More Iraq Bits - Here I am doing the work that the BBC should be doing...

Iraqi men unload and stack boxes of voting ballots into an old warehouse in downtown Ba'Qubah, Iraq on December 10, 2005. The ballots will be kept in their boxes until the morning of the election which is set to be held on December 15, 2005. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Danielle Howard) (Released)

Renovation of a school in Al-Kut is completed

AL-KUT, Iraq - Multinational Division Central South soldiers completed a project to help Iraqi schools in Al-Kut. Ukrainian soldiers specializing in civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) renovated a school for 300 children.

The work started in November of this year in Rukhae of Al-Kut. The project included the rehabilitation of the school building and replacement of the sanitary facilities. Some of the work included roof repair, painting the exterior and interior walls, new electrical wiring, new water and sewage pipes and air-conditioners.

The classrooms have new tables, blackboards and carpets as well as computers, tv’s, refrigerators and book shelves.

Children also have a new playground. The project included many other things like repair of the exterior school fence, installation of new doors, new window’s and sidewalks around the building.

The cost of the project was about 53,000 US dollars. The project also led the creation of 20 temporary jobs for local Iraqis.

U.S., Iraqi forces keep Baghdad streets safe for election

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces detained 13 suspected terrorists and located a weapons cache during pre-election operations in the capitol city Dec. 9-10.

Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment captured three suspected terrorists during a cordon-and-search operation Dec. 9.

During two different operations Dec. 10, 3rd Bn., 7th Inf. Soldiers detained six additional suspects and seized a weapons cache which included six AK-47 assault rifles, 13 AK-47 magazines, one bag of money and a hand grenade.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment also conducted an assault operation which led to the capture of three suspects in the Dora neighborhood Dec. 9.

In other operations, Iraqi forces assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Public Order Brigade detained one suspected terrorist in eastern Rasheed Dec. 9.

Election conference educates women of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq – More than 100 Iraqi women showed up at the Al Rashid District Council building Dec. 10 to learn all they could about the upcoming national elections.

Topics covered by Khazal Chassib Augla, a Master Trainer of an Iraqi non-governmental organization, included the progress of the Iraqi government, the right to vote, the voting process and what to look for in a particular candidate.

Task Force Baghdad Soldiers from A Company, 425th Civil Affairs Battalion helped organize the conference and were on hand to observe the proceedings.

The last part of the seminar was a question-and-answer period where Augla fielded various inquiries from the women in the audience.

This was the second elections-based conference hosted by the al Rashid Women’s and Children’s Committee in the past three months. The first was held Oct. 3 prior to the vote on the Constitutional Referendum.

Iraqi security forces, Task Force Freedom continue sweep of terrorists and weapons

MOSUL, Iraq — Iraqi security forces along with Multi-National Forces from Task Force Freedom detained 46 suspected terrorists and seized weapons caches in northern Iraq, Dec. 5 -12.

In Mosul, Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division along with Iraqi Police detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized loaded AK-47 magazines during a raid Dec. 5.

Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Division detained two individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a raid Dec. 8. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations Dec. 9.

Iraqi Army Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Division along with Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment seized a cache of AK-47’s with multiple loaded magazines, a sniper rifle with loaded magazines, an anti-aircraft missile launcher with four missiles, over 100 rounds of ammunition, 500 more linked rounds of ammunition, a semi-automatic pistol, an automatic rifle, hand grenades, rocket propelled grenade launchers with ammunition, and high explosives during a raid Dec. 12. Iraqi Army Soldiers confiscated the cache for future destruction. Suspects are in custody with no ISF injuries reported.

Iraqi Police detained an individual suspected of placing several IEDs near an election site during operations in Mosul Dec.10. The suspect is in custody with no ISF injuries reported.

Also in Mosul, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment detained five individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized an anti-tank mine, detonators, and a timer Dec. 5. Soldiers from 1-17 Infantry detained eight individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations Dec. 6-10.

The unit detained another ten individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a raid Dec. 7. Soldiers from 4th Squadron, 11th Field Artillery Regiment detained an individual suspected of terrorist activity during operations Dec. 9. Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity during operations Dec. 10. Suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported.

In Tal Afar, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment detained an individual suspected of terrorist activity during a raid Dec. 5. Soldiers from 2/325 Infantry also discovered a cache of AK-47 bandoleers, a 120 mm round, TNT-filled canisters, sticks of TNT, anti-U.S. propaganda, and various IED materials Dec. 5.

Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment detained six individuals suspected of terrorist activity and seized IED making materials during operations Dec. 9. Suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported.

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Nearly 90 percent of all eligible security detainees in Multi-National Forces-Iraq Theater Internment Facilities participated in today’s democratic vote on the Iraqi National Ballot.

MNF-I took special care to ensure that every eligible detainee who wanted to vote was afforded the opportunity. Balloting opened early this morning and continued until all eligible detainee’s passed through the polling stations.

Voting took place at Camp Bucca, Abu Ghraib and Fort Suse TIFs. Extending the vote to all eligible Iraqis is another example of how the rule of law is helping to strengthen the Iraqi society. The right to shape a free and representative democracy is not a privilege for few, but a right of all Iraqis.

New firing range open for Iraqi Soldiers

CAMP ECHO, Iraq — Soldiers from 8th Iraqi Army Division have a new firing range to conduct exercises and training. The range was built by Romanian, Polish and Slovakian engineers from Multi-National Division Central South.

The firing range consists of two shooting ranges: 50 meters and 600 meters in length. It is designed for small arms firing training and heavy machine guns up to 12.7 mm. There are 1,600 meters long berms, 30 shooting positions and places for theory lectures.

The new firing range was opened on Dec. 11, by MNDCS Commanding General, Major General Piotr Czerwinski and 8th IA Division Commanding General, Major General Othman Ali Ferhood.

MNDCS supports Iraqi Army in training but also makes the effort to improve training conditions for Iraqi Soldiers. The new firing range will improve and broaden the scope of training in gunnery shooting.

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