The Latest from the MNF in in Iraq

Here are some quick headlines coming from the Multi National Forces in Iraq...

Governance Center opens in Arab Jabour...

It was a great day for leaders and citizens in Arab Jabour when the Arab Jabour Governance Center officially opened Dec. 27 with a large ceremony on the grounds of the center. More than 250 people were in attendance.

The center will function similar to a city hall for Arab Jabour. It will be the headquarters for the Arab Jabour Governance Council and the Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) group of Arab Jabour. Local Iraqis will be able to bring infrastructure and political issues to Arab Jabour leaders at the center.

Lt. Col. Kenneth Adgie, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said the opening of the GovernanceCenter is a symbol of the progress in security that has been made in Arab Jabour during the last six months.

“This is where people can get problems solved,” Adgie said. He also said this is a step forward in the political progress being made in here.

Military Dogs: A Soldier's Best Friend

With their strong sense of smell and their immeasurable loyalty, the highly trained military working dogs (MWD) in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are proving to be essential in the fight against terrorism.

Military working dogs first entered the United States armed services in March 1942. Today, the dogs are still providing support to the troops on the battlefield.
A single dog can search more area in less time than an entire company could do, said Staff Sgt. Charles Graves, a dog handler with 241st Military Police Detachment, Fort Meade, Md.

“By using the dogs, you are leaving your shooters to other aspects of the mission, rather than having them go out to start a search capacity,” Graves said.

Concerned Local Citizens Deliver Weapons Cache to Battery Commander...

Members of a Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) group seized a large cache of munitions east of the city of Al Nijidat, southeast of Forward Operating Base Hammer, Dec. 26.

The cache consisted of 23 rocket motors, two 82 mm mortars, four 81 mm illumination shells, one rocket-propelled grenade, one 115 mm high-explosive tank round, one 106 mm high-explosive anti-tank round, and several other explosive items, including an artillery fuse.

The CLC group delivered the cache to FOB Hammer where Capt. Chas Cannon, from Moultrie, Ga., and commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, met with the group.
“The CLC allow us to focus more on governance and economics,” said Cannon.

The fight continues daily for our best and bravest so say a prayer or two in this new year for them.