US forces in Iraq down under 140,000

[farquar]

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of US troops in Iraq has dropped below 140,000 this week from more than 150,000 before the Jan. 30 elections in the Arab country, a senior US defense official said on Friday.

The number went down along with the completion of the latest American troop rotation in and out of the country, the official said at a Pentagon background briefing. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/23/content_2867182.htm

[Dinaress]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050422/481/bag11704221529 ;)

[arh777]

FACT SHEET: SITUATION IN IRAQ

Report on behalf of the Multinational Force
Pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1546

In less than a year, the Iraqi Regular Army and Intervention Forces grew from one operational battalion to 27 operational battalions. The total number of operational combat battalions is now 80, which includes the units incorporated from the intervention force and the National Guard.


Iraq’s Navy became operational, with five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels, and a naval infantry regiment that recently completed training.


Iraq’s Air Force has three operational squadrons; one additional squadron was stood up in late-January/early February. They have nine reconnaissance aircraft, a helicopter squadron, and three C-130 transport aircraft.


Iraq’s Special Operations Forces now include a superb Counter-terrorist Forces and a Commando Battalion, each of which has conducted dozens of successful operations.


Iraq’s 1st Mechanized Battalion became operational in mid-January, along with a tank company and a transportation battalion; the remaining elements of a mechanized brigade will be trained and equipped by the summer.


Iraq’s two Military Academies reopened in October 2004 and each graduated a pilot course of new lieutenants, 91 total, in early January. The new year-long military academy course has already begun.


The Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 trained and equipped police officers, up from 26,000 last Summer. Of the nearly 29,000 police officers who have been trained since then, over 12,000 were former police who underwent three-week transition course training and over 16,000 were new recruits who underwent eight-week basic training. More than 35,000 additional police are on duty and scheduled for training.


Five basic police academies became operational; together, they produce over 3,500 new police officers from the 8-week course each month, a course recently modified to better prepare the new police officers for the challenging environment in which some may serve. Several other regional academies are under construction.


Iraq’s Mechanized Police Brigade recently completed training and began operations in mid-January, using fifty BTR-94 wheeled armored vehicles. One additional Mechanized Police battalion is in training.


Nine Police Commando battalions are operational.


Nine Public Order Battalions are operational. Three more battalions will commence training shortly.


Iraq’s National Police Emergency Response Unit is now operational, and its elements have conducted operations in Baghdad, Fallujah, and Mosul.


Iraq’s First Special Border Force Battalion is operating on the Syrian border in western Anbar Province; the Second Battalion competed training in February and has begun its deployments, and a third completed training in March.


Seven provincial SWAT teams have been trained, two more are in training, and eleven more are scheduled for training by August 2005.

[Stash]

Iraqi Security Forces Top 155,000; Positive Trends Continue

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2005 – There are more than 155,000 “trained and equipped” members of the Iraqi security forces, and trends are clearly positive, a senior defense official said during a Pentagon background briefing today.

What’s more, U.S. troop strength in Iraq went under 140,000 this week with the completion of the rotation of forces in and out of the country, he said.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2005/20050422_719.html

[Stash]

I couldnt find the perfect place to post this, but thought some would appreciate it as I did:

A son's late-night call from Iraq


"Again, the phone connection between our Oceanside house and my son's cell phone in Iraq was crystal clear.

The phone rang at 3 a.m. My wife picked it up, going from a sound sleep, to excited mother talking to her son who, as an infantryman, remains in harm's way daily.

After she ascertained that he was OK and getting enough to eat, Evan told her: " 'Mom, I want you to meet (Mel ---- not his real name). He's a good Iraqi soldier who was fighting Hussein long before we got here ... he's an interpreter who works with us ... here, talk to him."

read it all here:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/22/news/columnists/another_tilt/23_57_524_21_05.txt

[drtymnky]

An Iraqi civilian helped U.S. soldiers in Task Force Baghdad (search) locate the eight suspects, who were apprehended at two houses Saturday afternoon, the military said. It did not identify the suspects or specify where they were captured.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,154403,00.html


An Iraqi patriot came forward to help catch those responsible for the helicopter shoot-down.

I saw it at another news website, it was buried and I had to substitute the Fox info.

[Wolverine]

Very much appreciated Mr. Stash, Thanks ! :happy26:

[Stash]

Your Welcome Wolverine. Thanks for reading it.

[Lux]

I couldnt find the perfect place to post this, but thought some would appreciate it as I did:

A son's late-night call from Iraq


"Again, the phone connection between our Oceanside house and my son's cell phone in Iraq was crystal clear.

The phone rang at 3 a.m. My wife picked it up, going from a sound sleep, to excited mother talking to her son who, as an infantryman, remains in harm's way daily.

After she ascertained that he was OK and getting enough to eat, Evan told her: " 'Mom, I want you to meet (Mel ---- not his real name). He's a good Iraqi soldier who was fighting Hussein long before we got here ... he's an interpreter who works with us ... here, talk to him."

read it all here:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/22/news/columnists/another_tilt/23_57_524_21_05.txt
This was the perfect place. Thanks for the article and thanks to everyone for all their work as well.

[Aunt Gwennie]

I couldnt find the perfect place to post this, but thought some would appreciate it as I did:

A son's late-night call from Iraq


"Again, the phone connection between our Oceanside house and my son's cell phone in Iraq was crystal clear.

The phone rang at 3 a.m. My wife picked it up, going from a sound sleep, to excited mother talking to her son who, as an infantryman, remains in harm's way daily.

After she ascertained that he was OK and getting enough to eat, Evan told her: " 'Mom, I want you to meet (Mel ---- not his real name). He's a good Iraqi soldier who was fighting Hussein long before we got here ... he's an interpreter who works with us ... here, talk to him."

read it all here:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/22/news/columnists/another_tilt/23_57_524_21_05.txt
Thanks for sharing with us....I needed a tissue as well after reading that!!

Aunt Gwennie

[Aunt Gwennie]

An Iraqi civilian helped U.S. soldiers in Task Force Baghdad (search) locate the eight suspects, who were apprehended at two houses Saturday afternoon, the military said. It did not identify the suspects or specify where they were captured.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,154403,00.html


An Iraqi patriot came forward to help catch those responsible for the helicopter shoot-down.

I saw it at another news website, it was buried and I had to substitute the Fox info.
Thanks drtymnky!!! Now if we can just get more Iraqis to call that hotline....the violence will soon come to an end. Then all we need is for the new government to get their act together and get on with the business at hand.

AG

[drtymnky]

Thanks drtymnky!!! Now if we can just get more Iraqis to call that hotline....the violence will soon come to an end. Then all we need is for the new government to get their act together and get on with the business at hand.

AG

I just can't help but believe that there are many Iraqis who are working to defeat the terrorists. I am sure that the social situation is blurred in some parts of the country, in the end-I think justice will prevail. I can't imagine how sick of it they must be.

[Stash]

Imagine the courage it takes to turn these thugs in, knowing it very well could cost you your life..or even worse your families lives.

Yet they still do it, and probably much more often than reported here in the States.

Moreover, Our Troops and their courage..going to a foreign land as terrorist targets, yet befriending and helping the good Iraqis while at the same time killing the scum among them. Some have said the greatest generation is passing..<p>
But I am convinced we have another one on the way.

These Gen Xers in Iraq and Afghanistan are some tough, strong, disciplined young men who will get the job done. All their life they can be proud of the glory they earned in setting millions of people free from a brutal dictator or regime while at the same time making their homeland a safer place.
I believe they will be rewarded in this life and the next for such a noble cause.