.Alaska Strykers prepare for provincial elections in Iraq
FAIRBANKS — The commander of Fort Wainwright’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry, updated reporters Monday about the brigade’s ongoing mission in Iraq.
Speaking from Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Iraq’s Diyala Province, Col. Burt Thompson said soldiers are making security preparations for Iraqi elections to be held Jan. 31.
“Really a most dangerous course of action for us is to anticipate an increase in some type of violent activities around the elections,” Thompson said, according to a transcript provided by the Department of Defense. “and it’s pretty clear what they’d be going after. It’s to sway the hearts and minds, to intimidate those civilians from going and voting.”
Thompson has previously described Diyala, a province to the Northeast of Baghdad, as a “mini Iraq.” Though it is predominantly Sunni Muslim, Kurds make up the second highest percentage of the population, and Shiites control the local council.
More than 4,000 soldiers from Wainwright deployed to Diyala in September for a 12-month mission. About half the brigade is made up of soldiers from Fort Wainwright’s 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, which was deployed to Iraq for an extended 15-month deployment in 2005 and 2006.
The colonel called the attacks in October that claimed that lives of two soldiers and injured a nine others a “test” of the incoming brigade’s tactics.
“We had an initial spike, obviously during the transition period, and then we saw it level out,” Thompson said.
Most attacks have come either from al-Qaeda in Iraq or militia force founded by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Thompson said there are still weekly attacks in the area, mostly roadside bombs directed at the civilian population of Diyala’s major cities.
Thompson also addressed rumor apparently spreading by family members on base that the brigade will come home for a month of leave in the summer before deploying to Afghanistan.
“We are committed to Diyala,” Thompson said. “... We need to stay in Diyala and we’re going to stay in Diyala for our full rotation.”
The commander ended the press conference by thanking family members back home who continue to support the troops.
“There’s a lot of our families (that) did not want to brave the cold winter, so they went home with family in the Lower 48,” he said. “But I’d like to thank our families for their — and friends — for their support, especially during the holiday season here.”
Newsminer
Speaking from Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Iraq’s Diyala Province, Col. Burt Thompson said soldiers are making security preparations for Iraqi elections to be held Jan. 31.
“Really a most dangerous course of action for us is to anticipate an increase in some type of violent activities around the elections,” Thompson said, according to a transcript provided by the Department of Defense. “and it’s pretty clear what they’d be going after. It’s to sway the hearts and minds, to intimidate those civilians from going and voting.”
Thompson has previously described Diyala, a province to the Northeast of Baghdad, as a “mini Iraq.” Though it is predominantly Sunni Muslim, Kurds make up the second highest percentage of the population, and Shiites control the local council.
More than 4,000 soldiers from Wainwright deployed to Diyala in September for a 12-month mission. About half the brigade is made up of soldiers from Fort Wainwright’s 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, which was deployed to Iraq for an extended 15-month deployment in 2005 and 2006.
The colonel called the attacks in October that claimed that lives of two soldiers and injured a nine others a “test” of the incoming brigade’s tactics.
“We had an initial spike, obviously during the transition period, and then we saw it level out,” Thompson said.
Most attacks have come either from al-Qaeda in Iraq or militia force founded by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Thompson said there are still weekly attacks in the area, mostly roadside bombs directed at the civilian population of Diyala’s major cities.
Thompson also addressed rumor apparently spreading by family members on base that the brigade will come home for a month of leave in the summer before deploying to Afghanistan.
“We are committed to Diyala,” Thompson said. “... We need to stay in Diyala and we’re going to stay in Diyala for our full rotation.”
The commander ended the press conference by thanking family members back home who continue to support the troops.
“There’s a lot of our families (that) did not want to brave the cold winter, so they went home with family in the Lower 48,” he said. “But I’d like to thank our families for their — and friends — for their support, especially during the holiday season here.”
Newsminer
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