Iraq Report, 09 May/05

Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

TOP TOPICS

• U.S. forces captured yet another al-Zarqawi aide in Baghdad on Thursday, Ammar al-Zubaydi. The military claims that al-Zubaydi is responsible for numerous car bombings and that he was preparing to try to assassinate a senior Iraqi official.

• Iraq took a big step towards getting its new government in place with the appointment of six new cabinet members on Sunday. One of the four Sunnis selected declined his appointment as Human Rights Minister, meaning the work of filling the government is not yet complete with two vice premierships still open.

• Insurgents killed seven American servicemen over the weekend from roadside bombs and a firefight in western Iraq. Insurgent activity has spiked since the January election as the Iraqi parliament works to build its new government.

Other Topics Today Include: bringing back the Marines alive; Karpinski offers new excuse; Operation Bailer; reconstruction highlights; Carnival of the Liberated; a review of the new Iraqi government; Bulgaria prepares to leave, Italy and Denmark stay; the Combat Action Badge.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• What is it with the "quiet, but crazy" ones? "I looked out there and saw this crazy maniac firing away so all the Marines could come back alive," said Lance Cpl. Carlos Gomez-Perez, who was severely wounded in the attack.

• General Colonel Karpinski's latest claim for the abuses at Abu Ghraib is that she was given her position in Iraq for PC purposes without the latitude to actually command the prison. This is different from the last claim that it was the Israeli's fault.

• RED2ALPHA tells us about Operation Bailer: Reloaded -"It was after curfew, 2300 to 0500, so traffic should be nearly nonexistent. Throw up some strands of concertina wire, cones, Chem Lights, and wait until the mission was over. Easy. Until we got lost."

• Baldilocks asks "how realistic does this sound to you?" after Aidan Delgado told Bob Herbert, "Guys in my unit, particularly the younger guys, would drive by in their Humvee and shatter bottles over the heads of Iraqi civilians passing by. They'd keep a bunch of empty Coke bottles in the Humvee to break over people's heads." There have been responses to the question - check the link to see more.

• Argghhh!!! - See what happens when operator head space and timing is used instead of correct MA Deuce head space and timing.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Here are some of this week's reconstruction highlights: Installation of a V-94 combustion gas turbine at the Taza substation in Kirkuk will add 325MW to the Iraq electricity grid. Work continues on the rehabilitation of the Doura power plant in southern Baghdad, which will provide an additional 320 MW. This is being coordinated with rehabilitation work on 8 other substations. Work continues on the augmentation of trunk sewer systems serving Zafaraniyah, a district in South Eastern Baghdad - the project should be completed in December. Wheat technology field days are being held this week in Arbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah. Forty field days will be held, and a total of approximately 1,300 farmers are expected to attend. USAID’s partner providing support to the Transitional Government finished a draft plan for its institutional strengthening program, following weeks of consultations with senior executive members and political parties represented in the Transitional National Assembly. The municipal government of a city in south central Iraq organized the clean-up of two local communities, providing 60 days of employment to 278 residents. More than 3,000 youth participated in the workshops that focused on artistic self-expression and using art as a social and educational outlet. USAID with WHO and UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health’s campaign to vaccinate children aged 9 months to five years against measles, mumps and rubella.

IRAQI POLITICS

• The BBC reviews the development of the new Iraqi government as it prepares to assume power.

• The latest Carnival of the Liberated is up at Dean's World.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Bulgaria will remove its 450 troops from Iraq by the end of 2005. Conversely, the Danish government reached an agreement to keep its troops in Iraq at least until 1 February 2006, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised not to pull Italian troops from Iraq over disagreements with the United States regarding the death of Italian agent Nicola Calipari.

ETCETERA

• BlackFive received notice from Marine Captain James who wants to get the word out about military spouses being scammed by phony casualty assistance officers. Slimy maggot is as slimy maggot does.

• Michelle Malkin chimes in on leaked intelligence regarding the Sgrena investigation. Follow the links from several news sources and bloggers for a complete picture.

• A teenager, in Columbus, Georgia was suspended from school for ten days because he refused to hang up on his Mom, who called him from Iraq. Principal Alfred Parham stated the student's suspension was based on his reaction to the teacher's order to hang up - saying the teen used profanity when taken to the office. Ace of Spades has more.

• Military personnel in hostile environments may now earn a CAB - Combat Action Badge, which is distinct from the Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medical Badge. Murdoc says, "It's about time."

• Do you have your GI Bracelet? Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. The entire $5 purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families! Please join us to give back to these brave people in their time of need.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!

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