FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 11, 2004
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, IRAQ - The 1st Infantry Division and Task Force Danger continue to conduct operations to kill or capture anti-coalition forces and simultaneously conduct stability and support operations in order to set the conditions for Iraqi civil and military self-reliance. The following items are a wrap-up of only this week's significant progress towards that goal. Most of this significant story is not being told--the American people are not aware of the great work its service men and women are doing in Iraq. They are also not aware of the support and sacrifice of Task Force Danger families in Germany and throughout the United States.
Making a difference in the safety and security of Iraq
Between the 4th and 11th of April, Task Force Danger conducted a total of 1,601 combat patrols to provide security in the division’s battle space. Approximately ten percent of these patrols were combined operations with our Iraq Security Force partners. Task Force Danger conducted a total of 21 deliberate raids this week capturing known terrorists and criminals who attacked Coalition Forces. Both our Engineer Brigade and DIVARTY cleared over 880 kilometers of the main highways in the division battle space and consolidated over 98 tons of captured enemy ammunition that will prevent the anti-coalition forces from attacking our soldiers with Improvised Explosive Devices, rockets, or mortars.
This week, several cities in the division’s battle space witnessed large protests incited by the radical Shia Leader Muqtada Al Sadr and his militia. Our soldiers exhibited great skill in both combat and civil-military operations, preventing many of these demonstrations from turning violent. In some cases, terrorist members of Sadr’s Militia turned these protests from peaceful gatherings to attacks on legitimate Iraqi government and security offices. In every case, Task Force Danger soldiers with Iraqi Security Forces performed magnificently to defend police stations, government buildings, and Iraqi civilians, inflicting enormous damage upon the enemy. Major victories over anti-coalition forces occurred this week in the cities of Kirkuk, Hawaija, Samara, Baquabah, and Buqadidya. The offensive spirit of the Big Red One is feared by the enemy.
Task Force Danger forces also provided support to many other ongoing Combined Joint Task Force – 7 (CJTF-7) operations. During the religious pilgrimages associated with the Islamic holiday Arba’een, 2nd Brigade Combat Team soldiers provided support to the city of Samara where up to 60,000 Iraqis were scheduled to gather. The 30th Brigade Combat Team from North Carolina supported the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement and screened the Iran-Iraq border to ensure that only legitimate pilgrims crossed the Iranian frontier. Additionally, the 2nd Brigade Combat Teams provided support to the United States Marine Corps’ operations in Fallujah by preventing enemy forces from moving into the division’s battle space.
The training and equipping of the Iraqi Security Forces continues. Many brave Iraqis place themselves at risk and make daily sacrifices serving their country as members of the Iraqi Security Forces. Within the division’s battle space, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps currently has more than 9,049 Iraqi soldiers providing security for their fellow citizens and another 140 more are training in North Central Iraq.
Taking the elements of violence off the streets
This past week, operations in the Task Force Danger battle space have resulted in an estimated 89 enemy killed in action, an estimated 21 enemy wounded in action, and an additional 157 enemy detained. Fourteen major enemy weapons and ammunition caches were discovered this week. Significant ammunition seized from these caches included 164 rockets, over 412 artillery and tank rounds, nearly 600 mortar rounds, sixty grenades, and over 10,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. Major equipment found included one anti-aircraft gun and sixty-one mortar tubes. Sixteen improvised explosive devices were discovered prior to detonation preventing the needless loss of life at the hands of anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi forces. The division will continue to find, secure, and destroy weapons and ammunition caches in order to make Iraq a more secure country. Our work has just begun.
Working to strengthen the infrastructure in North Central Iraq
Task Force Danger continues to work with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the Iraqi people to strengthen the civil infrastructure in North Central Iraq. Several division level “ministries” have shown great progress towards that goal.
The Task Force Danger Ministry of Oil is working several initiatives to support the ailing Iraqi oil infrastructure, and in turn, benefit all Iraqis. First, we are using the Brigade Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds to upgrade automation in the oil companies around Bayji and Kirkuk. For some, this will be the first time they have had access to email and internet in their workplace. Our goal is to facilitate better communication between Coalition and Iraqis, but more importantly, between Iraqis and Iraqis. The lack of communication between oil companies back to their supervisors in Baghdad causes many problems. Today, the Ministry of Oil still relies on carbon copied hand written notes that must be mailed to oil companies in cities outside of Baghdad. It commonly takes one to two weeks for the Ministry of Oil to disseminate basic information. Secondly, Task Force Danger had approximately $1,600,000 worth of division sponsored CERP funds approved to provide much needed equipment, parts, and tools for the refineries and distribution centers in Bayji and Kirkuk. These projects will provide Iraqi workers with the tools, equipment, and support they need to continue production and distribution. There are still many other vital needs, but this is a good first step.
The Task Force Danger Ministry of Transportation and civil affairs are currently working on a project for renovation of the Samarra Rail Station. This is the first of 25 rail station renovations for the province of Salah ad Din as part of the CPA Supplemental and Project Management Office (PMO) initiatives. The Samarra Rail Station project is being done separate from the CPA Supplemental projects in order to establish a template for execution and a cohesive working group that will implement the upcoming PMO initiatives. The plan for the working group is to involve the Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR) Area Manager located in Bayji, city council of Samarra, the division transportation ministry, and the local civil affairs teams. The working group will facilitate the national vision of the IRR, the regional vision of the area manager, the immediate needs of the station manager, satisfy the local community, and tie them with coalition capabilities and information operations. By integrating all these groups, we will synch the community needs for employment and public transportation with the economic needs of the region. This project prepares the station for an automated train control system, VHF communication between all stations and trains, and a positive community location and transportation hub. This project will be the first of many that will allow the IRR and local community the ability to initiate and execute their own vision with the use of coalition resources and assets.
The 1st Infantry Division donated 11 ambulances to Salah ad Din Province during an April 7 ceremony at the division headquarters on FOB Danger. The division Chief of Staff gave the first set of keys to Dr. Hassan Zain al-Abdin, Iraqi Minister of Health. The presentation was made after Zain al-Abdin toured a hospital and the Tikrit University College of Medicine. These ambulances will go a long way towards helping the Iraqi people provide emergency treatment to its citizens.
Task Force Danger is committed to the future of the Iraqi education system by resourcing programs to rebuild schools and distribute school supplies. In the last few weeks, numerous civil affairs teams have continued to assess the physical condition of Iraqi primary and secondary schools in the division’s provinces of Salah ad Din, Diyala, At Tamin, and As Sulaymaniyah. Numerous schools have been selected throughout the area for future rehabilitation. These projects will run on average $48,000 per school. Additionally, Task Force Danger is preparing a program to distribute future donated school supplies to Iraqi school children. This program will consist of a web page www.operationican.com, where families and friends of Task Force Danger deployed soldiers can log on, and receive instructions on how and where to ship donated school supplies. This web site, named Operation I CAN (Iraqi Children Assistance Network) will immensely benefit the Iraqi school children.
International Police Advisors (IPA) are currently doing an assessment of the Salah Ad Din Province Iraqi National Police (INP). This assessment will result in the implementation of improved training programs. The introduction of these programs will increase the effectiveness, transparency, and professionalism of the INP through the introduction of ethical and standardized training, institutional development, and reform. The INP has a great deal to learn about policing in a democratic society. The INP assessment will assist in validating weapons, equipment, and personnel requirements.
Task Force Danger is committed to rebuilding the Iraqi economy. Civil affairs teams have continued to assess the agriculture, private sector, and government owned industries in the division’s four provinces. Currently, Task Force Danger is developing projects to rebuild the retail infrastructure and expand the number of employment and business centers. The Private Sector Development Team at CPA Headquarters in Baghdad is preparing to empower Brigade Commanders and Iraqi Provincial Governors with programs and consultants to jump-start the economy.
Currently, in Kirkuk, we are working on a project that will automate all 14 banks, the pension office, the treasurer, and the supreme board of auditors. The project will also include a training program with an emphasis on computer skills. We are developing a project for the Salah ad Din province that would automate the Salah ad Din treasury in Tikrit and the pension office. The program will include full automation and connectivity as well as accounting, budget, and cash management training. These projects will not only streamline the banking system but more importantly aid in the process of salary payments and move the Iraqis away from a cash dependent banking system.
The Task Force Danger Ministry of Justice has taken steps to continue the mission of reestablishing the criminal justice system within North Central Iraq, and has focused additional energy on several new projects, including the Iraqi Property Claims Commission (IPCC), the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI), and an assessment of the Iraqi civil court system. Recently, the Ministry of Justice personnel met with local judges to identify needed repair projects for courthouses throughout all of the provinces in our area of operations, coordinated with the CPA Ministry of Justice to acquire needed supplies for the local courts, began monitoring/assessing the current operation of these courts, and initiated discussions regarding legal training seminars for local judges and lawyers. These actions help achieve the goal of ensuring that the courts in our area of operations are fully operational with minimal coalition monitoring and they are providing adequate due process of law to all individuals who appear before them.
More electricity is being generated in our area of operations than was pre-war. We are currently producing about 800 megawatts and were on target to meet our goal of 1,200 megawatts by June 30th. Two new power plants are now running in Bayji, providing over 300 new jobs for the Iraqi people. These jobs are a variety of both skilled and unskilled vocations. A third new power plant is being built in Taza, and will provide an additional 300 megawatts to the Iraqi electric grid. This new plant will also provide hundreds of new jobs for local Iraqi's. The Coalition is working with existing power plant management and staff to improve power plant operation and output. Together we are improving existing plants in order to stabilize the electric grid and provide consistent service to all Iraqi's. We have had a strong start in rebuilding the Iraqi electricity infrastructure and there are more projects and improvements in the planning stages. These new projects will provide more jobs and better electric service for the Iraqi people.
Task Force Danger is organizing a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) conference to attract more NGOs to North Central Iraq to help with the rebuilding of Iraqi civil society. The conference aims to facilitate collaboration among NGOs, local government, and Task Force Danger and to provide a platform to empower local NGOs to take an active role in promoting civic society in their communities and sustaining local NGO involvement by improving skills and networking with international NGOs. Additionally, the Government Team is working with the CPA, USAID, and the Salah Ad Din Governor to set-up a building in Tikrit as an NGO center. We continue to meet with representatives of local groups to work on a variety of issues: widows, orphans, handicapped (former army, war-injured civilians), displaced persons, unemployed (mostly disbanded army), youth, elderly, rural health care and agriculture, in order to assess the groups’ needs and to link with international organizations that provide those needs.
The Task Force Danger Ministry of Culture continues to educate soldiers and work to preserve historical sites. The ministry distributes the Soldier's Handbook to Iraq as well as briefs on Iraqi religion and culture. Also, we are making strides towards improving historically significant sites in need preservation. This includes identifying such sites in North Central Iraq and ensuring that the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities (SBA) is aware of such sites. The next step is to ensure the SBA guards are equipped, trained, and working in coordination with local Iraqi Police Forces to prevent looters from destroying the already neglected sites. Once improvements such as parking lots, public restroom facilities and lighting are complete, revenue generated from the tourism will ensure these sites are sustainable for future generations of Iraqis to enjoy.
Task Force Danger continues to assess the current media outlets across the Division’s area. We have been working closely with local Iraqis in Tikrit and have started plans to reequip a Tikrit radio station. This station will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, which will give them the ability to produce local news stories, and radio shows. This will be a significant accomplishment that they have not had until now.
Creating a partnership for the future with Key Iraqi Leaders
The Commanding General hosted the inaugural Iraqi Provincial Governor and Coalition Provisional Authority conference on March 31 in Tikrit. Brigade commanders, CPA officials, and Provincial Governors from the four provinces of At Tamin, Salah ad Din, As Sulamaniyah and Diyala attended the six-hour conference. The conference was successful at forming a partnership between Task Force Danger senior leaders, CPA Governate Coordinators and Iraqi government officials that are located in North Central Iraq.
The Task Force Danger Commanding General met with Dr. Hussein Al Jabouri, the chairman of the Iraqi National Gathering on April 6. The Iraqi National Gathering has over 500,000 registered members and was responsible for the coup and assassination attempt against Saddam Hussein in the early 1990’s. A large majority of those involved in the planning against Saddam were captured or killed. Dr. Hussein, who fled to Northern Iraq, survived the Regime Years, and is very influential with the people of Iraq because of his success standing against Saddam. The two leaders discussed cooperation between his party and the U.S. Military in the region.
Leaders from 2nd Brigade Combat Team held weekly meetings with Falah al Naqeeb, the governor of Salah ad Din to ensure a peaceful celebration of Arba’een. This is unprecedented cooperation between city governments, the Iraqi Security Forces, the CPA, and the division. Their partnership ensured that there was a peaceful celebration of Arba’een in Samarra.
Conclusion
Task Force Danger continues to simultaneously conduct combat and stability operations that are leading to a secure environment and improved infrastructure. Our combat operations have been aggressive and successful in killing or capturing those bent on disrupting the process to achieve a free and democratic Iraq. The price has been high, but the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and Task Force Danger are resolute and steadfast. We will accomplish the mission. We have made great strides in partnership with the courageous people of Iraq towards their future of civil and military self-reliance. The American people should be very proud and confident in the outcome in the OIF mission.
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