War News

War News Not In the LSM Circulation

War News Not In the LSM Circulation

Monday, April 23, 2007 3:21 PM

Baghdad Operations Commander meets new Iraqi troops

23 April 2007
By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI — The Iraqi general in charge of leading the Iraqi efforts in Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon, visited his troops here April 17.

Lt. Gen. Abud Qanbar, commanding general of the Baghdad Operations Command met with the newly-established 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army (IA) Division (Mechanized).

Qanbar took the opportunity during his visit to talk with brigade leadership about progress they have made as they transition from training to active roles in combat missions, which support Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon.

The plan is designed for Iraqi security forces, working alongside Coalition forces, to take lead in ending insurgency within the capital city and outlying areas.

In a briefing with Qanbar, Lt. Col. Michael Loew, team chief for the 3-9 Military Transition Team, said the Soldiers within the 3rd Bde., 9th IA Div. (Mech.) are creating a lot of momentum and are going in the right direction.

An Iraqi officer also present at the meeting told Qanbar the brigade’s 1st Battalion is considered ready to take on any challenge in their area of operations.

How Odd This Progress Goes Unrecognized By The Moron reid and company

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, April 23, 2007 —The general in charge of leading the Iraqi efforts in Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon, also known as the Baghdad security plan, is Lt. Gen. Abud Qanbar, commanding general of the Baghdad Operations Command. He paid a visit here April 17 to meet with troops from the newly established 3rd Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division (Mechanized).

Accompanied by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John F. Campbell, Multi-National Division-Baghdad’s deputy commander for maneuver, and two other Iraqi generals, Qanbar took the opportunity during his visit to talk to the brigade’s leaders about progress they have been making as they work to make the transition from training to taking an active role in combat missions that support Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon.

The plan, which was originally announced in January, is for Iraqi security forces – working alongside coalition forces – to take the lead in crushing the insurgency in the capital city and outlying areas.

In a briefing with Qanbar, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Loew, chief of the transition team, told the general the units within his team are “…making a lot of momentum, going in the right direction.”

“The (brigade’s) soldiers have been training with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment and they have a great staff. We and the (Iraqi army) troops enjoy working with them every day,” added Loew, who hails from Stafford, Va.
New Iraqi Soldiers?

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2007 – Changes in Iraq’s Anbar province and the failure of the Taliban spring offensive in Afghanistan are good signs, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an interview today on his way home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

During his flight home, Marine Gen. Peter Pace spoke about his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq he took part in a series of meetings with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates; Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, the commander of U.S. Central Command; Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq; and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq.

Gates, Pace and Fallon arrived in Baghdad on April 19. A total of 12 helicopters airlifted the party to Fallujah for briefings with Marines about the situation in Anbar province then back to Baghdad for meetings at Camp Victory.

On April 20, the U.S. leaders, including U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, met with Iraqi leaders, including President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji. At the conclusion of that meeting, Gates flew back to Washington, and Pace went on to Afghanistan.

Pace said the meeting with U.S. and Iraqi leaders was tremendously helpful to him. He said civilian and military leaders in Baghdad were able to give the secretary and him the ground truth in Iraq, and Gates and he were able to give U.S. leaders in Iraq what the ground truth is in Washington.

The general said the meetings were a chance for American leaders to examine the way ahead in Iraq, “the opportunities for decisions, and the kind of things we’re looking for when we make those decisions.”
Change Is Good