Gone Painting

Jack is out of the house and on the road. Time for a list for a day when I need to be really productive.

1. Make list of things to paint today.
2. Paint downstairs bathroom. Now I know why people in mental institutions are crazy. It's from looking at all that white paint. Also now the off white tile in the bathroom looks like crap. Oh well.
   
3. Paint kitchen.
4. Paint upstairs bathroom. I got it prepped at least.
5. Paint upstairs attic window.
6. Paint entryway.
7. Paint touch-up spots in dining room. Will take a few coats.
8. Get yellow paint. I went ahead and did some of the touch-ups in the living room to see if the color match came out right.

Well, I think that should keep me busy for a few hours. Any and all painting advice is welcome.

**UPDATE**
9 PM: So it was an ambitious list. The downstairs bathroom was much more difficult than I thought it would be. Still have a few days left to get all this painting and more done. But I am pooped so I am done for the day.

Good News from Iraq: 5 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Al-Qaeda in Iraq networks degraded.

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces dealt another blow to terrorist networks Saturday, detaining nine suspects during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq’s senior leaders and operatives in northern Iraq.

Associates of an alleged al-Qaeda leader led Coalition forces to an area near Bi’aj, about 130 kilometers southwest of Mosul, where they captured him and another wanted man. The alleged leader is assessed to oversee terrorist operations in northwest Iraq, including finances, attacks and the movement of foreign terrorists. One additional suspected terrorist was detained.

Two wanted men are in custody after Coalition forces targeted them during a raid in Bayji, about 160 kilometers south of Mosul. The men are believed to be members of a bombing network that operates in the Tigris River Valley. One of the men captured is also suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign terrorists into central Iraq. Coalition forces detained four additional suspects in the operation.

A different way to celebrate the day

Today we are celebrating the 4th of July a little differently. Jack Bauer has been home from Iraq just 8 weeks. But today he is leaving again. He leaving to go from the Army Reserves to active duty. And today we are celebrating that. As he is packing the car. And in between us accusing each other of trying to pick a fight.

So no grilling -- the rusting out Weber is going next to the dumpster in the alley today.

No fireworks -- they having been going off for days and they apparently sound distinctly like incoming fire. Not good.

Just love for each other and love of country. And I really can't think of a better day to start our next chapter.

What are you all up to today? Please tell me someone is making sheet cake decorated with cool whip, strawberries, and blueberries.

Good News from Iraq: 4 Jul 2008

From MNF-I, Troops Re-enlist on Independence Day.

BAGHDAD — Servicemembers from all over Iraq gathered here today in the Al Faw Palace rotunda on Camp Victory, to re-enlist and celebrate America’s Independence Day. All 1,215 servicemembers celebrated by raising their right hand and pledging to continue defending the ‘land of the free’ in what is the largest re-enlistment ceremony since the all-volunteer force began in 1973, according to the Multi-National Force – Iraq Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt, Maj. Marvin L. Hill. “Volunteering to continue to serve our nation, while deployed – is both noble and inspiring,” said Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general, Multi-National Force – Iraq. “It is, as award citations often state, in keeping with the finest traditions of our military services.” Petraeus presided over the ceremony and led the airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers in their oath to defend their country against all enemies both foreign and domestic on this day of celebration of America winning its independence. "We recognize the sacrifices they make and the sacrifices their families and communities make as they serve in Iraq," Hill said. “These servicemembers know the cost of war and they are still re-enlisting.” All together, the servicemembers pledged more than 5,500 years of additional service to their country. “It makes me feel proud to serve this great nation,” said Spc. Zackary Cunningham, mechanic, 602nd Maintenance Battalion, Tactical Base Balad, who plans on making the Army a career. The re-enlistees have every right to feel proud, according to Petraeus. “You and your comrades here have been described as America’s new greatest generation, and, in my view, you have more than earned that description,” Petraeus said. “It is the greatest of honors to soldier here with you.”

Can't a girl get some sleep?

So Jack Bauer goes off to war and I sleep like a baby. Yet, now he is home and I sleeping horribly. What's up with that?

While Jack was in Iraq, there was nothing I could do about his circumstance. All I could do was support him. I came to terms with that.

But now, with the getting the house ready to sell, my mind is racing at night, thinking of all the little things that need to be done. The other night I dreamt that the newly immaculate basement was covered in a layer of dust bunnies and I had to figure out how to get the shop vac to work. Then there was night I dreamt that no matter how hard I cleaned, everything was just dirty again the next day. Oh wait. That one is real.

Moving is 100 big things. As each item is crossed off the list, it leaves behind 10 details. And as those get crossed off, they each leave behind 5 bits of minutia. It is enough to drive anyone to not sleep well.

Off to take a nap ...

Good News from Iraq: 3 Jul 2008

From The Long War Journal, Water distribution site opens in northeast Baghdad, offers free water for poorest families.

BAGHDAD, IRAQ: The first of three water distribution sites sending purified water into some of Baghdad’s poorest areas opened on June 30 in northeast Baghdad, supplying purified water to 3,000 families living in the Shawra Wa Um Jidir neighbourhood.

During the hottest times of the year, about 5,000 families in the area are without potable water and must buy water off vendors at extortionist rates, said Wady Salman al Shamary, assistant commissioner for the Iraqi Health Department in charge of eastern Baghdad.

"This project covers 60 percent of the need in the area," al Shamary said. "Each family can receive 100 square meters of water a day for free." Two other sites under construction will supply the remaining 40 percent, he said. Construction cost $400,000 and was paid from Iraqi government funds. This compares to the $3.5 million spend last year by the US military to provided bottled water to Baghdad residents, said Major Jeffrey Smith, civil-military operations officer, assigned to the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division.

The project uses water tanks to support a reverse osmosis system, pulling about 300,000 liters (60,000 gallons) of water out of a well before adding chlorine as a disinfectant. Water from the site, located within the walls of a US-operated Forward Operating Base, is then piped underneath the 15-foot-high reinforced concrete barriers surrounding the base to taps at a drive-through location.

As services return to the area after many years of sanctions, neglect and civil unrest, police expect increased access to information about the Shia insurgency, because the area has been a haven for arms caches and terrorist cells associated with Muqtada al Sadr’s Madhi Army and Iranian trained "Special Groups."

"The water will give us access to additional information from the people in the area," said National Police Colonel Salem Husaen, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division. "We are solving the water problems, the second issue to solve will be the electricity."

Electricity supplies to Iraqi residents remain more difficult than water distribution to supply because electricity infrastructure is easier to sabotage. Average megawatt hours used in Iraq in June was 107,000 megawatts, below the stated goal of 120,000 megawatts, according to the Brookings’ Institute’s Iraq Index. The Iraq Index as no comparable statistics on water use.

Calm amid the chaos

Jack Bauer came home yesterday with news I didn't want to hear. After learning the hard way that the single, nonstandard, bright white drawer front isn't going to be a simple thing to replace, after much cursing of the incompetence of the folks at Lowe's who couldn't tell us that in the first place, after swearing to hunt down the families of these idiots and hanging them from their toe nails, and after listening to Jack Bauer agree completely, I started laughing. And I came up with an alternative solution. It is after all a single drawer front in a simple but bright kitchen that could stand a well-financed remodel (I think it dreams of looking like this picture, or is that my dream?) in a 75+-year-old house. The right paint will have to suffice as a covering.

Jack is leaving here in a few days. Then I'll be on my own for a week before my mother comes to help me finish up and drive to C-ville with me and the dogs. Yep, that's where we are going first, C-ville. Before Jack drives off, I want to have as much of the heavy lifting, power tools-required jobs done, making it so the calls to the handy man and/or other hired people are as few as possible. Thus, the tasks of getting things like drawer fronts replaced has fallen to him. (Power tools could have been involved.)

But his impending departure has got me thinking. It has been 90% business around here with getting the house ready to sell. We've had some fun along the way -- vacation, movies, fancy dinners out -- but for the most part it is focus time on the task of putting on a fresh face to this old bungalow. Business and stressful business at that. And that is just one thing we've got going on.

I scanned the Internet for the most stressful life events. Sure enough, according to this one publication, of the top 50 stressful life events we are experiencing #12 reconciliation with spouse, #13 being unemployed (me), #14 experiencing financial difficulties (how could I deal with #13 and #40 and NOT have be going through #14 as well?), #33 changing careers (Jack), #38 spouse (me) ceases work outside the home, and #40 change in residence. Just 6. Granted no one is ill and no one has died, we are happily living together and excited about our future. But stressful times around here nonetheless.

And while life is stressful and battle-weary tempers can flare with silly frustrations (that would be me, not Jack), we can still see that no one is ill, no one has died. It is still just a simple drawer front. And we can laugh about it even if it doesn't match the rest of the kitchen.

Come to think of it, maybe we should paint it bright red.

Good News from Iraq: 2 Jul 2008

From NPR, U.S. Poised To Hand Off Anbar To Iraqis.

The vast western province of Anbar was once the most dangerous in Iraq — the heartland of the Sunni insurgency. Since 2006, when Anbar's tribal leaders aligned with the U.S. military against al-Qaida in Iraq, attacks have plunged.

Later this week, after several delays, U.S. forces plan to hand over control of the province to the Iraqis.

The commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq, Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly, tells Renee Montagne that he thinks the Iraqis are ready to take over on routine matters.

"Once we do turn over control, we'll still have very large, very capable Marine training or adviser teams with all-Iraqi units," Kelly says from Camp Fallujah. "In fact, they're relieved to know that even though we turn it over to them, we're still very, very close partners in the security — and for that matter, the reconstruction — of the province."

Kelly says there are two Iraqi army divisions in Anbar and "both of these two divisions are, in fact, the best in the Iraqi army. The downside of that is they are taken out on a pretty routine basis and taken to other parts of the country because they are very, very reliable."

Kelly says a bombing last week that killed more than 20 people, including three Marines, at a meeting of tribal leaders did not contribute to the delay of the handover.

"The turnover initially was delayed literally because we had a day much like we have now — and that is, you can't see half a mile outside; it's like a heavy snowstorm," he says.

And at the meeting where the suicide bomber hit, Kelly says, 10 different tribes were represented.

"So you had sheiks from all the tribes in the eastern part of the zone killed. The target was all of Anbar, and all of the people of Anbar," he says. "So what is a dastardly act has actually turned a part of this province around, because rather than them going tribal, rather than them taking it into their own hands — which is part of their legal justice system — I think they'll let us handle it."

In Anbar, U.S. forces have gotten help from the Sons of Iraq, the armed citizens' watch groups. But the Iraqi government has been reluctant to bring them into the security forces.

Kelly says the Marines and soldiers in Anbar spend all of their time on partnered operations with the Iraqi police, the army or the Sons of Iraq.

"I have about 5,000 of them, and we do pay their salaries and they do do good work for us," Kelly says of the Sons of Iraq.

"One of the things we've started … [is that] any of them that, as an example, don't read and write, we've got them going to reading and writing school, so that they can qualify for other jobs someday," he says. "Most of the Sons of Iraq — 68 percent of them when we asked them — want to be soldiers. As soon as I've got openings, as many of those 68 percent that are qualified — and, again, that's where the reading and writing comes in — I'll truck them on down to the recruiting station or bring the recruiting station directly to them.

"Some of them want to be architects and brick masons and we're looking at vocational schools for them as well, so I don't have any second thoughts about these guys going into any of the security forces here in Anbar."

Now that I am a full-time Army Wife ...

After leaving my full-time employment on Friday for a full-time Army Wife position, I quickly jumped into my new role. (Yeah, yeah, I have somehow been doing both jobs, but you know what I mean.)

Cleaning and scrubbing and dusting and packing and organizing and staging. Oh my! And that was just in the kitchen this last weekend.

In case I haven't mentioned it before, we've been in this house for 5.5 years. We've accumulated a lot of stuff (read fiestaware) in those years. Including some sticky black crud on the tops of the upper cabinet doors that must have started collecting long before we moved in. Needless to say, we hadn't cleaned that aspect of the cabinets since we moved in. Yuck!

I started with the kitchen because we want to take a few things with us to Jack's school, and we need some things to go in Jack's car. A 10.5-week stint in a Residence Inn without some of our own kitchen stuff could be rather frustrating. So we are taking items like the rice cooker, favorite frying pan, cutting boards, a tad of fiestaware, miscellaneous spices, new $23 wok, newly sharpened knives and carrying case like you see on Top Chef.

I've done some strategic rearranging to hide the piles of plates, like pushing them to the back of the pantry and then placing the crock-pot in front of it. That way I don't have to do a temporary packing before the movers come to do the real packing. We'll see what the staging expert realtor has to say about that technique.

One thing this perfectionist (read borderline OCD) can do is get so caught up in the minutiae that I miss the big picture. So a daily reminder to myself is to remember that this is an 70-year-old house and no amount of cleaning and painting and staging will make it look new.

OK. I gotta go finish the kitchen today. Catch you later.

Good News from Iraq: 30 Jun 2008

From NPR, Insurgents Turn Themselves In to U.S., Iraqi Troops.

Iraq's Salahuddin province has been known for years as a violent stronghold of Sunni insurgents, including al-Qaida. But lately it has been relatively quiet. U.S. military units there say that's because former rebel fighters are turning themselves in by the hundreds — including some who had been the most virulently anti-American leaders.

One of the most prominent insurgents to come over to the American side is Mullah Nadhum al-Jubouri. Jubouri was a spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq, a Sunni insurgent group that was once closely allied with al-Qaida.

Guarded by a group of masked gunmen, the cleric called for holy war against the Americans and for the defense of Sunnis, a call that was widely understood to mean attacks against the Shiites.

Mullah Nadhum, now 30, doesn't deny his violent past, but he says militants took up weapons because they believed they were defending their country against the occupation. He says his group eventually broke with al-Qaida because it rejected al-Qaida's terrorist tactics of attacks against Iraqi civilians.

Mullah Nadhum now leads a U.S.-funded force that guards against al-Qaida and other insurgent groups. He says he threw his lot in with the Americans after he realized that Iraqi insurgents were being manipulated by Syria and Iran to create chaos in Iraq.

One reason that Mullah Nadhum has become an American ally is that the local American military commander, Lt. Col. Bob McCarthy, has set up a program that allows fighters to turn themselves in and "reconcile" with the Army. McCarthy's 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry unit of the 101st Airborne Division has lost five men in fighting with insurgents since January.

Gradual Process of Reconciliation

McCarthy's intelligence officer, Capt. Christian Wollenburg, says the reconciliation was a gradual process that started with word of mouth among local sheiks after McCarthy's unit and Iraqi army units made serious inroads against the insurgents.

He says that after the first few insurgents turned themselves in and found that they were treated fairly by the Americans, more came in. The unit and the court system in Balad worked out a formal plan for dealing with former militants. ...

Read the rest or listen to the whole story here.

Last Day at Work

I am about to head out to work. My last day of work. At three years and two weeks, it is the longest job I've had.

I've been asked many times in the last two weeks why I am leaving. After explaining that I am going to spend more time with my husband and what he is doing, the responses have been nothing but overwhelming support and genuine happiness, hard for anyone to come up with any other reaction when they see my perma-grin and hear the lightness in my voice.

And so one chapter ends ...

Good News from Iraq: 27 Jun 2008

From MNF-I, Electrical sub-station powers up in Basra.

BASRA – A new electrical substation that will provide additional power to the citizens of Basra is scheduled to go online next month.

Iraqi electrical workers are installing new lines, inspecting transformers and making final checks throughout the substation in preparation to bring it online in early July.

The Government of Iraq is making efforts to bring basic services to Iraqis living in Basra as quickly as possible.

“This sub-station will bring several more hours of normal, regulated electricity to this part of the city, “ said Lt. Col. Pau Hettich of the Civil Military Operations Center. “Iraqi engineers are doing a week of final testing to make sure everything is ready to go when they flip the switch.”

Just FYI

I thought I would pass this along from my personal experience. Uh, this may have been obvious to most people, but not me.

If you are going to use full-strength Pine Sol, you might want to consider wearing gloves, unless you want to exfoliate your palm.

My palm and fingers have been peeling since Sunday. I am leaving dead skin every where I go. Nice.

Good News from Iraq: 25 Jun 2008

About two years ago, Jack Bauer was getting ready to head to one of the most dangerous places in Iraq, Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. A lot has happened since then for the better. Here is just a little more evidence of that.

From MNF-I, Iraqi Police Lead the Way in Fallujah’s Khadairy District.

FALLUJAH — The Joint Security Station (JSS) in the Khadairy District of Fallujah is now home solely to Iraqi Police, as Company K, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, detached from the station in a step toward transitioning security to IPs.

IPs will continue their daily tasks here on their own as part of the transition of security from Coalition forces.

“We really didn’t ‘de-militarize’ it, we more or less unpartnered,” said 1st Lt. Cory Colistra, platoon commander, 3rd Platoon. “We left the station intact. It’s an IP station now instead of a joint security station. We continue to work with them every day. The mission is to transition provincial Iraqi control, and this is a physical example of us being one step closer to mission accomplishment. The idea is that the Iraqis are taking over and we’re there as a backstop to support their operations. Doing that allows the IPs to directly provide security and stability while the Marines indirectly influence that end state.”

The purpose of JSS Khadairy, which was in operation for more than a year, was for Coalition forces to transition security to Iraqi Police-led counterinsurgency operations while maintaining the security of the precinct. As the IPs have stepped up to conduct missions on their own, Colistra said the only change to daily tasks are the Marines’ responsibilities.

“The mission and operations don’t change, but our method has transitioned to more of a support role,” Colistra said. “The Marines will advise the IPs on certain tactical issues, but it is the IPs who are running their own show. We will be in that overwatch position and step up when needed. This builds confidence for both the [Iraqi Security Forces] and the local nationals, and that’s all they need. We’re slowly taking a step back, allowing the ISF to step up and they’re gaining control of their city one day at a time.” ...

Read the rest here.

At least the job is done ... ?

Yesterday I came home and the floor of the basement had been painted.

Now, just a little background here. Jack Bauer detested painting the walls the day before. He was dreading having to paint the floor, but knew it needed to be done. I was hoping that the sooner we he got it done, the easier it would be. The plan when I left for work on Monday morning was for him to look at buying the paint and move the rest of the stuff off of the basement floor. The painting might come later in the week or wait for the weekend if he really needed my help.

So I came home and the whole thing was done. Now just how did that happen?

As Jack was driving home from gym and on his way to Lowe's to check out tintable primer for the job, he saw a man in his late fifties standing at the light at the off ramp holding a sign: "Homeless. Experienced painter. Need money or work." My agnostic husband took that as a sign of the universe giving him what he needed. Jack went to Lowe's, got what he needed, then picked up a stranger from off the streets and brought Joe, the homeless painter, to our little bungalow.

Jack supervised the man's work without seeming overbearing and did not allow him upstairs. A bottle of water, an offer of lunch (which was declined), $100 for his pocket, and the homeless painter was back on the streets of Middleville. All before I got home.

Of course, I am happy that the job is done. And I am glad to see Jack come up with a solution that was relatively painless for him. But bringing a homeless man into our house makes me uneasy. For that matter, if he had just gotten the guy's name from a flier left on our doorstep without a reference we know, I would have made more even more uneasy. (I am having images of the whole Elizabeth Smart situation running through my head.) Jack assures me that he drove in such a convoluted manner to our house that Joe can't find his way back.

But the bottom line: the big painting in the basement is D.O.N.E. Woohoo!

Good News from Iraq: 24 Jun 2008

From AFP, US military to hand back Sunni bastion of Anbar to Iraq. (h/t Blackfive)

BAGHDAD (AFP) — The US military is to hand over security control of the former Sunni insurgent bastion of Anbar province to Iraqi forces in the next 10 days, a US military spokesman announced on Monday.

"The handover of Anbar is expected to take place in the next 10 days," Lieutenant David Russell told AFP, declining to provide an exact date.

Anbar would be the tenth of Iraq's 18 provinces to be handed back to Iraqi forces by the US-led coalition amid a push to transfer security control of the entire country back to Baghdad.

Anbar province in western Iraq, the country's largest, was the epicentre of a brutal Sunni Arab-led fight against the US military after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003.

In the early years of the insurgency, US forces fought raging battles in the province, especially in the capital Ramadi and the nearby city of Fallujah.

Fallujah became the symbol of the ultra-violent insurgency before it was virtually razed to the ground in November 2004 by a US military assault launched to seize control of the city.

The US military has lost 1,295 service members in the province since the invasion, second only to Baghdad where it lost 1,308 troops, according to the independent website www.icasualties.org.

The website says November 2004 remains the deadliest month for the military in Iraq. It lost 137 troops that month when it launched the Fallujah assault.

The violence in the country's largest province started ebbing in late 2006 when local Sunni tribes, weary of Al-Qaeda's religious extremism and brutal methods, switched allegiance and formed a local group to fight them.

Since then Anbar has been hailed as a symbol of stability.

Moving along

This getting the house ready for selling thing is hard work. This last week we made some major progress. Jack Bauer got the basement cleared out, cleaned out, and stuff sold on Craig's List, and with the cash we went to see Get Smart (surprisingly good) and a nice dinner at Maggiano's. Got the basement cleaned enough that we painted the walls yesterday. I'm still high off the fumes.

We met with the real estate agent earlier in the week. I brought her into a messy house but she was still impressed with the amount of stuff we had gotten done already. Once we finish in the basement, it will just be a matter of cleaning and organizing and staging the main floor of the house. We got about 25 days to it all in. No problem.

Oh and I forgot to mention. Our grass is beginning to come in. Woohoo!

And one more thing. Just 5 days of work left. Then I am a full-time Army Wife. :D

Good News from Iraq: 23 Jun 2008

From MNF-I, Ramadi Citizens Continue to Sign Up to Defend Their City.

CAMP RAMADI — Over the last two years, Ramadi has seen a dramatic in the number of policemen as the city progressively moves toward the final steps in becoming fully independent.

In 2006, there were very few police in Ramadi when violence engulfed the city, the citizens lived in fear, and al-Qaida had a firm grip on the region.

In the first two weeks of 2007, the city experienced an unexpected surge of applicants seeking to join the force. During that two-week span, more than 1,000 applicants sought law enforcement jobs in Ramadi, according to Army Maj. Thomas Shoffner, operations officer for the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division. The turning point for the boost in applicants was the murder of a well-known sheik in August 2006. The murderers hid his body for 3 days denying his family the right to bury him in accordance with Islamic tradition. After the killing, tribal leaders could not tolerate al Qaeda’s lawlessness and violence throughout their land and formed an alliance against the terrorist network called, Sahawa al-Anbar, or the “Awakening Council.”

Now the number of Iraqis seeking to become policemen remains high. This is due in part to the professionalism of the Ramadi Training Center, which trains and mentors the newly recruited policemen, and the insight provided by the awakening.

“During the awakening, many citizens of al-Anbar realized what the right thing to do was and what the wrong thing to do was,” said Sheik Haji Talib through an interpreter. “The insurgents gave the wrong picture of coalition forces. They said coalition forces are invaders so we should fight them. They were able to get into the people’s minds and tell us the wrong things and lies. When the people realized they were wrong, they started waking up and started doing the right thing.”

Ramadi remains safe as a result of the awakening and fully functioning police training center. The training center is run by the Iraqi Police Training Cadre, International Police Advisors and the Army’s 194th Military Police Company, offering recruits the best law enforcement schooling by international experts and specialists.

“The policemen will go to a variety of different stations within all of the Ramadi precincts almost immediately after they graduate the 11-day course or as soon as their station directs them to report,” said Capt. Gerard C. Dempster, Headquarters and Service Company Commander with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and direct liaison for the Iraqi security forces.

The city has nearly reached the desired number of policemen considered necessary to keep Ramadi safe, Dempster said. The school’s leaders will continue training recruits and placing policemen on the streets to further restrain the insurgents and their illicit activities.

It's the little things

A couple things I've noticed since Jack Bauer has come home.

Parking: It appears that when you've spent 20 months in Iraq not driving much or spending time in insanely large vehicles, the lines in the grocery store parking lot in the US have little meaning. They apparently are just a "guideline."

Sleeping: It appears that when you've spent 20 months in Iraq with sand that gets into every single crevice and in your sheets, you get used to this. So when you come home and start doing large amounts of work in the backyard with fresh dirt, and some it gets in between the sheets, you don't mind so much. Even though the wife can't stand even the slightest bit of grit between her and the sheets. Good thing I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers tracking in dirt.

Good News from Iraq: 21 Jun 2008

From MNF-I, Civil Affairs Teams, U.S. Marines Improve Fallujah Infrastructure.

FALLUJAH — 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, augmented by Civil Affairs teams, are continuously working with Fallujah City Council members, local tribal leaders and local citizens to carry out projects in an effort to improve the city’s infrastructure.

Civil Affairs and Army Corps of Engineers leaders met with the city council’s director generals recently, to talk about projects that will provide key services throughout the city, such as improving the water distribution systems.

The city is now in the planning stages of establishing a new water distribution network. 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines recently approved a project to purchase needed parts for a water treatment facility, which will service the majority of Fallujah. Right now, the facilities have inoperable pumps and other parts that are in a state of disrepair. The installation of new pumps and filters at the Azerghia water treatment facility will bring the facility back to its previous prewar output capacity.

“The initiative to solve all water problems for Fallujah lies in the pipe network,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Duhe, Civil Affairs Team 5 team leader. “When the pipe network works properly, the water treatment plants already established along the Euphrates River will certainly be able to support all of the city’s needs.”

Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams introduced reverse-engineering concepts to the directors that are currently being developed. Reverse engineering concepts that the Army Corps of Engineers use will spare the expense of rebuilding existing facilities, thus saving money and labor time.

Another high priority on the Fallujah City Council’s list is the Telecommunications Headquarters in the city. Up to 45,000 citizens will benefit from having land line telephone service at their disposal.

“Over the past five years, many services have been degraded,” Duhe said. “Phone services are important to all citizens in Fallujah because they need to be able to call emergency services and police hotlines. This has a direct impact on local security.”

Civil Affairs teams continue to work on projects to facilitate the reconstruction of basic needs such as water, sewage and electricity. Their mission is to assist in transition by working with the local Iraqi government to build strong infrastructure for Fallujah.