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Wire fence around Saddam's village coming down
AWJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi workers Wednesday began taking down razor wire that had encircled Saddam Hussein's birth village for months, a sign the U.S. Army believes it has largely cleaned up a thicket of support for the former dictator.
Since October, the 4,000 residents of Awja have had to show U.S.-issued identity cards to pass through a checkpoint at a single gap in the 5 miles of fence.
But since Saddam and many of his key supporters have been caught or killed, the Army decided to remove the fence, said Lt. Col. Steve Russell, a senior U.S. commander in the the Tikrit area, 110 miles north of Baghdad.
The wire made it easier to separate innocent Iraqis from Saddam supporters who financed, planned and carried out attacks against American soldiers, Russell said.
"It allowed us to scoop them up in a fishbowl, as it were, instead of letting them have the protection of swimming into the local population," Russell told reporters.
The dismantling will take four days. After the fence is gone, U.S. forces and Iraqi security will resume patrols.
"We are very happy to have the barbed wire taken away because now people do not feel they are in a prison," resident Ahmed Haza Ali said.
But some residents expressed concern they would lose their security against other tribes who wanted revenge on Saddam's tribe for mistreatment during his reign.
While a dozen young men gingerly coiled the wire, often cutting their gloved hands and clothing, workers on the west side of Awja salvaged lavish marble and hand-cut Italian brick from one of Saddam's palaces.
The palace, on a bluff overlooking a verdant nest of palm and orange trees, will be destroyed after the salvage work was finished, the Army said.
An Army patrol carrying out a routine drive through the town demonstrated how much work remains in rooting out insurgents in the once-prosperous village.
Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division based in Tikrit, just north of Awja, spotted two men in Awja washing a bullet-riddled car matching the description of one used in two drive-by attacks this month in which soldiers were wounded.
After searching the home and discovering three guns and dozens of photographs of Saddam, soldiers arrested five men.
Insurgents and razor wire aside, Russell also played civil administrator Wednesday.
His convoy spotted Iraqis loading dozens of trees they had cut from a forest along Awja's main market street onto two trucks.
"Do you think it is right to cut down trees that take years to grow in a desert?" Russell said angrily. "You're not cleaning up the area, you're stealing trees. No more tree cutting."
01/28/04 12:07 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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US officials wary of potential for Iraqi civil war
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - As the United States struggles to find a formula to return sovereignty to Iraq, American officials are worried about the potential for civil war in a country marked by religious and ethnic tensions.
U.S. officials said so far they regard a civil war as unlikely with 123,000 U.S. troops on duty in Iraq but remain concerned because of the history of mutual grievances among Sunni Muslims, favored during the reign of ousted President Saddam Hussein, and the Shi'ite Muslims and Kurds whom he brutally suppressed.
But analysts said the possibility of civil war must be taken seriously all the same.
Analysts say that a traumatic event -- perhaps a rebellion by Shi'ites if their demands for quick direct elections are rebuffed, or an assassination attempt against foremost Shi'ite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani -- could send Iraq spiraling out of control.
"We always have to be aware of that potential because there have been disputes for years and years and years, and that doesn't go away overnight," Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq, said recently, when asked to assess the potential for civil war.
"So I think we just have to watch it very closely," Odierno added.
About 60 percent of Iraq's 25 million people are Shi'ite. This population was abused, with untold thousands uprooted or slain, while Saddam -- a Sunni -- ruled the country. The Kurds are predominant in northern Iraq, but also felt Saddam's wrath, including the use of chemical weapons. Political ambitions and land disputes are among the leading causes of concern.
Ten months after leading the invasion that toppled Saddam, these are among the vexing issues the United States faces as it struggles to fashion a plan to return self-governance by the end of June that satisfies the various Iraqi factions.
"ADMITTEDLY A BIT DICEY"
A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, compared postwar Iraq to Yugoslavia following the death of Tito, who kept that country unified by suppressing ethnic divisions. With Tito gone, Yugoslavia disintegrated into vicious civil wars.
"After you remove Saddam and his regime from Iraq, you've got a similar situation where you've had the different factions who now don't have the suppression that was on them for all those years," the official said. "What's going to happen? Right now, that's anybody's guess.
"The thing we're working hard toward is trying to instill in all the factions that they can coexist," the official said.
Another U.S. official added, "It is admittedly a bit dicey there (Iraq), but do we think that there is likelihood of civil war? No."
Brookings Institution defense analyst Michael O'Hanlon said the chances of civil war may rise once U.S. troops are gone.
"In the longer term, you have the very distinct possibility of the militias of the different ethnic groups being the most powerful military forces in Iraq. And if the national army doesn't hold together or doesn't turn out to be very powerful, you could have a situation where when we try to pull out in five years you see civil warfare at that point," O'Hanlon said.
Analyst Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies cited several factors that contribute to instability beyond the divisions among Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds. He mentioned the unresolved role of Islam in a future government, the 50 to 60 percent unemployment, and the low quality of education in a society in which 50 percent of the people are 20 years old or younger.
01/28/04 11:42 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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Officials Detail Iraq Rotation Plans to Congress
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 – Military officials detailed to the House Armed Services Committee just how the troop rotation plan for Iraq will work. At the heart of the matter is how the military takes troops that are in contact with the enemy and replaces them with fresh forces. The troops leaving must give information to those replacing them so there is continuity of mission.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, the director of operations with the Joint Staff, briefed the congressmen today. The current set-up in Iraq consists of four Army divisions and supporting forces -- the 82nd Airborne Division, the 1st Armored Division, the 4th Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division. Moving these forces out and replacing them with a three-division set is already under way, Schwartz said.
The transition already has begun, he said, with some 13,000 personnel already moved out. About 130,000 U.S. service members – mostly Army – are in Iraq today. The three divisions moving into Iraq are the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in the west, the Army's 1st Cavalry Division in and around Baghdad, and the Army's 1st Infantry Division in the north and central sectors.
Separate brigades enhanced by reserve component troops also will flow into the area. Schwartz said 14 brigade equivalents will make up the U.S. forces in Iraq.
In addition to the combat troops, the logistic effort will also change. The theater support command will remain, but the personnel will turn over. Schwartz said the number will drop from 66,000 today to around 50,000. He attributed the lower number to some tasks being handled by contractors, as well as other "efficiencies."
Army personnel will serve 12 months "boots-on-the-ground," Schwartz said, while the Marines will spend seven months in Iraq. The first Marine group will arrive shortly and will serve its seven months, then a second set of about 25,000 Marines will arrive and take over, officials said.
"The imperative for us … was to maintain competency on the ground," Schwartz said. "Units in Iraq have a year's experience with the situation in their areas. We worked to maintain competency in a number of ways."
One way is leadership. The staff of Combined Joint Task Force 7 will not all leave at once, he said. The Army's 5th Corps, home-based in Germany, has provided most of the staff of the command. Many staff members will remain as the 3rd Corps from Fort Hood, Texas, moves in.
Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, 3rd Corps commander, began visiting Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez in September, Schwartz said. Sanchez, 5th Corps commander, also is commander of CJTF 7 in Iraq. The 3rd Corps staff went through a training period that culminated in being certified by U.S. Joint Forces Command in December.
Other leadership activities include the division commanders, staffs and brigade personnel working together toward a smooth transition, the general said. Division staffs began visiting Iraq early, and each of the divisions has been in active, almost daily contact. As the transition came closer, the visits picked up.
"Those leaders went to Iraq and visited with the folks they were going to succeed, and exchanged information face-to-face," Schwartz said. "This allowed units to tailor training plans to the particular area and needs of their locations."
To aid the continuity, at least one brigade deployed early in a division sector or remained in a division sector, the general said. A case in point is the 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division, which is remaining in the western sector as the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force arrives.
When inbound units arrive in the theater, they will spend two weeks in Kuwait to link up with equipment and to acclimatize. When they arrive at their Iraqi "battle stations," there will be a two-week handoff between the units. This will make sure all personnel get the benefit of the experience of the departing unit.
The transition plan calls for a good hand-off among the units, and that necessitates some units who have been in theater a year spending more time in Iraq, Schwartz said.
"In November last year, we identified some 267 units – about 20,000 personnel all together – who we were looking at as perhaps being in a situation where we might have to extend certain people beyond that 12 months … to ensure that we had overlap between the outgoing and incoming unit," Schwartz said. "We worked this very hard, and ultimately reduced the 267 units to 12. It turned out to be 1,567 personnel."
Most will stay an extra two weeks, with three units spending up to 60 days beyond their nominal departure date, the general said.
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Segovia Communications Option from Iraq:
Yesterday I had two requests for information on how to sign up for the Segovia Communications telephone service from Iraq. Thinking others may have the same question, I will repeat part of the information that was first included in the December 21-22 update:
As reminder - these sites have a broad band internet access and anywhere from 5-15 phones. When the family members talk over these phones, they are talking over the internet, versus a normal phone line or satellite phone.
They access the website at: http://www.segoviaip.com/
Make sure 'COOKIES' are enabled on the computer of the family member or
friend or they will not be able to order the PIN.
Once you get to the website, click on the red button that is entitled 'PURCHASE SEGOVIA MINUTES'
You will then see a page that says WELCOME TO SEGOVIA CALLING, once again
click the red button that says 'PURCHASE SEGOVIA MINUTES'
Fill out the form & hit next. If they want to make sure the soldier doesn't run out of minutes, they can enable the automatic recharge function. They then give the PIN to the soldier. The soldier can monitor their usage by going to the same website & inputting their PIN.
Any issues please contact Nancy DeBald via email at ndebald@mwrtel.com or by phone at (410 312-5779) and she will be glad to assist with them.
Editor's Note: For questions, check the web site first and that will probably answer your questions. If that does not answer all your questions, contact Nancy DeBald at the number shown above. I have no information about the system other than what I have shown here - DO NOT CONTACT ME WITH QUESTIONS.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Luxembourg and Germany:
29 January 1945 - D+238
Enemy front lines during the period existed along the high ground east of the Our river. The enemy employed small delaying forces located near defiles and buildings. These forces were supported by automatic weapons and self-propelled artillery or tanks.
The 8th Infantry attackedat 0830 with the 2nd Battalion and the 1st Battalion echeloned to the right rear, while the 3rd Battalion remained in reserve. Opposition initially was light and the 2nd Battalion advanced to the high ground southeast of Lommersweiler. The 1st Battalion fought its way into the town of Lommersweiler and at the close of the day, two companies were still fighting in the village. Before daylight, all resistance had been eliminated.
The 12th Infantry attacked in conunction with CT 8 at 0830 in a column of battalions with the 3rd Battalion in the assault. Resistance was moderate and at the close of the day, the 3rd Battalion was in the newly captured town of Elcherath. The 1st Battalion had closed within the town of Bracht by nightfall. The 2nd Battalion's progess was retarded by heavy artillery fire.
The 22nd Infantry remained in division reserve.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I found myself sheding a few tears last night as I boxed up the last care package to my husband's platoon. As I filled bags with Valentine treats and cards for his soldiers, I realized that we were almost at the end of this year long bumpy road...but the word ALMOST loomed in my mind. The safe exit from Iraq still remains. Thoughts of the joy (and ordeal) of dealing with issues of the spouses and family members ran though my mind; the memory of the times I've held my breath while I waited to learn of the safety or peril of my husband and his soldiers; the laughter of the spouses and family members we've shared at gatherings...bragging, complaining, remembering our soldier; the friends and 4ID FAMILY I've developed. This has been a year I said I wanted to forget...but, in retrospect, I know I can't. The personal growth, and bonds that have been forged, the memories...just goes to prove out the old saying: What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger! ;-)
2) The last time we saw our son (now serving with B Co 2/8 INF in Ba'quabah) was 5 July 2002, when he departed home for Ft. Hood which was his first assignment after graduating from Infantry Training at Ft. Benning. Because of my husband's ill health, we were unable to be at Ft. Hood to wish our son "Godspeed" when his unit deployed to Irag in April 2003. Nevertheless, Good Lord willing, we WILL be there to welcome him and his courageous comrades home! Every fiber of my being is focused on that moment of joyful reunion when I can see our son again! The visualization of that moment when I can touch his face ...... look into his eyes.....feel his heart beating against my cheek.... has sustained me through the dark days of his dangerous deployment. As an Army veteran, the pride I feel for my son and all the courageous honorable men and women who defend this great country is immeasurable. As the mother of a soldier at war that immeasurable pride is always mixed with the constant undercurrent of fear and worry puncuated by monents of almost overwhelming terror. Thankfully, I am blessed to be part of a small group of military moms. We call ourselves THE MA MA SISTERHOOD. Their support, encouragement, compassion, prayers and tears have helped me get through the difficult days of this deployment. We call our "warrior children" the SISTERHOOD SIBLINGS and eagerly look forward to the day when all of them are safely home. May God bless the mighty 4th ID and bring her soldiers safely home!!!
3) From one Army 588 ENGR Mom to another: I always knew God had a reason for sending my only child to Iraq, but he had a reason to send yours, too. As my son Reed, held that artery in one hand, your son held his other hand, keeping him calm. He had just lost his gunner and another friend. This was his first test (and, God willing, the last) of the skills crammed into a two-week course in emergency combat life-saving just before they left Ft. Hood. He needed Sean as much as Sean needed him. May God bless and keep you all. Another Proud Army Mom
4) It was my husband's crew that was hit in Baqubah. Sean is the soldier who lost his right leg. My husband is serving as Sean's escort to the States. I was pleasantly suprised to see this in the update that I got from my FRG leader. I don't have direct access to Sean's mom or his wife, but if you can....please tell them that I love them, I'm thinking about them and that I pray for Sean and for them each and every day.
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Families Share R&R Moments:
1) Our son is an Apache pilot with the 4th ID in Tikrit, at Camp Spiecher. I was at work and was called to the front office. When I went up, I saw my daughter-in-law and husband, and thought, "great she has flown in for the week-end with my grandchildren for a surprise visit". As I am hugging her, I see my son a few feet behind her, and had to look twice to realize it was him! I almost collasped! He had told me he wouldn't be able to get home and I was not expecting him till they come home in April. So I was totally blown away. Especially after I found out that it had all been planned since the 1st of January by my wonderful daughter-in-law and marvelous husband. My son looked wonderful and has a great outlook, even though he has to go back for a few months. The surprise visit sure will make these next few months go by much easier.
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Redeployment Tips
1) I recently spoke with a friend of mine who is a Veteran of many "global hot spots", Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom and asked him if he had any advice to give about the redeployment. He told me (as we have heard many times) to not question the soldiers, but to let them come to you about what has gone on in their deployment. He said that when they do come to you listen with a big ear and a closed mouth, that they are not necessarily wanting you to comment. Also, the same story may be told 15 different times, but told with different emotions each time. Maybe one time pride, another sorrow or remorse, and this is what makes it not the same old story, but different because of the emotion behind it. He said not to say, "I have heard this 10 times already!", but rather keep listening. He also told me not to get too upset with my Soldier if he wants to go play golf with the guys that he just saw for the last year. I have not seen him in a year and may think to myself, "hey, you have been with them, not me! Why do you need to go off with them", but those guys understand in ways that I never will. No matter how understanding I may try to be, they will be able to help him more than I many times because they were there with him through it and saw it first hand. He said that war buddies have an understanding and that sometimes you just need to be with them and maybe talk about it and maybe not, but many times things will be better when your Soldier returns home from that game of golf. My Friend speaks from experience, so I will listen!!
2) One invaluable lesson I learned after our last long deployment was to take the time to enjoy him coming home. By the time he came back, we had family and friends lined up insisting we had to come see them all. Trying to be kind and trying to let him see EVERYONE, his family and I had a long schedule jam packed with visiting as soon as he got the okay to take leave. Not only did this exhaust all of us - but with all the traveling, it made a very hard readjustment to our own home schedule. Not only were the kids dealing with Daddy coming home but also being carted around to several different relatives in a very short amount of time. We had no down time. He didn't get to get used to his own bed or couch (or refrigerator - lol). Please, remember, your soldier AND your family need to be the priority - if extended family and friends have waited a year, they can wait a couple more weeks (be sure and keep in touch with them on the phone though) so you can just enjoy a little down time with just your soldier and your immediate family.
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