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US defense secretary visits N.Iraq to meet troops
KIRKUK, Iraq, Dec 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld began a first-hand appraisal of political and military conditions in Iraq on Saturday, swooping into the northern city of Kirkuk to meet troops and local leaders.
Rumsfeld arrived in rainy conditions aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo plane that flew from Tbilisi, Georgia. He was met at the airport by Major General Ray Odierno, commander of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.
He arrived in the northern oil city just after daybreak and was due to visit Baghdad later in the day for further meetings with military commanders, U.S. civil administrator Paul Bremer and the head of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council.
Rumsfeld had meetings scheduled with U.S. troop commanders and Iraqi political leaders in Kirkuk, including the mayor and provincial governor.
The centre of Iraq's oil industry in the north, Kirkuk is the most ethnically diverse city in the country, with roughly equal numbers of Kurds and Sunni Arabs, and has largely escaped the violence that has taken hold in other parts of Iraq.
Since Rumsfeld's last visit to Iraq in September, an Iraqi insurgency has escalated against U.S. forces and allies as well as against Iraqis cooperating with the American-led occupation.
In response, the United States wants to return sovereignty to the Iraqi people at a quicker pace and has built up the number of trained Iraqi security personnel to the point that they now outnumber the nearly 130,000 U.S. troops in the country.
Rumsfeld was the leading architect of the war which drove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from power in April but has spawned a bloody revolt that the Pentagon attributes largely to armed Saddam loyalists.
UPBEAT SECURITY ASSESSMENT
Odierno briefed Rumsfeld on the progress of operations in his division's vast territory -- north of Baghdad up to Kirkuk and east to the Iranian border, including three quarters of the "Sunni triangle" where most attacks happen.
"I think we've made some really good progress here in the last three weeks or so in terms of picking up some key people that I think will have an affect in my entire area of operations," Odierno said.
Rumsfeld leaned back in his chair firing off a series of questions and making comments during his briefing by Odierno, which was open to the press.
In a response to one question from Rumsfeld, Odierno said he did not need additional American troops, saying "Over time we will definitely be able to use fewer troops" due to the growing number of Iraqis being trained for the security units.
Odierno said recent aggressive U.S. operations aimed at crushing the resistance have led Iraqis to come forward with better intelligence tips. Some were seeking more covert ways of passing on intelligence as a result of increased intimidation of local Iraqis by the insurgents.
Rumsfeld, speaking of attempts to track down the highest level of fugitives including Saddam Hussein, said: "The chances of us stumbling on one of the top guys are zero."
Odierno said attacks by insurgents in his region had declined, that the Iranian border was fairly well sealed and that U.S.-led forces had been able to limit roadside bombs attacks to a five percent success rate for resistance forces.
Earlier Rumsfeld ate breakfast with soldiers at the airbase cafeteria at a table surrounded by troops and a Christmas tree.
12/06/03 01:52 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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Insurgent Success Rate Down in Northern Iraq Attacks Against Coalition
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
KIRKUK, Iraq, Dec. 6, 2003 - Attacks against coalition forces in northern Iraq have dropped significantly in recent weeks, and 95 percent of them fail to hurt coalition personnel or even damage coalition vehicles, the commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division told visiting Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld here today.
Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno said that while the numbers of attacks went up at first when insurgents changed to more "stand-off" kinds of attacks using improvised explosive devices and rocket and mortar attacks, the attacks have fallen off as more and more factors are working against the insurgents. The general said Iraqi citizens increasingly are providing information that leads coalition forces to insurgency organizers, bomb makers and financiers.
"I think we've made some really good progress here in the last three weeks or so in terms of picking up some key people that I think will have an effect on my entire area of operations." His division is responsible for the area north of Baghdad to Kirkuk and out to the Iranian border.
Odierno said that as more and more criminals and attackers are killed, wounded or locked up, successful coalition operations result in Iraqis coming forward with more new information. He estimated that about 200 people are arrested each week, about 90 percent of them by Iraqi police.
As the coalition takes more weapons out of circulation, they become more expensive for insurgents to procure, and the price for "hired guns" to carry out attacks is going up as well, Odierno said. "The price is getting higher because they're less willing to come forward," he said, "because they're paying with their lives, and they don't want to do that."
He estimated that 90 percent of the people organizing and carrying out attacks on the coalition are mid-level former regime loyalists.
Rumsfeld arrived shortly after dawn and had breakfast with soldiers and airmen at the air base here before receiving an update on the northern Iraq situation from Odierno. Part of the reason for the decline in the success rate of attacks against the coalition, the general said, is that once the coalition adjusted to the new tactics, it became more difficult for the attackers to get away.
"They know if they stay more than about two minutes, they're not going to make it," he told Rumsfeld in the briefing. This, he explained, caused the attacks to be made from mobile platforms, rather than fixed positions, making the attackers unable to aim their weapons accurately. "So they just kind of fire them off, and hope they get lucky," Odierno said.
As time has gone on, the coalition and Iraqi security forces have become more adept at knowing what to look for at vehicle checkpoints and at narrowing down how and when the insurgents plant many of their IEDs, division officials told the secretary, and this progress prevents many attacks that might have succeeded earlier from ever taking place.
Odierno praised the work of Iraqi security forces in the north. They accompany soldiers on about half of their patrols, and on about three-quarters of their cordon-and-search raids, with the numbers even higher in some areas.
The division commander told the secretary he doesn't need more soldiers, and in fact probably will need fewer than the 32,000 soldiers now serving in Task Force Ironhorse as more and more Iraqis take on security responsibilities.
Odierno showed Rumsfeld a chart detailing thousands of weapons, IEDs, rockets, grenades, blasting caps, ammunition rounds, explosives and other equipment task force soldiers found in a recent 45-day period. "I had 3,400 cache sites in our division area," he said. "We've consolidated and shrunk that. We're now down to about 400 sites, and I think by the end of December (or) the beginning of January, we'll be down to almost zero."
When Rumsfeld asked the general whether things were better in the north than they were when the secretary last visited three months ago, Odierno didn't hesitate to say they were. "Every month it gets better," he said. "We were down talking to soldiers the other day, and they said, 'Sir, you know I can't believe how much better it's gotten, because we see the difference in the Iraqi people. We see the difference when we go out and have contacts with the people. We even see that we feel we're being much more successful at interdicting what (the insurgents are) trying to do.'"
A meeting with local Iraqi leaders followed the military briefing, and the secretary then traveled to Baghdad for the afternoon. Rumsfeld was visiting Iraq as part of a weeklong trip that started out on Dec. 1 at the NATO defense ministers meeting and included stops in the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as in Afghanistan.
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Please pass this info on to family members you know whose military sponsor is deployed.
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Letter of Appreciation and Thanks
December 5, 2003
SUBJECT: Letter of Appreciation and Thanks
Dear Friends of the 4th Infantry Division and Taskforce Ironhorse,
I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the Commander, 4th Infantry Division, Major General Raymond T. Odierno, and the soldiers of Taskforce Ironhorse, our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity and caring spirit in helping us give support to the children and families of Iraq through Operation Peace and Joy. I also want to let you know we are closing down this operation due to the pending preparations for redeployment of our soldiers to Ft. Hood in the coming new year.
Our command has taken your donated items and included it with the "tons" of other items generously donated by so many others just like yourself and provided these precious supplies to our soldiers. True peace will come through such gracious acts as yours as each act of donated love touches the hearts, minds, and hands of our fellow soldiers and therefore, our nation and families, and those of the Iraqi people.
Thank you for sending the donated materials for Operation Peace and Joy. It has been a joy for me to facilitate your wonderful generosity and as of this moment we have mailed over 550 separate boxes to the unit chaplains in Iraq to distribute to our soldiers on your behalf. We will continue to forward any donated packages as we receive them but I need to begin closing down this operation due to the division's preparations for returning to Ft. Hood in the new year. May God richly bless you and reward you for your wonderful act of giving.
DEWAYNE L. BREWER, CH (LTC)
Rear Detachment Chaplain
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) My son (3-29 FA Charlie BTRY) is currently near Samarra where some of the recent conflicts have occurred. I have gotten some email and one call from him this past week. He received a box I mailed within two weeks. He sounds very positive and getting into the Christmas spirit. He even asked me to send some Christmas music so they could sing Christmas songs. Also I received a newsletter yesterday that he had dated Nov 10th. He described a storm that had occurred there with strong winds that were blowing some of their tents down. He described some of the effects of the wind and included some pictures of their area after the storm. However, he ended with this which I want to share with everyone: "But if you look close, you can see something that didn't fall during the storm...the American flag. Coincidence? Luck? Not to me. It was truly amazing to see it still standing there this morning amidst the destruction. It gave me hope that we really are doing the right thing here and despite the storms, we won't fall". Of course I was crying after reading this. God Bless all our troops and keep them safe.
2) My son: HHC TOC 1/67AR, at Scunion finally got a chance to mail film back to the states, and we received all 8 rolls on Wednesday. We rushed to get them developed at our local grocery, the woman who works there was almost as excited to get them as we were. It was SO good to see our son's face smiling at us for the first time in monthes!!!! There are photos that he took at the Palace in Tikrit when he was there on R&R in August, I can't believe how oppulent it was! There are a few of his living quarters before the conex units were assembled, and after. The 'before' photos were nothing more than a space where you had your cot, and all your posessions, each guys area seperated by a blanket or something. He looks like he is taking good care of himself, not too skinny, and from the photos we can tell he is with a very 'tight' group of guys. That makes us feel much better. This is one mom who already got her best Christmas present this year.....A photo of my handsome Soldier in his uniform !!! It will be front and center on my Christmas tree.. God Bless all our troops and their families...
3) I was so excited to go the mailbox today and find another letter from our son, 46th Chem Co, in Taji. He sounded fine and stated that he had been given the task of decorating for Thanksgiving and Christmas. He said he was not happy spending the holdiays over there but was going to make the best of it and that we must have been reading his mind as he had received a box with some of the items he had just asked for in a previous letter. He said he had been very busy and that their phone had been out so that must be the reason he has not had a chance to call. We have not spoken to each other since the second week in Oct! So, someone get those phones to working please! I know too, he has been very busy and that accounts for a lot of the reason. I just wish he could get internet as well, that would work too.
4) My husband (Alpha Co. 1-22 Inf.) left back for Iraq on November 30. We had an amazing 2 week visit, I asked few questions but listened to everything. He had a 35lb growth on his side for the full two weeks (our 3 yr old son), he couldn't keep his eyes off of our 2 1/2 month old son. It didn't take him long to get back in the groove of things - he was very worried about whether or not he would adjust, he's an amazing man. All of our soldiers are amazing, they need to be reassured of this as often as possible. To those who don't get to see their soldiers until April - God bless you and be with you till you can unite your family again.
5) When the phone rang at 3:40 this morning I knew before I answered it who it was! I haven't had a call in weeks but I knew this one was Him. He is my youngest son, serving with the 3/29 FA BN from Ft. Carson. His outfit is outside Samarrah and with the news coming from that area lately we (his family) have all been scared silly! The news he had to tell has been the greatest gift I could be given, He will be home for Christmas! Thank God! ....I got the name of a SSgt. in the 3/29th that the American Legion can continue to send packages to for all the soldiers in that outfit. I think what these people are doing is great and I wish that other organizations all over the country could adopt a unit to send food and comfort items to. I know that there are soldiers who don't receive much mail from home and it breaks my heart to think about it! The AL post sends everything from food to clothing ,games ,playing
cards,books,candy,toothbrushes,bug repellant and every thing under the sun
that they think will make life a little better for our men and women in Iraq.
6) My husband is in Bravo Troop 1-10 Cav from Ft. Hood, TX. The past two days he's been able to call and get on the internet because they opened a computer/phone center for the soldiers. He's excited about not haivng to wait in long lines to use the satellite phone anymore. He re-enlisted for 4 more years this past week as well, so he may be able to come home for R&R in January. He said he's doing well, and they're in an area where they get food from a civilian contractor, so he's definately happy not to have to look at an MRE for every meal. He said when he comes home we're going to have to go camping a lot because he's gotten so used to sleeping outside. His unit has been moving around so much that they often don't bother to put up tents, so just about every night he's falling asleep under the stars. Hopefully, he will be home soon so we can start our camping trips.
7) I found this map during a search. It's been the most detailed one I've found so far. If you place your arrow on the lower right hand corner, a little square will appear that will allow you to enlarge. Just thought I'd share. :)
www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_cia_2003.jpg
8) I got a call again today from my husband who is in the 104th MI BN in Tikrit Iraq, telling me that he is headed to Samarra and as soon as he gets back he will call me to let me know he's OK. I really didn't like how that sounded because so much has been happening in that area. Raids, clearing houses, tower guards, patrols, details, and more details. This has turned into the daily routine of how things are run now. All he can tell me is that he loves me, cherishes me, thanks me for my support, and those many boxes of goodies that he gets. I figure whatever makes him happy and gets his mind off of things for even just a minute makes me happy too. (Lots of Honey buns is what he asked for in his Christmas box of goodies!) His other
Christmas wish is probably like any other soldiers in Iraq, to come home! Well we have made it through almost 9 months now and the time is winding down all I wish for is for him to come home safe and sound, nothing would be a greater gift to me than that.
9) Today I whatched my soldier of 1/10 CAV 4TH ID board a plane back to Iraq. With tears streaming down my face as they did 8 months ago all I could tell him was that I loved him and I always would, and that I would be right there waiting for him in that gym at Ft.Hood in a few months. I was trying to smile to get him to stop crying too, but having to let him go back to a hurting place and back to danger was killing me inside. But I kept telling myself they really are making a difference in someone's life. Having him here for the 15 days made it the best 15 days of my entire life. Never will I forget the feeling I had when I got to hold him for the first time in 8 months, or to be able to tell him in person how much I really did love him, and how proud I was of him. Knowing he'll be back in 3-4 months helps to pass the time. He's my solider and I'll always love him. God Bless all the soldiers, and their families,
10) I have been so blessed because my husband (Alpha Co. 1/22 IN BN) is in a
different location in Iraq now and has better access to the phones. I have been getting a phone call every other day and we get to talk as long as we want. Yesterday when he called I was telling him how one of the new guys who is running for president said that if we vote for him he will bring all the troops home. My husband told me that would be the wrong thing to do. He said the Iraqi people need us and we can't just leave them. That no matter what we hear on TV that we are making a difference and yes some of them don't want us there but a lot do. He said he sees women and children walking the streets now and schools and business' going up. He said he met a man that thanked him for being there because when Sadaam was there he got caught drunk and for punishment they cut his right arm off. My husband said we cannot be selfish and even though he does want to come home he knows he is needed elsewhere. I am so proud of him! He is across the world and missing all the holidays and will miss the birth of of first child and he is thinking of someone else! What a man!
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