Good things that are happening in Iraq

Okay...back on track peoples.

GOOD NEWS about Iraq. Thats the stipulation...lets stick to it in THIS thread.


Cheers.

Okay just to tell you guys not all the news on the link is good, but some is in least.



Multinational forces detained three foreign fighters and killed two others during a raid on a foreign fighter safe house in the Karabilah area today.

As the multinational forces arrived at the location, foreign fighters occupying the safe house engaged the troops. The coalition forces returned fire and assaulted the building. One Multinational Force Iraq soldier was wounded.

After evacuating the wounded soldier to a local field hospital, the multinational forces called in coalition close air support to destroy the foreign fighter safe house, which was being used as an operational headquarters.



In other news, Iraqi security forces supported by coalition forces conducted a joint search for known terrorists in Dali Abbas Sept. 5 and detained five suspects.

The operation also netted one 72 mm projectile, two rolls of detonation cord, 12 blasting caps, one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, two RPG rounds, two AK-47 rifles, and nine 152 mm rounds.

In Hit, soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, in conjunction with the U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 25the Marine Regiment, found and cleared two IEDs Sept. 5.

Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal personnel responded to each incident, assessed the situation and destroyed each device in place.

The first IED was found in a road median about 50 meters from a traffic circle. The device was concealed in a white burlap sack and was composed of an artillery projectile, battery and detonation cord packed into a metal container.

Later that day, an artillery projectile and a triggering component concealed in a white burlap sack were discovered in a different location.
source

Wow before it use to be they had to wait for an american explosive disposal team to arrive. Now Iraqi's are doing it, good job guys!

Originally posted by brimstone735

Personally, I'm thankful for this here thread on the good news coming out of Iraq. I think the introduction of intermural sports will certainly defer suicide bombers from wanting to kill us more. God knows, all this good

Perhaps you never read the British dossier on the Human Rights violations of Saddam Hussein's regime. In fact his sons were put in charge of beating the feet of members of Iraqi soccer teams that lost matches. Their feet were caned to the point of broken bones and bleeding wounds, and then dunked into raw sewage so that they become permanently disfigured, and unable to play any more matches.

Obviously the way the current administration went about dismantling the regime was not ideal and had unpredictable outcomes. I did not happen to agree with the use of force. However, it was decided, and now it is far more responsible for us to look for good news and the future of the Iraqi infrastructure than it is to sit around and moan and complain about the bad news.

The reason there are suicide bombers out to get us is not due to SH or the US or whether we have soccer balls, it's because of the fight for the Holy City of Jerusalem, with the extremist Islamic radical organization like Al-Quaeda bent on the destruction of the Western world unless Israel removes itself from their Holy Land.

Only problem is the Jews feel the same way, and we are stuck in a religious quagmire. If you spent half of your sarcastic energy reading about the way the world REALLY works you might actually learn something useful. But, of course, that would be too easy wouldn't it? You couldn't feel cool and hip bragging to all of your sarcastic buddies about those fools on ATS lol.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2005

Coalition air forces conducted an air strike against a terrorist safe house in the vicinity of Husaybah, Iraq, near the Syrian border, shortly after 1 a.m. today, military officials said.
A known bomb-making cell leader, Abu Mohammad, was targeted in the safe house strike.

Mohammad has been linked extensively to other al Qaeda terrorists and foreign fighters in Husaybah and throughout the western Euphrates Valley. Also, he is known to have worked directly for Abu Islam, an al Qaeda leader in Husaybah, who was killed by a coalition air strike last week.

Intelligence sources confirm that Abu Muhammad is known to have been involved in numerous car-bomb and improvised-explosive-device attacks on coalition forces, according to military officials in Iraq. He is also responsible for numerous direct attacks on Iraqi security and coalition forces.

Intelligence sources place Abu Mohammad in the tribal fighting that has occurred in Husaybah, where al Qaeda terrorists murdered local Iraqis who opposed al Qaeda, officials said.
source




Yet another good development, keep on capturing and killing key leaders this war will be over with very soon.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2005 – The Iraqi Police Service graduated 231 police officers from advanced and specialty courses at the Adnan Training Facility on Sept. 8.

The Basic Criminal Investigation course, designed to introduce participants to basic concepts of criminal investigation, covers topics such as theft, burglary, arson, robbery, sexual offenses, and homicide investigation. Students receive classroom instruction and hands-on training in fingerprinting, photography, tool marks and plaster casting techniques. More than 2,500 police officers have completed the Basic Criminal Investigations course.

The Interviews and Interrogations course covers advanced interview and interrogation techniques and includes instruction on the preservation and protection of human rights, and the importance of ethical behavior during interviews and interrogations. To date, 649 students have completed this course.

Violent Crime Investigation introduces participants to investigative techniques to be used in a variety of situations, but particularly in violent crimes including armed robbery, rape and murder. This course has graduated 660 students to date.

Critical Incident Management is designed to provide participants with the understanding of and application skills for managing critical incidents. This course has previously graduated 607 students.

The Criminal Intelligence course provides training in the planning, collection, analysis and distribution of intelligence information. This course also equips participants with the ability to recognize trends that may have an impact on public safety and security. This course has graduated 438 students to date.

The Election Security course covers the responsibilities of the police to ensure peaceful elections. Potential threats and areas of concern are examined from the standpoint of security and protection of candidates and the voting public during the election period. To date, 519 officers have completed the course. The course includes a "train the trainers" component to enable participants to serve as trainers in their respective police stations.
source


Wow I think I'm gonna keep track of this! They are really starting to develop a lot.

Okay my buddy emailed me this, and I would like to share it with you guys.



Did you know that 47 countries have reestablished their embassies in Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?! They have 5- 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?



Wow now thats some good news! Good things are happening, at an astonishing speed!

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2005 – Coalition forces captured a terrorist today known to have connections with senior leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq, officials reported.
The action occurred at a raid on a terrorist safe house in Haditha. Four terrorists were killed when they converged on the safe house during the operation, and coalition aircraft destroyed a vehicle being used by one of the terrorists.

Elsewhere, Task Force Freedom soldiers participating in Operation Restoring Rights captured 78 suspected terrorists during operations in Tall Afar Sept. 12, officials reported today.

The operation is being conducted to remove terrorists from Tall Afar in support of the Iraqi government's efforts to bring safety and security to the citizen of that city. The operation, with about 5,000 U.S. and Iraqi infantrymen, is the largest since the battle for Fallujah in November 2004.

In southern Iraq, Camp Echo officials reported that Multinational Division Central South units, along with Iraqi security forces, seized a weapons cache in Wasit province Sept. 12. The cache contained 22 machine guns, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, magazines and other military equipment.

U.S. military officials based in Tikrit said a civilian led Task Force Liberty soldiers to a large number of munitions along the Iranian border in eastern Diyala province Sept. 12. The soldiers recovered 18 anti-tank rounds, 12 60 mm mortars, two 82 mm mortars, one 155 mm artillery round and one rocket-propelled grenade.

source

Very good news! And no Coalition Troops killed in the action in Tall Afar, also very good. Things are starting to shape up!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2005 – A Task Force Baghdad unit patrolling in southern Baghdad immediately responded to a terrorist mortar attack on a polling site Oct. 13 by returning fire to drive the terrorists away, military officials reported today.
The soldiers from 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment, also provided medical care to two Iraqi civilians, including one child, who suffered minor injuries when the terrorist rounds detonated, officials said.

"I am not surprised that the terrorists would target the innocent people of Iraq," said Maj. Liston Edge, an operations officer for the 48th Brigade Combat Team. "I am just proud that we are able to provide support to their security forces in such an efficient way."

Also on Oct. 13, an Iraqi Army platoon captured a suspected terrorist leader during a raid against a terrorist safe house in eastern Baghdad.

The terror suspect was wanted for planting three roadside bombs near a mosque, and is thought to have planned other attacks against civilians, Iraqi security forces and coalition Forces, officials said. The suspect also is believed to have used his home as an operations center for terrorist activity in Zafaraniya and Diyala.

"(The Iraqi soldiers) are getting very good at these raids," said Maj. Terry Cook, a U.S. Army officer who works with the Iraqi army. "The entire operation lasted less then 30 minutes."

Iraqi army troops and coalition forces responded Oct. 13 to a report of a car bomb and netted two suspects with a significant amount of cash instead in Hit. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, and coalition forces received a tip from locals on a possible car bomb located near a mosque. The vehicle was searched and cleared, and troops had begun searching other vehicles in the area when two men were seen leaving a nearby house. Troops searched the men and their car and found 3,930,750 Iraqi dinar in their possession. The cash equals about $2,650 in U.S. currency. The individuals were detained for further questioning by authorities.

In other news from Iraq, Iraqi police found and seized a weapons cache Oct. 13 near Kut. The cache contained six 60 mm mortar mines, two anti-aircraft rocket systems, more than 50 pounds of TNT, 20 condensers, two night-vision devices, some detonation cord and a 12-volt battery.

source


Wow this is good news, it shows that the ISF units are getting better which will lead to them taking over more security jobs, and less coalition troops occupying Iraq things are just getting better and better.

Okay guys I know this is kinda old, but still I think its recent and important enough to mention.



WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2005 – A new Defense Department report sent to Congress today cites strong forward momentum in developing Iraq's security forces, noting a 50 percent increase in the number of troops capable of taking the lead in combat operations.
The Report to Congress Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq, the second quarterly "report card" on the security, political and economic environment in Iraq, addresses specific baseline metrics, measurements and indicators of Iraq's security, political and economic environment.

The report notes that more than 192,000 Iraqi security forces are trained and equipped, up 12 percent since July. But Renuart told reporters today that number has increased since the report's cutoff date and now is actually closer to 199,000 or 200,000.

The Iraqi Army currently has 88 battalions trained to operate alongside coalition forces, he told reporters. Of those, 36 battalions are taking the lead, capable of planning and executing missions with little or no support from coalition forces, Renuart told reporters. That's compared to 21 battalions last March, he said.

Overall, 116 ground Army and police battalions - 22 more than in July -- are conducting operations, the report noted.

The report cites progress in the Iraqi Police Service as well, with 5,500 new Iraqi Police Service members and 1,200 more public-order police trained and equipped since July. In addition, training and equipping of Iraq's special police commandos is ahead of projects, up 2,000 during the past three months.

The most significant progress, the report noted, has been among battalions rated at Level 2, meaning they can take full responsibility for their own geographic areas.

Economically, the report pointed to Iraq's normalized relations with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank's projection of a 3.7 percent growth rate in Iraq's economy this year.

Rodman acknowledged that two aspects of growth - electricity and oil production - aren't proceeding as well as hoped. Iraq produces 2.16 million barrels of oil a day and exports 1.4 million barrels per day while key oil infrastructure repairs, the report noted.


source


200,000 troops and police, wow thats a very substantial growth. Also it notes the training of 2000 special police commandoes in three months! Must be very hard training for it to be only three months, does anybody have any info on how they train and what the phases are. I hope their not rushing it, but police commandoes will be a very good tool in the war against the insurgents.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2005 – Coalition forces detained five terrorists and seized a large weapons cache today when they raided a suspected al Qaeda safe house northwest of Qaim, Iraq, military officials reported.
The cache consisted of weapons, ammunition, mortars and bomb-making materials, officials said.

Intelligence sources and tips from local citizens led coalition forces to the location. Coalition aircraft, using precision guided munitions, destroyed the safe house and weapons cache after coalition forces left the scene. Elsewhere in Iraq, Iraqi police and coalition forces stopped short a coordinated attack on the Khalis Iraqi police station Oct. 20, in Diyala. One Iraqi police officer was killed and two children were wounded.

Shortly after noon, a semitrailer approached the Khalis traffic circle and failed to slow and stop as directed. Guards fired on the vehicle, which then veered to the south. Its payload of explosives detonated when it hit a brick wall, killing a police officer.
source


Wow these attacks usually inflict many caustalies on the Iraqi police men, but this time only one died. A lot of improvements are happening.

After receiving the informant's tip, the soldiers started their search by using a metal detector. They began to dig up munitions and weapons at 3 p.m., and the dig continued until after midnight Nov. 16. When an explosives ordnance disposal team arrived at the site, the soldiers were still discovering more weapons caches buried in the field.

"After we found the smaller cache, it just kept going," said Staff. Sgt. Joel Killian, 1st Platoon, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry. "First we would find a mortar plate, then we would find the tube. Next, every side road was filled with weapons, so we just continued to search and continued to discover more and more weapons buried in the field."

When the troops find a cache, they dig by hand with shovels for hours before uncovering the full load of munitions and weapons.

As of Nov. 16, the weapons cache consisted of 150,000 7.62 rounds of ammunition, 600 propellant charges, 500 blasting caps, 400 artillery fuses, 150 hand grenades, 150 120 mm rounds, 125 rockets, 100 primer charges, 85 82 mm mortar rounds, 68 60 mm rounds, 50 plastic grenades, 35 anti-tank mines, 13 20 mm rockets, 12 RPG launchers, multiple barrels and bags of small-arms ammunition, seven missiles, seven rolls of copper wire, three 60 mm mortar systems, three 55-gallon drums of fertilizer, three rolls of detonation cord, two 82 mm mortar tubes with bases, and one 82 mm mortar system.

"This is a great step in removing capability, the means with which terrorists execute their indiscriminate and cowardly violence," said Army Col. Todd Ebel, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander. "I am very proud of all the soldiers involved with this cache find. These soldiers and others like them across this brigade combat team are making a difference in the safety of south Baghdad."
source


Wow that is amazing! Thats what we call dedication, this will remove a large amount of the insurgents capabilites!

Blue Cell - Good job with this thread.........it seems that none of the good news is ever reported.

Thanks for constantly updating this thread!!

You get one of my monthly votes!!

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2005 – The staff of the 8th Iraqi Army Division was certified today in counterterrorism operations and tactics, which means the Iraqis can plan and conduct operations against enemy forces with limited support of coalition forces, military officials reported today.
Division units now are striving to achieve full combat readiness, officials said, adding that final coordination with local and central administration will be completed soon to finalize the process of battlespace transfer.

Long-term training, including exercises and combat operations, officials noted, preceded the certification process. Before the division staff was certified, six battalions and two brigades of the 8th completed their certification processes.

Training for the staff was highlighted with classes in planning and executing counterterrorism operations, which encompassed cordon-and-search techniques, checkpoints, patrolling and convoy protection. Tactical training, such as weapons proficiency, engineering, communication, medical support and logistics, also contributed to the overall certification process, a Multinational Force Iraq statement said.

source

Wow! This means even less US troops in Iraq! This is good news! With process like this, I think will be completly out by 2008 by the latest!

Mod Edit: Added Quote Tags.

[edit on 24/12/2005 by Mirthful Me]

BALAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 22, 2005) – A unique group of Soldiers are reeling in weapons caches and improvised explosive devices from the streets of Balad … They were the last platoon from their company to start doing patrols.

Composed of cooks, communication specialists, medics and a couple of infantry guys, the Soldiers of the Cobra Black One platoon, Company C, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment initially took to the streets outside of Logistical Support Area Anaconda with not much of a mission.
The platoon spent several weeks searching, but to no avail.

“We really hated doing cache searching at first because we had no method,” said Spc. McHuy McCoy, Cobra Black One medic. “The team would go out and find nothing.”

They ended up getting advice from 1st Lt. Ranjan Singh, Co. B platoon leader, Naluai said. His platoon had led the battalion in caches found at that point.

Singh’s platoon started out much like Cobra Black One did – unsuccessful.

“We decided we needed a system,” Singh said. “One day, we were out on patrol and we saw something we thought could be used to mark an area for future reference. We saw a pile of brush near the marking. When we moved it, we found a mortar tube.”

From that point on, they looked for areas with similar markings and soft dirt, Singh said. “We didn’t have mine sweepers at the time, so we would look for soft dirt and stab at the ground with bayonets.”

From April to June, Singh’s platoon found 44 weapons caches.

It kicked off a cache craze,” Singh said. “Everyone wanted to check out a mine sweeper and look. Of course, they found nothing because they didn’t know what to look for.”

Singh and his Soldiers changed missions to finding high value individuals, so he decided to share his secret to finding caches with the Soldiers of Cobra Black One.

source


Pretty amazing story if I do say myself! And I'm sure there are other units like this! Great things are happening I think by 2007 our troop level will be down to about 80 or 90 thousand at the least! Keep up the good work guys!

Great work Blue Cell!

No one ever report all the good things going on in Iraq. The U.S. is doing an awesome job of helping build a great nation of free people over there. I wish the U.S. media would stop playing politics and report the truly good news.



--Boat

[edit on 24-12-2005 by Boatphone]

December 29, 2005

TAL AFAR, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 29, 2005) — In a ribbon cutting ceremony today, Tal Afar Police Chief Gen. Fawaz Mahmoud Issa officially opened the new Al Salam Police Station in Tal Afar.

The event marked a milestone for Tal Afar’s Police Department as part of efforts to restore the city’s quality of life and security.

Last year terrorists destroyed a police station in Tal Afar, but the opening of the new station represents a resurrection of the police force according to city officials.

“We’re very thankful for the Coalition Forces for their support in building this police station,” said Tal Afar Mayor’s Assistant Gen. Sabah Hamidi Mohammed. “We also want to thank the military police for their training of our police officers and police force. “

The new police station building features a holding cell, an arms room, investigation and intelligence cells, an interrogation room and an information desk. Currently 180 Iraqi Police officers will be assigned to the station, with an additional 60 officers scheduled to be added to the force.

source



This is just another sign of progress in Iraq, it represents the gradual take over of jobs that us to be the Coalition's job! Keep up the good work!

well good is a relative term. No one could state that on the Human Misery Index Iraqi is better today than under Saddam. Certianly Iraq has the potential to be better. No one could say that was the orginal bremmer plan.

Bush has blundered badly and it will take decades for real good to come. Had Clinton or Gore been President the situation would have been much more like Bosnia. Slow progress for sure, but very little death and destruction.

I wonder how many pros are at work in this thread. I find it hard to believe people are so genuiely navie.

Originally posted by johnfrodo
I wonder how many pros are at work in this thread. I find it hard to believe people are so genuiely navie.

You mean a pro like you, working for the "BILL CLINTON / AL GORE RESTORATION AND ANTI BLOW-J** COALITION."

You know, it is true that if YOU would go a day without mentioning those 2 rats people WOULD forget who they are.

Bill was a total *monica-up* and Al Gore lost. Deal with it would you....lets get back on topic here.

If you don't like the thread don't post!

- One Man Short

[edit to remove sarcasm]



[edit on 30-12-2005 by One Man Short of Manhood]

Originally posted by johnfrodo
well good is a relative term. No one could state that on the Human Misery Index Iraqi is better today than under Saddam. Certianly Iraq has the potential to be better. No one could say that was the orginal bremmer plan.

I'll tell you someone who could say things are better

They are the Iraqis polled in the latest editions of Newsweek who thought that things are improving in Iraq. These same polls were accompanied with statistics that show the quality of life has improved since the invasion to levels that exceed those of Saddams rule.

[edit on 12/30/2005 by Agent47]