-Iraq War, said he appreciated the training.

“During this time that we spent here on this (base), we got good training,” the Baghdad native said. “They care about us a lot. We want to say thanks for our American brothers.”

Hubbard said instructing the recruits was made easier due to the fact that they embraced a key element in training: discipline. Discipline is embraced by the Iraqi people, the operations officer said. This cultural attitude motivated the shurta to do their best in training.

“The men were excited and very proud to get formalized training like this,” he said.

One of the key points Hubbard said he wanted the new police officers to take away from their training cycle is how to treat the Iraqi people.

“The way they treat them as policemen will decide whether (local residents) go against the Iraqi government or if they come on board,” he said. “These people are here to protect them and they need to understand that.”

Hubbard said that police staying involved with their local community is vital to the success of their mission.

“They need to embrace their community, and start doing the right thing from this day forward,” he said. “I believe that they’re ready to do that. They understand this is the key to victory.”

Photo: Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer, a trainer with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Brigade National Police Training Team from Charlotte, N.C., makes adjustments to a recruit’s prone firing position during pre-marksmanship instruction in Baghdad, March 24. In addition to marksmanship, recruits also trained on drill and ceremony, ethics, and physical fitness. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Nathaniel Smith, 4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs).

Combined Task Force Ensures Recovery for Burn Victim

By Army Capt. Jerord E. Wilson
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

RIBTA, Djibouti, April 2, 2007 — A 6-year-old Djiboutian girl is doing well after being treated by members of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa for burns to her hands.

The girl was initially treated March 8, by members of the North Carolina-based 1132nd Engineer Detachment (Well Drillers) attached to the task force. Army Staff Sgt. William Brown, the team medic, was among the first to assess and treat her. According to Brown, the severity of the burn and the appearance of infection were of primary concern.

“My initial concern was the size of her arm and the severity of the burns to her entire arm. She felt no pain, and it looked severely infected,” said Brown.

The North Carolina Guard members promised Ribta villagers they would return with a doctor to check on the girl’s progress. About a week later, they brought Navy Lt. Cmdr. Samantha Grillo, an orthopedic surgeon from the task force’s Expeditionary Medical Force to check on their patient.

Grillo was happy with what she saw. “Because the well-drillers were able to provide the initial cleaning, bandaging, and transport to the hospital in Obock, Djibouti, for antibiotics, the girl’s injuries did not progress to anything that was a life- or limb-threatening injury.”

“She looks like a happy, healthy little girl, quite different from the photos. I was happy to see that the condition of her hand was healing so well,” said Grillo. The surgeon conducted some hand-gripping tests for strength and gave some additional medications to ensure the healing process continues.

The mother of the little girl was overjoyed to see the level of care and speed of recovery to her daughter’s hand. The area on her left hand that had been burned is completely healed, with a slight difference in the pigmentation of the skin.

“Smiles and giggles were the show of the day, and to see the appreciation from the villagers made it all worth it,” said Sgt. 1st Class Danny Hunter.

Sgt. Phillip Lawing and Sgt. 1st Class William Brown were part of the team that initially provided first aid to the little girl’s hand, along with transporting her and her family to the hospital in Obock.

“It’s simply amazing the speed in which her hand healed,” Lawing said, “because it was swollen and stiff with infection the first time I saw her.”

The mission of CJTF-HOA is to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism. The CJTF-HOA organization began operations at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, on May 13, 2003. It works with partner nations on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, consequence management, civic action programs to include medical and veterinary care, school and medical clinic construction and water development projects.

Photo: A 6-year-old girl moves her arm that is healing from a burn, to show its range of motion and motor skills in Ribta, Djibouti, March 19. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jerord E. Wilson.

U.S. congressional delegation visits Baghdad

Monday, 02 April 2007
By Spc. Stephen P. Kretsinger Sr.
Combined Press Information Center

BAGHDAD — A U.S. congressional delegation visited Baghdad Sunday. The Delegation, led by Sen. John McCain of Arizona, consisted of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, making his sixth trip to Iraq, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana and Rep. Rick Enzi, also from Arizona.

The delegation landed at Baghdad International Airport and traveled to various locations in Baghdad by military convoy.

The congress members visited the Shorga marketplace and interacted with local merchants while walking the streets with Gen. David H. Petraeus, commanding general, Multi-National Force–Iraq.

“It’s a resilient people here in Iraq,” said Graham. “We went to the market and we were warmly welcomed. I bought five rugs for five bucks and people were engaging. Just a few weeks ago, dozens of people were killed in the same place. There are plenty of people here in Iraq that want the same thing for their families that (the American people) want for (theirs’) and are dying for their freedom.”

“When we were there at the market place, we had an opportunity to go to the very spot where back in February over 240 lives where lost to a major car bomb and on that very spot we saw the entrepreneurism; we saw the small business spirit; we saw people rebuilding,” Renzi said.

The delegation also visited a joint security station in al Karradah where they met with U.S. and Iraqi troops.

“We met the Iraqi police commander who was very optimistic that this new strategy is paying dividends,” Graham said. “Is it hopeless? No. If we’re patient as a nation and stand by the Iraqi people, who are fighting and dying for their freedom, we will win this war. If we talk about leaving and losing, the car bombers win.”

The members of the delegation spoke of their belief that the American people were not receiving the full story on Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I believe that we have a new strategy that is making progress and it’s not to say that things are well everywhere in Iraq; far from it,” McCain said. “We have a long way to go.”

“We read everyday about suicide bombings, kidnappings, rocket attacks and other terrible attacks,” McCain said. “What we don’t read about everyday and what is news since the surge began is a lot of the good news.”

The good news the senator spoke of included the drop in murders in Baghdad, the establishment of joint security stations throughout the city, the deal among al-Anbar province sheiks to fight back against al-Qaeda, the deployment of additional Iraqi brigades to Baghdad from across Iraq and the increase in locals providing tips to U.S. and Iraqi forces.

“These and other indicators are reasons for very cautious optimism about the effects of the new strategy,” McCain said. “I believe just as we read about all the negative events in Iraq, the American people must be aware of the positive development under this new plan.”

Photo: Sen. John McCain, Arizona, Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina and Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multi-National Force-Iraq commander, make a transaction with a local merchant at the Shorga market Sunday. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Roe, 10th Public Affairs Operations Center.