Lejeune battalion gets well-deserved chance to clean up

[thedrifter]

Lejeune battalion gets well-deserved chance to clean up
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2004516102147
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes



CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(May 14, 2004) -- It's time for a bit of easy living for the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. At least as easy as it gets at the base camp here.

The battalion, assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Iraq, pulled back into their base camp near Fallujah after more than a week of field operations in the city of Zadan. The break in operations gave the Marines time to recoup and refit.

The unit weathered enemy mortar and rocket attacks and hunted down terrorists all while they worked to improve the Iraqi's living conditions through work projects. With the added effects of sandstorms and weather often peaking at 100 degrees, the Marines were ready for the chance to clean up and relax.

"The thing I was most looking forward to when we got back to camp was a shower," said Lance Cpl. Patrick T. Fulton, 22, an unmanned aerial vehicle pilot from Seattle.

The Marines had only sun-warmed field shower bags to rely on for their cleaning up. At the camp, however, a shower tent equipped with separate stalls and hot water awaited the returning warriors.

Other Marines said bliss would come with putting on clean clothes. Marines claimed their uniforms could stand on their own. Washing clothes in a garbage bag filled with water is one alternative, but many Marines had a set of clean clothes waiting on them when they arrived.

"Washing my clothes out of a bag, that's what I'd have to say I'm not gonna miss," said Pfc. Aaron F. Snell, a machine gunner with Company G from Dover, Vt. "There's something about a clean pair of clothes that makes you feel like a new man."

Care packages were also passed out to Marines upon their return to the camp. Marines grabbed at boxes of candy, magazines, newspapers and hygiene items.

For others still, it was just the chance to take part in a little sinful treat. One item sold is what Cpl. William M. Britt, 20, an assaultman with Company G, looked forward to the most.

"The PX sells these Cuban cigars," said Britt, from Lexington, S.C. "That's what I'm looking forward to the most... a good cigar."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004516102410/$file/Return1lr.jpg

Lance Cpl. Patrick T. Fulton, 22, an unmanned aerial vehicle pilot with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and from Seattle, enjoys kicking back with a good book in his down time. The Marine is responsible for coordinating the use of the intelligence-gathering plane with the unit and savored the break in operations.
(USMC photo by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes) Photo by: Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/A057BB17D326DC1185256E96004EE647?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Bomb Kills Head of Iraq Governing Council

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The head of the Iraqi Governing Council was killed in a suicide car bombing near a U.S. checkpoint in central Baghdad on Monday, dealing a blow to U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq ahead of a handover of sovereignty on June 30.

Abdel-Zahraa Othman, also known as Izzadine Saleem, was the second and highest-ranking member of the U.S.-appointed council to be assassinated. He was among four Iraqis killed in the blast, according to Redha Jawad Taki, a member of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, a Shiite Muslim organization.

"Days like today convince us even more so that the transfer must stay on track," said Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, speaking on CNN.


Kimmitt said that terrorist groups were trying to derail the democratization process in Iraq and that a suicide bomber was responsible for the attack.

As the current council president, a rotating position, Saleem was the highest-ranking Iraqi official killed during the U.S.-run occupation. His death occurred about six weeks before the United States plans to transfer power to Iraqis and underscores the risks facing those perceived as owing their positions to the Americans.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Saleem's death should not deter the transfer of power.

"What this shows is that the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are trying to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from the occupiers to the Iraqi people, and these terrorists are enemies of the Iraqi people themselves," Straw said in Brussels, Belgium upon arrival at a European Union foreign ministers meeting. The ministers planned to discuss the latest developments in Iraq.

Members of the Governing Council condemned the killing and vowed not to be intimidated.

"The Iraqi leaders are the main targets of those terrorists and anti-democratic forces, and we will not be intimidated from continuing our path to build a new Iraq," said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Southern Shuneh, Jordan.

One member, Salama al-Khafaji, said the bombing appeared to be an effort to foment sectarian divisions in Iraq and disrupt the transfer of political power. Another member, Naseer Kamel al-Chaderchi, blamed the bombing on the same groups that have conducted other attacks, including a bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad last year that killed 22 people, including U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Saleem, the name he went by most frequently, was a Shiite and a leader of the Islamic Dawa Movement in the southern city of Basra. He was a writer, philosopher and political activist, who served as editor of several newspapers and magazines. The position of council head rotates monthly.

A doctor at Yarmouk Hospital Dr. Zaid Hillil says five people died in the blast, with one apparently the suicide bomber.

Six Iraqis and two U.S. soldiers were injured in the bombing near the coalition headquarters, which is called the Green Zone, Kimmitt said. Three cars waiting in line at the headquarters were destroyed.

Abdul Razaq Abdul Karim, a gardener, was on the street near the checkpoint when a convoy with a police escort arrived moments before the blast. A red Volkswagen blew up in front of him.

"All I could see was a ball of fire rising into the air and there were body parts all around. We picked up the pieces and some of them were burned," he said.

A resident of the area, Shirin Mohammad, said she was awakened by the blast and heard gunfire.

"We were sleeping and we woke from the blast and our windows were blown out," she said. "We were afraid to leave the house."

Smoke rose from the site of the blast on the west side of the Tigris River. Firefighters and about 10 ambulances raced to the scene.

Kimmitt said the bomb might have consisted of a couple of artillery rounds placed in the back of the vehicle, possibly in the trunk.

Saleem was in a convoy of five vehicles, and the car carrying the bomb was adjacent to the council chief's car when it exploded, said witness Mohammed Laith. Hospital officials said Saleem's driver and assistant were among those killed.

Saleem was the second member of the Governing Council to be assassinated since the group was established last July.

Aquila al-Hashimi, one of three women on the 25-member body, was mortally wounded Sept. 20 when gunmen in a pickup truck ambushed her car as she drove near her Baghdad home. She died five days later.

Meanwhile, fighting persisted the Shiite heartland in southern Iraq, where American jets bombed militia positions in the city of Nasiriyah early Monday after fighters loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr drove Italian forces out of a base there. Residents said seven fighters were killed in overnight battles.

An Italian soldier on Monday died of wounds suffered during an attack on the base of the Carabinieri paramilitary police the day before in Nasiriyah, the Defense Ministry in Rome said. The soldier was the 20th Italian to die in Iraq, after a suicide truck bomb in Nasiriyah killed 19 on Nov. 12.

The Italian troops in Nasiriyah have been under attack for three days. At least nine others were injured in the clashes with armed supporters of al-Sadr, who launched an uprising against the coalition last month and faces an arrest warrant in the killing of a rival moderate cleric last year.

Despite the overnight bombing, militiamen were in control of some government buildings in Nasiriyah, and some people were taking advantage of the chaos to loot cars, residents said.

The Italian troops evacuated their base on Sunday as it came under repeated attack. Portuguese police were called out to support the Italians, their first action since the force of 128 deployed to Nasiriyah in November, a Portuguese duty officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Italians relocated to the nearby Tallil air base.

U.S. jets also bombed targets in Karbala, and there were clashes in the city, witnesses said. The bodies of six militiamen were seen in the streets on Monday.

There were intermittent blasts and gunfire overnight in Najaf, another southern city where al-Sadr supporters and American forces have fought in recent days. The new U.S.-appointed governor of Najaf, Adnan al-Zurufi, said Monday that unidentified assailants killed his uncle, Kadhim Abbas al-Zurufi.

Amid the ongoing violence, the United States is looking to move some of its 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to bolster forces in Iraq, South Korean and U.S. officials said.

"The U.S. government has told us that it needs to select some U.S. troops in South Korea and send them to Iraq to cope with the worsening situation in Iraq," said Kim Sook, head of the South Korean Foreign Ministry's North American Bureau.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said any shift in troops from South Korea would be part of the next rotation of American troops in Iraq, set to begin late this summer.

Tapping into the U.S. military force in Korea would be an historic move by the Pentagon, underscoring the degree to which the military is stretched to provide enough forces for Iraq while meeting its other commitments

The coalition is struggling to disband the cleric's army and sideline its radical leadership before handing power to a new Iraqi government.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/05/17/ap/Headlines/d82k8p1g0.txt


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines pass out goodies to local Iraqis
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200451695816
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes



CAMP ZADAN, Iraq(May 8, 2004) -- Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment conducted a bit of "street diplomacy" here recently.

The Marines fanned out to the villages surrounding the camp passing out coloring books and tackling infrastructure projects to improve living conditions for the Iraqis.

"We're giving out coloring books, school supplies and Frisbees to the local kids," said Warrant Officer Eddie D. Dubois, from Gladwin, Mi., who serves as the battalion's information operations officer. "We're getting the message across to rural areas that the Coalition Forces are here to help rebuild a free Iraq."

Most goods passed out were donated by Spirit of America, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles.

The most recent smiles came when yo-yos were passed out to local children.

"We had to show them how to use the things," Dubois explained. "They all laughed at seeing us trying to get it right and when we left they were trying to figure the things out themselves."

Even though the battalion was only in the camp for a few days, the message of the Coalition's intent of helping the Iraqi people got out. Marines passed out leaflets offering phone numbers for Iraqis to seek help for getting clean water.

"An ongoing project is helping the local water treatment plant," Dubois said.

Clean water is scarce in many rural areas of Iraq. Water treatment became a project where Marines quickly became involved.

"We've found a lack of good drinking water to be the number one complaint," said Maj. Mark P. DeVito, a Civil Affairs Group leader from San Diego. "We're putting $50,000 into the water plant. Because the people want to see immediate effects, we're giving 50,000-gallon water bladders to different towns so they have a way to get water immediately."

DeVito explained that Iraqis in the area were pro-Coalition at one time, but without seeing their surroundings improve, their minds changed. The Marines plan to leverage their assistance to gain back trust through upgrading conditions.

In addition to the water plant, CAG is also working to organize a street cleanup. Hiring people to go through the town and pick up trash not only cleans up the area but also creates jobs.

"Because we're out there in the towns every day, we see what needs to get done," DeVito said. "We become familiar to the people and they give us information about insurgents or weapons caches."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200451610045/$file/kids1lr.jpg

Lt. Col. Giles Kyser, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, hands out coloring books to Iraqi children recently. The gesture was an effort to let the local Iraqis that the Marines are there to help.
(USMC photo by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes) Photo by: Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Attacks drive Italian troops from southern base; Washington may move U.S. forces from Korea to Iraq <br />
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By: CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA - Associated Press Writer <br />
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Fighters loyal to...

[thedrifter]

Moonlighters earn Combat Aircrew Wings <br />
Submitted by: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing <br />
Story Identification #: 20045146205 <br />
Story by Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte <br />
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AL ASAD, Iraq (May 14, 2004) --...

[thedrifter]

Their country called again, they said yes <br />
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They'd already left the military. But when the Marine Corps asked if they'd go to Iraq, two bay area men couldn't say no. <br />
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By LEONORA LaPETER, Times...

[thedrifter]

Marines take a new look at logging <br />
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division <br />
Story Identification #: 2004516101245 <br />
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes <br />
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CAMP ZADAN, Iraq(May 14, 2004) -- Forget about all...

[thedrifter]

Press Release
Public Affairs Office
1st Marine Division
1stLt Eric M. Knapp

Contact: KnappEM@1mardivdm.usmc.mil

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Release # 0517-04-1325


May 16, 2004

1st Marine Division opens detention facilities to Iraqi leaders

1st Marine Division opens detention facilities to Iraqi leaders--
RAMADI – Marines and soldiers assigned to the 1st Marine Division opened the gates to a detention facility in Ar Ramadi to allow local leaders to inspect conditions and gather first-hand knowledge from interaction with detainees.

Seventeen Iraqi officials, including the governor of Al Anbar Province, toured the detention facility Saturday. The group received a brief describing how the facility operates and how detainees are cared for. The guests were able to see a typical cell and screening room. Several cells were opened and the guests were allowed to speak with some of the detainees.

Marines also met with 48 area Imams for the Mosque Improvement Project II, a project that will fund repairs and improvements to their mosques. This project is a continuation of the previous mosque improvement initiative, which started Apr. 29.

Lt. Col. Paul J. Kennedy, commanding officer for 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment based in Ar Ramadi, spoke with the Imams. He thanked them for coming to the meeting. He fielded questions and concerns from the Imams in addition to discussing the upcoming improvements available to their mosques.

The project will entail completing $1,200 in repairs and renovations for each of the 48 mosques while employing about 10 Iraqis per mosque over a two-week period.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/releaseview/F579EA6BB749EAD985256E97005FC330?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines prepare to distribute gear for unbiased Iraqi media <br />
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division <br />
Story Identification #: 200451771232 <br />
Story by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald <br />
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CAMP BLUE DIAMOND,...