The Princess and the Pee

We are on the road to Cville. Dogs are traveling pretty darn well for their first trip. No problems on the road. At the hotel, once they decided that they didn't need to woof at everything that walked by the door, they settled down.

One problem. The princess Moo hasn't peed since we left Middleville almost 21 hours ago. Hmmm. She's acting fine, and even drinking water, not too little, not too much. I think she is just being a princess and isn't ready to pee until she is good and comfortable.

But if that is my biggest problem on the road, I'll take it.

"Wow!"

You know that with a list like this, the only words I really wanted to hear from the real estate agent were "Wow! This is great!"

I guess our hard work paid off because that's what I got. :D

The house looks great, if not entirely BW living friendly. But I don't live here any more. I don't think I can say I live here when I am living out of a suitcase. But you know what that means? I'm on my way to see Jack Bauer. :D :D :D

As the List Turns

As the World Turns was a favorite soap opera of mine growing up. Dramatic people living all sorts of adventures and lovers being kept apart and reunited depending on the direction of the wind.

Not that my life is all that exciting in these days, but there is definitely the separation from my love thing going on.

The adventure lies in THE LIST for now. So enough I will be hitting the road, setting off on new adventure, in a new town.

Until then, it is back to THE LIST, which somehow invade my dreams last night. Can't imagine why that happened. Go figure.

Good News from Iraq: 15 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Al Doura Refinery Looking for Alternative Energy Sources.

BAGHDAD — In the Doura district of Baghdad, security is improved near one of Iraq’s older oil refineries.

Al Doura refinery, a rusting relic of Saddam’s pervasive neglect of oil infrastructure, wouldn’t seem to be the likely bastion of wind and solar energy for Iraqi leadership.

Dathar Al Hasan Taheen, directorate general and general manager of Midland Refinery Company for the Ministry of Oil, has many responsibilities at al Doura. Most of his hours are spent trying to keep the refineries under his charge producing diesel and gasoline to feed the nation’s growing thirst for petroleum products.

His other principle challenge is getting enough crude oil from the Basra oilfields of southern Iraq. For his refinery operations to operate efficiently, he must have abundant supplies of raw crude to generate refined products.

The directorate general deals with all too common pipeline flow disruptions - spurring from maintenance neglect, insurgent attacks and common thievery. He also manages daily logistical issues associated with trucking gasoline to Baghdad area petrol stations.

“Going green isn’t just a trend in the U.S. and other western nations,” said Taheen. “I am an oilman so I should be interested in all types of energy. We think we are a little behind in researching and developing alternative energy sources; we are an oil producing country but this is no reason not to look toward the future.”

Of particular interest is tapping into wind and solar energy sources. With the assistance and mentorship of engineers from the Gulf Region Division, Taheen thinks he has a plan that can be implemented.

“The people of Iraq need more power and what Dathar Taheen is proposing is going to supply more power,” said Gary Vogler, GRD energy sector engineer who worked with Taheen since 2003. “If the electricity is directed to the refinery there will be more power on the grid for the rest of the population. Also, in the rural areas that have little or no connectivity to the grid, the solar panels and wind farms he wants to bring to Iraq could help satisfy these isolated pockets’ quest for power.”

With Vogler’s assistance, and guidance from officials with Multi National Force – Iraq’s Energy Fusion Cell, Taheen is assembling a team of resource professionals that can assist his move from the drawing board to implementation.

The MASTER list

We are on the downhill slope of this getting the house on the market thing. So that means that it is time for a list, the list to end all list, the master list, of things that must be done before 2:30 PM on Wednesday. That's when the realtor is coming to take pictures.

1. Make list
2. Paint dining room We got one coat one. Hopefully that will be enough. Only time will tell. Looks like it just needed touch up in a few areas, meaning, the original touch-up areas. Arrgghh! Done!
   
3. Paint the drawerfront and doorbell cover
4. Paint gouge upstairs (hmmm, wonder how that happened)
5. Touch up basement floor
6. Stage and clean house
1. Kitchen: move cart to dining room, clean floor and tile on walls, clean ceiling fan, vacuum window sill, clean oven
2. Downstairs bathroom: wash shower curtain, clean out medicine cabinet
   
3. Room of 7 Doors: clean wood trim, clean floor, touch up paint
   
4. Stairwell: clean wood trim, vacuum, dust light
   
5. Entryway: clean wood trim, clean floor, organize closet, clean storm door, decorate table
   
6. Dining room (the TV room is becoming the dining room for staging): clean wood trim, clean floor, touch up paint, organize, vacuum window sills, clean windows, restain window sill, throw away coffee table, clean chandelier, move microwave, toaster, coffeemaker to basement, tie up cords, clean up paint, decorate baker's rack, lock dining room table, clean up microwave cart
   
7. Living Room: clean wood trim, clean floor, organize, vacuum window sills, vacuum couch and chair, clean light fixture
   
8. Office (the dining room is becoming an office for staging)
9. Downstairs bedroom: empty closet, make bed look pretty, clean off book shelf, clean off chest of drawers, clean wood trim, clean floor, clean fan, vacuum window sill, clean windows
   
10. Upstairs bedroom: spot clean carpet, vacuum, clean fan, clean window, vacuum window sill
    
11. Upstairs bathroom: clean, empty medicine cabinet and under sink
    
12. Attic: vacuum, move lamp, straighten up boxes
13. Basement: move stuff around, vacuum, set up metal shelves, touch up floor paint
14. Back yard: clean up after dogs, leave gates unlocked, sweep sidewalks, get one stepping stone
    
15. Front and side yards: clear sidewalk, sweep porch
16. Garage: clean out, sweep
7. Call DirecTV, AT&T, free paper to cancel service

Yeah, the last two items could easily be long lists unto themselves. It may come to that. Yeah, it came to that.

I may have to change the name of this blog to BW's List Blog.

Good News from Iraq: 13 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Pressure on al-Qaeda in Iraq increases, networks degraded.

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces detained two wanted men and 10 additional suspects Saturday while pursuing al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders and operatives in central and northern Iraq.

In Sharqat, about 90 kilometers south of Mosul, Coalition forces captured a man wanted for allegedly conspiring with al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders in northwest Iraq. Three additional suspects were detained.

Farther south in the Tigris River Valley, a wanted man believed to be involved in the AQI foreign terrorist facilitation network was captured near Balad, about 80 kilometers north of Baghdad. Coalition forces detained five suspects in Baghdad for allegedly aiding foreign terrorists in the city.

Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists during an operation targeting an extremist group with ties to AQI senior leaders in Karmah, about 40 kilometers west of Baghdad.

Fresh meat + Army = Blog fodder

So Jack Bauer is off at school and there are many people with no prior service experience whatsoever. None. One week ago they were civilians, and POOF! the next day they were officers in the US Army. Crazy, I know.

But this craziness means that there are lots of frustrations for my poor husband. Like yesterday. Everyone had to show up wearing their ACUs for the first time. Jack, assigned as a platoon leader for the course, went around and adjusted patches and whathaveyou as needed.

Later in the day, they were at medical and had their ACU blouses off. That's when the fun began. Where were all the belts??? Excuses ranged from "I hadn't gotten it yet" to "I forgot to put it on." But the one that takes the cake was "I don't wear belts." He knew it was part of the uniform, but just decided it wasn't his style.

Oh yeah, I am sure that guy will do well in the Army.

Good News from Iraq: 12 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Iraqi Citizen Leads IA, CF to Large Cache.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — Iraqi Army scouts led American special forces and explosives ordinance disposal personnel to a large cache of explosives near Numaniyah, Iraq, early July 8.

An Iraqi citizen reported the cache and guided the convoy to the specific site.

Destroyed were more than 1,300 57mm anti-aircraft shells, 60 100mm high explosive artillery shells, 6 tank shells and several shell casings which, while not necessarily explosive, still contained hazardous primers.

The cache, located in a remote area outside the city, was safely destroyed at the site by Navy EOD personnel and explosives experts from Forward Operating Base Delta. EOD personnel said the cache appeared to have been an old site, with no particularly new munitions.

Iraqi Soldiers, under the supervision of coalition personnel, prepared the site and completed the controlled detonation without incident.

I'm changing the name of this blog

This blog will henceforth be known as

Butterfly Wife's Painting Blog!

Yeah, well, maybe not. But the paint, taping, brushes, rollers, extender poles, plastic drapes have invade my life so pervasively it seems the painting is all I can think about, day and night.

So here's an update.

1. Kitchen: Done. Need to paint a drawerfront and the cover for the doorbell.
2. Bathroom, downstairs: Done.
3. Bathroom, upstairs: Done even gave it a second coat yesterday.
4. Stairwell: Done.
5. Room of 7 Doors: Done.
6. Basement cabinets and door: Done.
7. Entryway: Painting it today. I think I caught a break finally. Looks like it was such a close match that it only needed one coat. About time.
   
8. Dining room: I am waiting for my mom's opinion on the color situation. She gets here tomorrow.
9. Living room: Touch-ups done.
10. TV room: Still need to do touch-ups.

This leaves the following for the professional painter (no, not the homeless painter):

1. Bedroom ceiling and closet
2. Kitchen window and door
3. Bathroom window and doors
4. Basement windows

Now, if only I could get the painter to call me back. We are leaving in less than a week. Come on guy, call me back. You are making me nervous. I need your professional help super bad.

**UPDATE 1234 PM**
The painter is coming on Tuesday to better assess my needs. Phew!

Good News from Iraq: 11 Jul 2008

From Reuters, Tiny Iraq navy to flex muscle as oil guardian.

UMM QASR, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's fledgling navy of battered patrol boats is bulking up for a greater role in protecting the country's economic heart, its offshore oil terminals, officials said.

Putting on muscle to protect the two terminals that account for 90 percent of Iraq's revenues, the tiny navy is aiming to boost manpower by about a third to 2,500 in two years and greatly expand its fleet, now centered on five Chinese-made Predator patrol boats.

More control over its wreck-ridden waters at the head of the Gulf is another sign of Iraq's determination to secure its oil infrastructure and reserves, the world's third largest.

A military crackdown three months ago on Shi'ite militias restored government control over Basra province, site of the navy's riverside base at Umm Qasr.

"We're continuing to work year by year on what will come next. The Iraqi navy will be transformed into something bigger than it is now," operations chief Commodore Ahmed Maarij, a 25-year navy veteran, told Reuters on Monday.

The navy's goal is to take on more duties from U.S., British and Australian warships that now patrol the two terminals, the al-Basra facility, capable of loading four tankers, and the single-berth Khur al-Amaya.

The fleet's tiny size means only one Iraq vessel at a time can make the four-hour voyage out of the muddy Khur Abdullah waterway to the terminals to join the patrol.

Iraqi marines, also expanding under the navy growth program, are stationed on the terminals.

"That is the key strategic piece. They are the maritime heartbeats of Iraq," said Captain Phil Warwick of Britain's Royal Navy. Warwick is head of a U.S.-British team training and assisting the Iraq navy and marines.

VULNERABILITY

The oil terminals' vulnerability was underscored in 2004 when suicide bombers launched boat attacks that killed three U.S. sailors.

The navy also has a major role in security at Umm Qasr, entry point for 80 percent of Iraq's imports and running at capacity since the military crackdown in Basra improved security. Iraqi marines provide land security for the port.

Under the expansion plan, Iraq is buying 15 patrol boats from Malaysia, set to arrive in July 2009, and five patrol ships from Italy, along with other equipment. The purchases are to be completed in 2011.

"Essentially, we're going to double the size of the navy overnight. And for any navy, or any armed force, that's quite a challenge," said Lieutenant Commander Charles Maynard of the Royal Navy, the training group's operations officer.

With a desert wind kicking up a chop on the Khur Abdullah waterway, Iraqi sailors aboard the patrol boat Sorraq drilled on intercepting boats, putting out an engine fire and raising and cleaning the anchor and chain.

Many of those training were in their 30s or older, veterans who had served in the navy under Saddam Hussein.

"Some of the crew are going to get to go to other countries to train on the new ships. Everybody is excited about that," said Sergeant Kadhim Zubair, 42, who ran the training session.

Shadows and light

If I were in the mood and had the time, I would write some profound post about what all this painting is teaching me about myself. Fortunately for the readers, I am not so inclined at this time to rattle on about how the shadows reveal more about who I am as a person. Blah, blah, blah.

I will say though is that turning off the light in the room being painted and letting the light from other rooms be the sole illumination shows the flaws in my paint job.

Sometimes, when you want to be bright white you gotta turn off the light to see what is really there.

Up to my eyeballs in paint

I am covered in paint. I've gotten paint in my hair, my mouth (need to learn to keep it shut, heh), and my eyes. Yes, paint in the eyes doesn't feel too good.

I am currently working on the stairwell. It sucks. It is such tight quarters, I keep brushing my butt against the walls. I had to give up last night at 8:30 before my arms fell off. But I got to finish up today and figure out how to get up in the far corner. Tape, a corner brush, and a pole extender just might do it.

Then it is onto the Room of 7 Doors.

Gotta get busy.

And the pic is Carter Oosterhouse, the handyman hunk. Yum! (Yes, Jack Bauer has been gone far too long again.)

Good News from Iraq: 10 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, IA soldiers seize weapons in Sadr City.

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army soldiers working to secure the area in the Sadr City district of Baghdad uncovered weapons caches July 9.

At approximately 2 p.m., Iraqi Army soldiers seized four 120 mm mortars, an 82 mm mortar, a 60 mm mortar and four 30 mm rockets. The weapons were later turned in to Mulit-National Division Soldiers at a joint security station.

At approximately 7:15 p.m., soldiers with the 44th Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division, found 171 copper blocks.

Good News from Iraq: 9 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Iraqi Police Deliver Food to Zuwarijat.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — Iraqi Police distributed bulk food products to citizens of the Zuwarijat district of al Kut as part of an outreach program to increase confidence in Iraqi Security Forces July 3.

Supplies distributed at the event included rice, packets of noodles, canned goods and shelf-stable milk.

“The overall purpose of the humanitarian aid drop is to show that IPs are improving relationships with the community by distributing food that some cannot afford to purchase themselves,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Martinez of the 511th Military Police Co., from Fort Drum, N.Y. “It helps with improving the trust of the people in their ISF.”

The event built on gains the ISF made with the populace since first operating in the area in late April. Security gains were evident immediately after occupying three security stations in the district.

“The security of the area has improved tremendously,” said Martinez. “There has not been a lot of activity from the area since the integration of IPs and IA in April.”

This move into Zuwarijat marked the first time the ISF in Wasit province established a lasting presence in a district. Zuwarijat was chosen because it had historically been a Jaysh al Mahdi stronghold.

Just days after the occupation, people of the district began bringing food and water to the stations, and the ISF began to see an increase in tips from the populace, said IP captain, Hayder Adnan Ali Al-Saidy.

The progress was immediate, and the cooperation between the Iraqi army and IP continues to contribute to build security, said Martinez.

“Instead of working as two separate units they are functioning as one, which has helped improve the neighborhood a lot,” he said.

After the food distribution, elements of the 511th, which helped provide security for the event, visited the three security sites in the district to evaluate the needs of the ISF members and assess the state of the stations.

The people in the district did raise concerns about the delays they encounter at security checkpoints.

Staff Sgt. Erik Golden, of the 511th MP Co., emphasized the need to remain professional and for the police to work as a team to 1st Lt. Oday, commander of station 14 in Zuwarijat.

“We tell them ‘we’re here to save you and for your protection,’” Oday said. “Some are happy with our help, some are still angry. We can’t satisfy everyone.”

He remained positive about the lasting presence in Zuwarijat.

“There’s a good kind of people here,” he said. “Some are angry, many are nervous, and others are very confident when they deal with us … Some are happy we are here to help protect them.

“We’ll do our jobs,” he said.

Let me ask you this

Is it bad to eat ice cream for lunch and bacon for dinner?

Granted I am in the middle of a move and need to eat up some of the food in the house. And of course Jack Bauer recently left making the ice cream indulgence a must -- it may have come into the house after he left. Maybe. I'm just saying.

Yeah, ice cream and bacon seem perfectly reasonable given the circumstances.

Now only if I could find bacon ice cream at the grocery store ...

Good News from Iraq: 8 Jul 2008

From Stars and Strips, Pilot program helps 'Sons of Iraq' learn literary skills to land jobs.

HAWIJAH, Iraq — Raad Hussein, a 16-year-old "Sons of Iraq" security volunteer from Qabzoah, a village in the largely agricultural Hawijah district just west of Kirkuk, dropped out of school when he failed the third grade. Not surprisingly, he can barely read.

"Because of the demands of the lifestyle, we had to go out into the field," he explained.

Hussein’s job prospects would be slim without the "Sons of Iraq," but that program is drawing down. A new reading and writing program that he joined after the program’s official opening celebration Saturday could help his job prospects, though.

"Sons of Iraq" is a U.S.-funded program that pays armed civilians to man checkpoints along key roads in their areas. Commanders credit the group with security gains across the country, but transitioning "Sons of Iraq" members to long-term jobs will be crucial to maintaining that security. Many of the volunteers had been so-called economic insurgents — desperately poor residents who planted bombs and attacked coalition forces only because insurgent leaders paid them to do so.

Leaders have been busy working to find new jobs for these men so they don’t revert to taking money from foreign fighters. Yet many in the program, especially in rural areas, don’t have the education to land other jobs. Commanders in other parts of Iraq estimate that as many as two-thirds of the volunteers aren’t eligible to join the Iraqi Army or Iraqi police, both of which require basic literacy.

The National Literacy Pilot Program aims to bridge that gap. It’s teaching reading and writing to 500 "Sons of Iraq" members around the Hawijah area from June 15 to Oct. 15. The students continue to receive their "Sons of Iraq" salaries while they attend class.

"It’s an excellent opportunity to learn and get paid," Hussein said, noting that he makes about $250 a month. "I’m a ‘Son of Iraq.’ It [the program] will allow me to read the IDs and not look like an idiot."

The Hawijah district has about 7,500 "Sons of Iraq" members, while northern Iraq as a whole has about 30,000.

Planners hope to expand the pilot into a nationwide program if the first session goes well. They are already looking at opening it up to 2,000 students in the first expansion, said Lt. Steven Johnson, a civil affairs team chief with Company A, 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion.

Teachers in the program have been handpicked. Hassen Ibrahim Mahmood, for example, brings 19 years of teaching experience to his Hawijah classroom. By trade a first grade teacher, he teaches students ranging from teen-age to middle age, although most are young.

"I expect that he [the student] will learn a lot," Mahmood said. "Because they have the ability to learn, they will be better than third grade [by the end of the program]."

Some students aren’t attending class regularly, however. Khalaf Ibrahim Ali, a "Sons of Iraq" commander, said on any given day, an average of six or seven students in a class of about 50 were absent. Students are only allowed to have four absences during the entire program, and teachers have already kicked out four for skipping class. Lt. Col. Chris Vanek, the U.S. commander in the Hawijah district, told Iraqi leaders to make sure their men got to class.

"It’s very critical, especially with this pilot program, that everybody attends," said Vanek, the commander of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. "It’s critical because everybody’s watching this program — everyone in Iraq. If we blow it, we blow it for all of Iraq."

But most of the students are excited about learning to read and write. Maher Kais has been in the program since it began June 15. The 18-year-old never went to school and could not read and write at all. But he’s proud that he can write his name, father’s name and grandfather’s name — the Iraqi version of a full name — after just three weeks in class. He’s looking forward to the time when his skills are fully developed.

"It will give me a great confidence in myself, trying to improve myself and get a different job," Kais said.

Gone but 3 days

So Jack Bauer has been gone for 3 days now.

Flashback to Friday when he left. He packed his car in the morning but did not leave until middle of the afternoon. I tried to relax and take it easy with him, but I was restless. I started getting things ready to paint, plastering holes, moving the fridge. All the while, Jack was following me around the house. I think he just wanted to be with me. And I just kept moving about. I finally asked him if he wanted a project to do. Uh, yeah. That didn't go over so well.

That's when I realized that I was just trying to keep myself busy so I wouldn't have to deal with him leaving again. I mean, I just got him back. It's not fair that he has to leave again so soon. Humphf! So we talked about it.

And then he left.

And I was alone again.

Now while I am feeling like a pouty little girl, I am trying to keep busy. At least I have plenty to do just around the house to make the next 10 days go by quickly. Painting, cleaning, organizing, etc. will take more than 10 days, but that is all the time I have.

And then I will be back with Jack again. And all will be right with the world. Or something like that.

Good News from Iraq: 7 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Hawijah’s literacy program gains national attention in Iraq.

HAWIJAH, Iraq – Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Education, Nehad Al-Juburi, and the Prime Minister’s Education Advisor, Zaid Chaid, paid a historic visit to Hawijah to bring national attention to its pilot literacy program July 5.

Five-hundred Sons of Iraq members in four of the sub-districts of Hawijah, Iraq--Zaab, Abassi, Riyadh and Hawijah city--are currently participating in this program, which teaches students at a 3rd to 4th grade reading level.

“Education is the foundation to rebuilding,” Dr. Nehad told the audience, which included close to 100 of Hawijah’s SoI students in the program in Hawijah. “You should be proud of what you are accomplishing here and know that you are setting the example for your country to follow.”

According to its Ministry of Education, 5.6 million Iraqis are illiterate. Thirty percent of Hawijah’s population falls into that category.

The pilot program was envisioned by Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of Multi-National Force – Iraq, and is being facilitated by Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Its initial design is to prepare SoI members for transition into the Iraqi Security Forces. The application process for both the Iraqi Police and its Army requires applicants to be literate.

The program kicked off in Hawijah, June 15, and is already fulfilling the dreams of some participants.

“I do not have the words to explain this great feeling I have when I was able to write and show my family my name for the first time,” said Abdulkarem Khalif Faris, 24.

“It was like flying. I want to thank God and my government for this chance.”

Faris had to quit at the elementary school level to help his family farm in the agricultural based economy. He hopes to apply to the IP Academy in Kirkuk City when the four-month program ends.

Hawijah Mayor Sabah Khalaf Ali praised the combined efforts of the CF and ISF for the security gains measuring around a 90 percent reduction in violent attacks against CF, ISF and citizens in this region which will now allow the country to focus its efforts on jobs and education,” he said.

“It’s only fitting on the day after our nation’s birthday I quote one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, who said that education is a gift to the people,” said Col. David Paschal, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division commander.

Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek told the SoI students in attendance to be proud of their accomplishments, referencing the security increases over the past 10 months that were key to the area’s selection by Gen. Petraeus.

“Your city and district have been chosen as the model program that may eventually educate millions of Iraqis nation-wide,” Vanek said.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark R. Zamzow, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Communications, Multi-National Force-Iraq, attended along with other GoI representatives from Baghdad to include Dr. Ala Mekki, Chair of the Education Committee of the Council of Representatives, Dr. Raja Hamdun Abdullah al-Qadoo, Member of the Education Committee of the Council of Representatives and Dr. Hamid Yassin, Director of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education.

Back to Painting

It seems like it will never end. But I still have much painting ahead of me.

1. Upstairs bathroom except once I turned off the light in the room, the light from the hallway revealed how bad of a job I did. If I have time in the next 10 days, I'll go back and hit it again. I painted a second coat.
   
2. Stairwell What a serious PITA!
   
3. Room of 7 Doors (aka round hallway)
4. Entryway
5. Kitchen
6. Living room and TV room touch-ups
7. Dining room
   

Maybe by the end of the day Tuesday. What do you think my chances are???

UPDATE: Thursday, July 10.
Still working on all this painting. I'm pacing myself. This is exhausting work. Uggg.

Good News from Iraq: 6 Jul 2008

From LWJ, Freeing a sheikh pays dividends in Tarmiyah.

TARMIYAH, IRAQ: A “keystone moment” in the recent turnaround to a relative calm in Tarmiyah was the February release of local tribal leader Sheikh Sa’ed Jassim, held for 11 months in US detention.

US Army Captain Christopher Loftis helped make the decision to free Jassim, but only after Jassim’s son persuaded Loftis that his father would improve the relationship between Americans and Iraqis in this area 25 miles north of Baghdad.

Letting Jassim go home was a risk. It appears to have paid off.

Loftis’ unit, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion/14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, arrived in Tarmiyah in December 2007. Jassim’s son Imad had stood up the local Sons of Iraq security group in October, but he told Loftis, unless his father was released, he didn’t think he could or would much longer lead the group. The Sons of Iraq are one of several such civilian town watches patrolling Iraqi communities against al Qaeda and other threats. For about $300 a month, paid but not armed by the US, these local Iraqis man small checkpoints across the city. ...

Although the unit that preceded Alpha Company also supported Jassim’s release, Loftis was initially unsure of Imad’s assessment of his father’s influence in the area, and how significant his release would be. He certainly was not eager to help release a man caught financing the local activities of al Qaeda in Iraq and detained by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior in late 2006.

“He financed al Qaeda in Iraq,” Loftis said. “He took US money for civil contracts and some of that money went to al Qaeda in Iraq.” It can be seen in black-and-white, but in Iraq nothing ever is.

Before that, two of Jassim’s sons were murdered by al Qaeda, which controlled the area in 2007. The money given was, in every way that matters, protection against further violence to his family. It didn’t keep him from detention, but mitigated the circumstances enough for the US to help secure his release. ...

While some might blanch at the release of an al Qaeda financier, Loftis said it’s merely part of the gray area of reconciliation that rules Iraq. ...

It doesn’t mean the prisoner Jassim vouches for suddenly is a fan of the US, but the insurgent group he once worked for might now be one providing men to a local Sons of Iraq group. Not an ally, perhaps, but not exactly an enemy anymore.

Jassim’s release was an emotional event, Loftis said. At first, there was difficulty securing it, with various yes’s and no’s going back and forth. Loftis said 1st/14th Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Boccardi, on his advice and that of others, personally went to Baghdad to petition the Iraqi justice system for Jassim’s release. ...

Set free in town out of the back of a Stryker, Jassim walked down the ramp to an adoring crowd of more than 2,000 people, Boccardi said. Lambs were slaughtered for feast, and the crowd cheered, Loftis said. Since then, Jassim has been a powerful and significant local figure, with his son an important Sons of Iraq leader.

Jassim’s influence is clear. At meetings, he takes the head seat, and groups pause to give him honorifics when he walks in. He acts like a sheik, visibly confident in movement and behavior.

However, he does sometimes go too far. Walking around a cluster of buildings near Bhukary Hall, the compound in Tarmiyah where American and Iraqi soldiers stage from to man a nearby checkpoint, Jassim tries to give an Iraqi Army officer orders about cleaning the area. The soldier is unmoved and unimpressed.

“He [the Iraqi officer] doesn’t work for the sheik,” Loftis explained. He is not a king in the area, just a man with powerful and significant local influence. To the Iraqi Army, Jassim is a notable local leader, but just one of many. The Army’s job is overall security, not worrying about every local citizen, no matter the man’s tribal power.

“They respect him, and they’ll be polite. But they don’t take orders from him,” Loftis said.

That doesn’t stop Jassim from making his opinion clear, both to the Iraqis and to the Americans.

“Sheikh Jassim is a realist,” Loftis said. “He’s taking a stand for Sunni rights in Iraq. Working with the US is not a problem for him.”