| Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
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BAGHDAD — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers provided micro-grants to local shop owners in the Sadr City district of Baghdad to rebuild and expand their businesses as coalition forces continue to expand humanitarian operations May 26.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, handed out the grants from the Civil Military Operations Center at Joint Security Station – Sadr City.
The CMOC, operated by the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, MND-B, recently began supporting ground forces commanders in the Thawra 1 and Thawra 2 neighborhoods of Sadr City by processing applications for grants to Iraqi civilians to expand and improve their businesses and market stands at Sadr City markets. The CMOC plans to distribute $100,000 in grants to the residents of Sadr City, in increments of $2,500 to approved applicants, from May 26 through June 1. On the first day, the micro-grant program distributed $32,000 in grants.
Lt. Col. Brian Eifler, a native of Farmington Hills, Mich., and commanding officer of Task Force 1-6, spearheaded the operation to get local businesses back up and providing services to the local community after the recent disruptions due to criminal activities.
“The services provided by these merchants and shop owners are essential to improving the lives of the citizens of Sadr City,” said Eifler. “These grants enable the small business owners of Sadr City to improve their lives and the welfare of their communities.”
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Abu Ibrahim, a local merchant who sells fruit in the Jamila Market of Sadr City, said he welcomed the assistance and was thankful for the opportunity to improve his business and for the employees who work for him.
“This is a chance for me to expand and improve my business, which will be good for my family and our people here in Baghdad,” Ibrahim said. “I have also made friends that I can rely on to keep trouble away,” he said, in speaking of Eifler and TF 1-6.
Eifler recounted tales of criminal elements, who force local shopkeepers to pay money to run their business without providing any services.
“These criminals threaten local businessmen and force them to pay out ‘protection money,’ and yet they then fail to provide anything to these merchants who they say they want to help,” said Eifler. “Our coalition forces, including our Iraqi partners, want nothing but to get these people up on their feet and for them to succeed and as a result improve their neighborhoods.”
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| Interactive Iraq :: Press Briefings |
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Mr. Adnan al-Asadi, Senior Deputy Minister of Interior; General Nasr Abadi, Vice Chief of Staff, Iraqi Armed Forces; Lt. Gen. James Dubik, Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq; and Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq, discuss developments in preparedness of the Iraqi Security Forces.
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Feature Stories
 BASRA — As 4 Mechanized Brigade's operational tour in southern Iraq draws to a close, the Brigade's Commanding Officer, Brigadier Julian Free, has been reflecting on the experiences of the last six months.
The Brigade deployed to Basra in October 2007 as part of Operation Telic 11. During that time they have helped to oversee the transfer of Provincial Iraqi Control in Basra. They have also provided assistance to the Iraqi Security Forces for Operation Charge of the Knights, an initiative which has brought improved security in and around Basra City, as well as forming a number of Military Transition Teams to deliver vital training to the Iraqis.
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 CAMP STRIKER — Problems that arise during aero-medical evacuation missions can seriously endanger the life of a patient.
With that in mind, Company C, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, a National Guard MEDEVAC company from Bangor, Maine, currently deployed to Tallil Airbase, has been training units on MEDEVAC procedures to ensure the safety of patients they transport.
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 BAGHDAD — More than 70 Iraqi business owners gathered in the Babylon hotel on the Karadah Peninsula in southeastern Baghdad for the inaugural Rebuilding - Karadah Expo and Conference, May 23-24.
Entrepreneurs and shopkeepers met at the hotel to display their products and services and to meet other Karadah business owners and community leaders. Participants setting up booths represented businesses in the fields of retail sales, construction, durable and industrial goods and even a beekeeper selling honey. In addition, several non-government agencies and municipal officials set up and visited booths, and various Arab media organizations covered both days of the conference and expo.
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BASRA — As 4 Mechanized Brigade's operational tour in southern Iraq draws to a close, the Brigade's Commanding Officer, Brigadier Julian Free, has been reflecting on the experiences of the last six months.
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