Vol. II, Issue 39 Wednesday’s Online Edition June 11, 2008

victory timesonline

Story and photo

By Pfc. Eric J. 

Glassey

13th Public Affairs 

Detachment

Army Gen. David Petraeus transfers authority of Task Force 134 to Navy Rear 

Adm. Garland Wright at Al Faw Palace June 6.

Task Force 134 welcomes new leadership

A change of command ceremony for 

Task Force 134, detainee operations, 

was held at Al Faw 

Palace June 6. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. 

Douglas M. Stone 

transferred command 

to U.S. Navy Rear 

Adm. Garland P. 

Wright Jr..

“General Stone’s 

performance has 

been strategic leadership at its finest,” 

Army Gen. David 

H. Petraeus, MultiNational Force-Iraq 

commanding general, said. “He got the 

big ideas right, and he 

and his team turned 

them into realities. 

And for that we are 

very grateful.”

“Thank you for 

your leadership, 

your vision, your energy and many other 

qualities you brought 

to Multi-National 

Force-Iraq and for the 

significant achievements of Task Force 

134 on your watch 

and under your leadership,” Petraeus 

said. “You have been 

a true national and 

international asset 

in this position, and 

an invaluable part of 

our team. And we all 

wish the best of luck 

to you and your family, and earn a well 

deserved promotion 

to lieutenant general.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to 

have worked with so 

many Iraqis and have 

served the Iraqi people,” Stone said. “In 

detainee operations 

we have been able 

to remain focused 

on the future of Iraq 

and the future of the 

people of Iraq.”

One of Stone’s 

greatest achievements in detainee 

operations were the 

Iraqis who leave U.S. 

custody and return 

to their families and 

prosper in the Iraqi 

society never again to 

take up arms against 

coalition forces or 

their fellow citizens, 

Stone said.

Stone has raised 

the standard of living 

in addition to providing education centers 

in all of the detainee 

compounds under 

his care. Detainees 

had even requested to 

stay so they could finish their educations 

before going back to 

their families.

 “What we do in 

detainee ops is not 

perfect, but what we 

are building towards 

is long term security,” Stone said. “It 

is my greatest hope 

that through our actions as a coalition, 

that all Iraqis will 

come to trust in us, 

and believe in our 

respect for their history, for their culture, 

for their individual 

dignity, knowing that 

we share the ultimate 

desire to bring about 

a great nation.”
 

commentary

MNC-I Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III 

MNC-I Public Affairs Officer: Col. Billy J. Buckner 

MNC-I PA Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka

MNC-I Command Info Chief: Staff Sgt. Joy Pariante

Editor:Spc. Samuel J. Phillips

Staff: Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Crisp, Cpl. Frances Goch, Pfc. Eric J. 

Martinez and Pfc. Eric J. Glassey

The Victory Times online welcomes columns, 

commentaries, articles and letters from our 

readers. Send submissionsor comments to 

joy.pariante@iraq.centcom.mil. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for security, 

accuracy, propriety, policy, clarity and space.

The Victory Times Online is an authorized 

electronic publication for members of the 

Department of Defense. Contents of this 

electronic publication are not necessarily 

the official views of or endorsed by the 

U.S. Government or the Department of Defense. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs 

Office of Multi-National Corps-Iraq.

Page 2 Victory Times Online June 11, 2008

By Lt. Matthew D. Brown

Contributing writer

TF Iron Shield

Progress in Iraq merits more attention, media coverage

I recently had a conversation 

with about 25 U.S. Soldiers. It was 

a terrific discussion, but nevertheless left me feeling a bit troubled. 

The troops and I talked about how 

we keep up on current events and 

how we take in the news while 

stationed on Victory Base Complex. 

We went back and forth on coalition force progress, as they saw 

it, and talked about some things 

they might change if they could. 

Our talk was very enlightening, 

but I came out of the conversation wondering why they felt as 

if nothing good was coming as 

a result of their being here. 

I was discouraged because as I 

thought about it...How would they 

know? How would any of us know? 

As a military (and to some extent 

as a country) we are inundated 

with bad news. And the moment 

that thought crept into my head I 

felt a little like our media might be 

running a propaganda campaign of 

their own, whereas if it’s not “bad 

news” with respect to the war in 

Iraq; then it just isn’t “news-news.”

I am sure that some of this is 

a bi-product of the 24-hour cable 

news industry. I can only imagine 

how difficult it must be to fill the 24 

hours of time with “late-breaking” 

“must see” news. There is only so 

much heartwrenching material to go 

around and if they run out of tearjerkers brought to us by the war in 

Iraq, a clip of Britney Spears might 

bring more of a viewing audience 

than the slow and unsteady process 

of rebuilding an entire country. 

It would be unfair for me to use 

this column to drive some sort 

of political agenda, so I won’t. 

The objective here is not to justify what we are doing, or how 

we got here, but rather to recognize some of the less publicized 

Iraqi achievements to which our 

troops have directly contributed. 

I was fortunate enough have to 

this information forwarded to me via 

e-mail by a colleague of mine. She 

qualified the e-mail by saying that 

the folks who wrote it are traditionally known for being “a little conservative.” And as I read it, I have to 

admit I was at first little skeptical. 

My cynicism was shortlived because as I discovered all of the facts 

are easily verified on any number of 

Department of Defense publications 

to include, http://www.defenselink.

mil/. So without further commentary, here are just a few examples 

of the very real progress coalition 

forces are making right here in Iraq. 

*47 countries have reestablished their embassies in Iraq.

*The Iraqi government currently 

employs 1.2 million Iraqi people.

*3,100 schools have been 

renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new 

schools are now under construction and 38 new schools 

have been completed in Iraq.

*Iraq’s higher educational 

structure consists of 20 universities, 46 institutes or colleges 

and four research centers. 

*Talented Iraqi students departed for the United States in 

January 2005 for the re-established 

Fulbright Scholar program.

*The Iraqi navy is operational. 

Its fleet consists of five 100-foot 

patrol craft, 34 in-shore patrol vessels, and a naval infantry regiment. 

*Iraq has established counterterrorism and commando units.

*The Iraqi police have more than 

55,000 fully trained and equipped 

police officers. To be fair this is a 

work in progress, but as you can 

see the 55,000 is a large number of interested Iraqi citizens.

*There are five police academies 

in Iraq that produce more than 3,500 

new officers each eight weeks.

*There are more than 1,100 

building projects going on in Iraq. 

They include 364 schools, 67 public 

See PROGRESS, Page 4
Conference brings hope to Iraqi women

June 11, 2008 Victory Times

News

Page 3

Story and photo by Marine Cpl. Frances L. Goch

MNC-I PAO

Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, Multi-National Division North, commanding general, takes time after the 

group photo to talk to a few Iraqi women about their concerns in their region. During the conference 

women had the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions about different situations.

A Declaration of Sentiments was signed by 

68 women and 32 men 

in Seneca Falls, NY 

160 years ago, setting 

an agenda for the U.S. 

women’s rights movement. From this, a set 

of 12 resolutions, calling for equal treatment 

of women and men, was 

adopted. 

Today, women in the 

United States of America are still fighting for 

equal rights, but they 

are not alone. Now, the 

women of Iraq are fighting for their right to be 

treated as equals in their 

Some of the topics 

discussed were educational rights, childcare 

for working women, and 

laws protecting women 

from oppression and 

abuse. 

“From these conferences we can form the 

basis for raising awareness to fix problems 

where they are actually happening and not 

where we think they are 

happening,” said Zaher. 

But not all talk was of 

oppression and despair. 

The women also spoke 

of progress in their regions. For example, in 

Kirkuk, 120 women just 

graduated from the police academy and will be 

the first women in Iraq 

to serve on the Iraqi police force.

The women of Iraq 

are not alone in their 

fight, there were several 

men in attendance to include Maj. Gen. Mark 

P. Hertling, Multi-National Division -North 

commanding general 

and Brig. Gen. James 

C. Boozer, 1st Armored 

Division, deputy commanding general support.

Hertling wanted the 

conference to bring 

something special to the 

women of Iraq “... I just 

want to give them hope. 

The next steps are determined by what they do 

to bring a touch of good 

to their regions.”

The Iraqi and Kurdish 

men in attendance had a 

lot to say as well.

“I think this conference is great. It opens 

the door for women so 

they know their opinions 

are important too,” said 

a Kurdish man attending the conference. “We 

want women to move 

to the front, not to keep 

getting pushed to the 

back. This way man and 

woman can walk hand in 

hand beside each other.”

Although they have a 

long road ahead of them, 

the women of Iraq know 

they are not alone. Other 

women have traveled 

this road before them. 

society.

On June 4, women 

from different regions 

of Iraq came together 

to discuss problems and 

progress in each of their 

regions at the For the 

Future of Iraq conference in Irbil, organized 

by Multi-National Division –North, in hopes 

of gaining momentum 

to the women’s rights 

movement. 

“The goal of this conference is to get the woman’s voice heard,” said 

Rasheda Zaher, director 

of relations, Ministry of 

Education, Baghdad.
Page 4 Victory Times Online June 11, 2008

Briefs

Military Happenings Military Happenings

clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad 

stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water 

facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

*4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary 

school by mid October.

*96 percent of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have 

received the first two series of polio vaccinations.

*There are 1,192,000 cell phone 

subscribers in Iraq and phone 

use has gone up 158 percent.

*Iraq has an independent 

media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers 

and 10 television stations.

It is important for us as warriors 

to have vision past our political position on the war, and through the 

less than fair and balanced news 

coverage that our media has been 

providing lately. It is impossible 

to fight if you do not recognize the 

good that has come of our efforts 

here. With one eye on our past 

successes we must keep the other 

focused on our mission, allowing 

for a successful, responsible, and 

expeditious redeployment home. 

 

PROGRESS, from Page 2

High tech system increases mission capabilities

Army News Service - As Land Warrior reaches its first 

anniversary in combat, the Army is seeking to equip an 

entire brigade combat team with the high-tech system which 

increases mission speed and effectiveness and decreases 

risks to the warfighter.

Land Warrior is a modular fighting system that uses stateof-the-art computer, communications, and global positioning 

technologies to digitally link Soldiers on the battlefield. The 

system is integrated with the Soldier’s body armor and has a 

helmet-mounted display.

Marine declared “not guilty” in Haditha deaths

Marine Corps News Service - A court martial has acquitted 

a US Marine for his role in the deaths of 24 civilians in 

Haditha in Iraq in 2005, the sixth man to be exonerated in 

the affair.

Lieutenant Andrew Grayson, 27, was declared “not guilty 

on all charges” by a jury, said a spokesman for the Camp 

Pendleton military base in southern California where the 

hearing started on May 28.

He was the first Marine to stand trial in connection with the 

killings of 24 men, women and children in Haditha, the most 

serious war crime allegations leveled at US forces since the 

2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.

Air Force chiefs resign

Air Force News Service - The military and civilian chiefs of 

the U.S. Air Force are resigning.

U.S. officials say that Defense Secretary Robert Gates 

asked Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and 

Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne to step down.

There was no immediate word on who would be nominated to replace Moseley and Wynne. Press secretary Dana 

Perino said President George W. Bush knew about the resignations but that the White House “has not played any role” in 

the shakeup.

Navy remains ready to help cyclone victims

Navy News Service - US helicopters and small boats are still 

ready to help deliver cyclone aid to Myanmar, a US official 

said Thursday, after the regime rejected US navy ships laden 

with emergency supplies.

Four US Navy ships, which had idled off Myanmar’s coast 

since May 13, left for the Gulf of Thailand on Thursday after 

the ruling junta refused to accept aid from foreign militaries.