U.S. troops work on putting Iraqis to work

U.S. troops work on putting Iraqis to work
By Steve Mraz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, February 16, 2009

ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq — U.S. troops are shifting more of their efforts toward nation building rather than conducting combat operations as the security situation improves in northern Babil province.

Infantry units, although most comfortable with, and best trained for, kinetic operations, are identifying ways to improve governance and economics.

Other units with the 172nd Infantry Brigade at Forward Operating Base Kalsu are providing security escorts for State Department members of provincial reconstruction teams. More units based at FOB Kalsu are training for such security escort missions.

On Wednesday, an infantry battalion commander sipped tea and chatted with the director of an Iraqi state-owned company that assembles tractors in Iskandariyah, another sign of this shift in the role of the U.S. military.

Sabah al Khafaji, the general director of the State Company of Mechanical Industries, guided Lt. Col. Steven Miska, commander of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, and a few other officers on a tour of the facility. Underscoring the improved security environment and likely as a gesture of goodwill, Miska and the officers left their helmets and body armor in their vehicles but remained armed. However, several heavily armed soldiers in full “battle rattle” escorted the officers during the visit.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60749