WEBVTT 00:00.040 --> 00:02.040 tonight , we had the opportunity to 00:02.040 --> 00:04.040 bring together the commander of the 00:04.040 --> 00:06.151 small operations command . Lieutenant 00:06.151 --> 00:05.760 General rashid along with all his 00:06.140 --> 00:08.362 brigade level commanders to include the 00:08.362 --> 00:10.473 commander of the federal police , the 00:10.473 --> 00:12.640 Iraqi District headquarters . Uh , and 00:12.640 --> 00:14.696 then from the Blackjack Brigade , we 00:14.696 --> 00:16.751 were able to have Colonel popular as 00:16.751 --> 00:16.700 well as command sergeant Major Monica 00:16.710 --> 00:18.821 and from the Red Dragons , Lieutenant 00:18.821 --> 00:20.988 Colonel Nate Cook and command Sergeant 00:20.988 --> 00:22.988 Major Soto along with all the staff 00:22.988 --> 00:24.710 officers and commanders of the 00:24.710 --> 00:26.710 battalion . Tonight's dinner was an 00:26.710 --> 00:28.488 opportunity to get together the 00:28.488 --> 00:30.710 leadership responsible for the Security 00:30.710 --> 00:32.821 in Southern Solid and altogether both 00:32.821 --> 00:35.043 Iraqi forces as well as american forces 00:35.043 --> 00:37.170 from Blackjack Brigade . Tonight was 00:37.180 --> 00:39.402 extremely special because it was during 00:39.402 --> 00:41.513 Ramadan where they were able to break 00:41.513 --> 00:43.624 the fast with us . It showed a lot of 00:43.624 --> 00:45.736 respect for each other . We were able 00:45.736 --> 00:47.736 to bring everyone together , really 00:47.736 --> 00:49.513 showing our partnership and our 00:49.513 --> 00:51.569 friendship as well as the respect we 00:51.569 --> 00:53.791 have for each other's units . So coming 00:53.791 --> 00:55.847 here , yeah , we've been here now on 00:55.847 --> 00:57.958 the ground almost 100 days , which is 00:57.958 --> 01:00.013 kind of a great number as we go into 01:00.013 --> 01:02.236 the first quarter that we finished with 01:02.236 --> 01:04.458 each other . We both , uh , seeing each 01:04.458 --> 01:05.958 other's organizations grow 01:05.958 --> 01:08.013 professionally and really in the end 01:08.013 --> 01:10.130 it's about half improving security 01:10.130 --> 01:12.297 apparatus of Southern Solid and really 01:12.297 --> 01:14.297 across Iraq as a whole . But here's 01:14.297 --> 01:16.519 specifically what we're responsible for 01:16.519 --> 01:18.741 the security in Southern Solid and it's 01:18.741 --> 01:20.852 been a tremendous improvement both in 01:20.852 --> 01:22.963 our organization as well as the Iraqi 01:22.963 --> 01:22.840 Police and Iraqi security forces . 01:22.850 --> 01:25.190 Absolutely . Tonight . Just even the 01:25.190 --> 01:27.134 atmosphere itself , we were having 01:27.134 --> 01:29.190 dinner together , sitting across the 01:29.190 --> 01:31.301 table from Iraqi counterparts who are 01:31.301 --> 01:33.412 responsible for security . We weren't 01:33.412 --> 01:32.960 only talking business , but we were 01:32.970 --> 01:35.850 able to talk about friendship families , 01:35.850 --> 01:37.906 learn about each other on a personal 01:37.906 --> 01:40.128 level uh which certainly will translate 01:40.128 --> 01:42.294 into a better relationship working and 01:42.294 --> 01:44.461 professional level outside of the wire 01:44.461 --> 01:47.270 here and outside it . Jamie be security . 01:47.940 --> 01:49.773 Absolutely . I think that that's 01:49.773 --> 01:51.910 exactly the case . Uh we do have a 01:51.910 --> 01:54.021 common understanding of what our jobs 01:54.021 --> 01:55.854 are and how although coming from 01:55.854 --> 01:57.743 different lifestyles in different 01:57.743 --> 01:59.410 places , there is that common 01:59.410 --> 02:01.577 understanding that we're soldiers were 02:01.577 --> 02:03.799 responsible for security here . My name 02:03.799 --> 02:06.021 is Christopher M Coughlin is first name 02:06.021 --> 02:09.650 is spelled C H R I S T O P H E R . 02:11.710 --> 02:14.780 Okay . Um okay , so can you tell me 02:14.780 --> 02:17.490 about tonight because I don't know you 02:17.490 --> 02:21.050 put a lot of time into . Mhm . Tonight 02:21.050 --> 02:24.070 was a great event . Uh it is Ramadan 02:24.080 --> 02:27.220 for the for islam . So what it was was 02:27.220 --> 02:30.100 an opportunity to uh with our brothers 02:30.110 --> 02:32.330 in the Iraqi forces to share a meal 02:32.330 --> 02:35.070 with them and to talk a little bit 02:35.070 --> 02:38.510 about operations and most importantly 02:38.510 --> 02:40.460 to get all the key Iraqi leaders 02:40.470 --> 02:42.890 together with the key american leaders 02:42.900 --> 02:46.080 in southern Saladin and in many cases 02:46.080 --> 02:48.191 this is the first time event where we 02:48.191 --> 02:50.990 had General rashid who is the same , 02:50.990 --> 02:53.230 our operations commander . He's a 02:53.230 --> 02:55.397 lieutenant general in the Iraqi forces 02:55.397 --> 02:57.341 and we had a number of his brigade 02:57.341 --> 02:59.508 commanders , Brigadier General Staff . 02:59.508 --> 03:01.397 Brigadier General Sabah Brigadier 03:01.397 --> 03:03.563 General Abdel Khaleq who is the Samara 03:03.563 --> 03:05.240 DHT , which is the district 03:05.240 --> 03:08.130 headquarters for the Iraqi police . We 03:08.130 --> 03:10.186 also had Brigadier staff , Brigadier 03:10.186 --> 03:12.408 General Amer who is the G three for the 03:12.408 --> 03:14.630 same our Operations command and various 03:14.630 --> 03:16.797 other colonels and Lieutenant Colonels 03:16.797 --> 03:18.686 of the Iraqi forces who are their 03:18.686 --> 03:21.460 subordinates . What was critical was 03:21.840 --> 03:23.729 not so much to dinner , which was 03:23.729 --> 03:25.507 fantastic . But then it was the 03:25.507 --> 03:27.673 opportunity . Afterwards we drank chai 03:27.673 --> 03:29.284 and were able to have a good 03:29.284 --> 03:31.860 conversation about future operations 03:32.020 --> 03:34.210 and really solidify the fantastic 03:34.210 --> 03:38.030 partnership that we have . Mm I 03:38.030 --> 03:41.800 mean , we got here early and uh the 03:41.810 --> 03:44.040 relationship has started then and just 03:44.050 --> 03:46.106 built from there . Can you , can you 03:46.106 --> 03:47.106 tell me that ? 03:47.140 --> 03:50.380 Yeah , I 03:50.380 --> 03:52.980 have , I have a unique perspective in 03:52.980 --> 03:55.510 that . I was one of three guys from the 03:55.510 --> 03:57.900 brigade who came over early . So I've 03:57.900 --> 04:00.670 actually been in Samara since May eight . 04:00.680 --> 04:04.500 So I had a full month plus To work 04:04.510 --> 04:07.590 with the Iraqi forces before our 04:07.590 --> 04:10.140 brigade conducted transfer of authority 04:10.150 --> 04:13.420 with 2nd brigade 25th I'd strikers . Uh 04:13.430 --> 04:16.300 and that gave me an opportunity to 04:16.300 --> 04:19.070 really immerse myself learn the 04:19.070 --> 04:22.190 personalities , learn the key issues , 04:22.200 --> 04:24.256 learn the issues that we're going to 04:24.256 --> 04:26.478 continue on in our state because we had 04:26.478 --> 04:28.533 a very different mission than Second 04:28.533 --> 04:31.500 Brigade 25th does very different and 04:31.510 --> 04:33.730 there was some issues and some events 04:33.730 --> 04:35.674 and programs that we're that we're 04:35.674 --> 04:37.619 going to have continuity . Whereas 04:37.619 --> 04:39.674 there were others that were critical 04:39.674 --> 04:42.370 under second brigade 25th tenure but 04:42.370 --> 04:45.540 had kind of fallen off and they became 04:45.540 --> 04:48.450 less important in the sense of the 04:48.450 --> 04:50.600 amount of effort we put into it and 04:50.600 --> 04:54.000 even the Iraqis to a degree . So that 04:54.000 --> 04:56.111 was as we evolved . One of the things 04:56.111 --> 04:58.056 we talked , we spent a lot of time 04:58.056 --> 05:00.600 about was not just continuing to 05:00.600 --> 05:02.700 improve the security of Samara , but 05:02.700 --> 05:06.150 actually start to remove some of the 05:06.160 --> 05:10.000 very um forceful measures 05:10.000 --> 05:12.167 that were in some are and were able to 05:12.167 --> 05:14.480 keep some are a fairly peaceful state . 05:14.490 --> 05:17.180 Now the time has come and it was kind 05:17.180 --> 05:19.013 of one of those intuitive things 05:19.013 --> 05:21.380 between the Iraqis and with us helping 05:21.380 --> 05:23.491 them a little bit and helping them to 05:23.491 --> 05:25.850 see see the changing the atmosphere had 05:25.850 --> 05:27.940 changed and that we could do certain 05:27.940 --> 05:30.280 things , we could reduce the curfew 05:30.290 --> 05:33.120 time , We could take down some t walls . 05:33.130 --> 05:35.352 They could and what they can do then is 05:35.352 --> 05:37.660 transition from a very , very um 05:38.840 --> 05:41.890 strict security posture to a more open 05:41.890 --> 05:44.080 posture and facilitate more political 05:44.080 --> 05:46.413 freedom and more economic opportunities . 05:46.413 --> 05:49.180 Omar is a great city 400,000 . It's 05:49.190 --> 05:52.890 8000 years old and uh the 05:52.890 --> 05:55.057 archaeological history , the religious 05:55.057 --> 05:57.430 history it brings unfortunately because 05:57.430 --> 05:59.490 of the security situation , a lot of 05:59.490 --> 06:02.300 that stuff was closed off to uh 06:02.310 --> 06:05.180 international tourists and Iraqis 06:05.180 --> 06:07.450 themselves now we're seeing , we're 06:07.450 --> 06:09.820 starting to see the emergence of of 06:09.830 --> 06:11.520 more people coming in , both 06:11.530 --> 06:14.560 international tourists and other Iraqis 06:14.560 --> 06:17.550 coming . I think the first event that 06:17.550 --> 06:21.490 was critical was the The pilgrimage 06:21.500 --> 06:23.556 in commemoration of the death of the 06:23.556 --> 06:25.667 10th mom . And that was in early June 06:25.667 --> 06:27.722 right around right about the first a 06:27.722 --> 06:29.667 couple few days before we actually 06:29.667 --> 06:31.778 conducted our transfer of authority . 06:31.778 --> 06:33.833 But for the most part we were in the 06:33.833 --> 06:36.240 driver's seat . Uh , certainly I had at 06:36.240 --> 06:39.040 that point had taken over as the senior 06:39.040 --> 06:41.910 adviser to uh Lieutenant General rashid 06:41.910 --> 06:44.132 the same . Our operations commander and 06:44.132 --> 06:46.077 lieutenant colonel gave who is the 06:46.077 --> 06:47.632 director of the Samara junk 06:47.632 --> 06:49.910 coordination Center . So I was able to , 06:49.910 --> 06:52.590 so we were really very much immersed in 06:52.590 --> 06:55.400 that and helping to advise and assist 06:55.400 --> 06:58.690 the Iraqis as they were implementing 06:58.700 --> 07:01.660 their security measures . And one thing 07:01.660 --> 07:05.200 that we saw that was very positive was 07:05.210 --> 07:07.400 they were much more proactive , much 07:07.400 --> 07:10.720 more ahead of the curve as it were than 07:10.720 --> 07:12.664 they had been in previous events . 07:12.664 --> 07:14.664 Similar to this in months and years 07:14.664 --> 07:18.510 past . And the proof was a perfect 07:18.520 --> 07:21.090 event . Not a single security issue , 07:21.100 --> 07:23.370 not a single security issue incident in 07:23.370 --> 07:25.370 and around the wholesome our area , 07:25.370 --> 07:27.537 you're talking about a time frame were 07:27.537 --> 07:29.426 hundreds of thousands of people , 07:29.426 --> 07:31.426 religious pilgrims , Shia religious 07:31.426 --> 07:34.150 pilgrims come to Samara uh to go to the 07:34.150 --> 07:36.610 shrine to pay their respects as part of 07:36.620 --> 07:40.440 as part of she is . Um um , it's the 07:40.450 --> 07:42.960 dinner this evening . It was 07:46.140 --> 07:49.560 we were facilitating opening . 07:50.040 --> 07:52.460 I mean , we already had the lines of 07:52.470 --> 07:54.470 communications over how do you feel 07:54.470 --> 07:56.340 that it went as far as everybody 07:56.350 --> 07:58.400 getting together in fellowship and 07:58.410 --> 08:02.300 chair . Mm I think it was about as 08:02.300 --> 08:04.467 good as you could ever . I don't think 08:04.467 --> 08:06.633 we could have planned it as well as it 08:06.633 --> 08:08.744 occurred . I think that we planned it 08:08.744 --> 08:10.467 as americans . We like to plan 08:10.467 --> 08:13.290 everything . The Iraqis not so much but 08:13.290 --> 08:15.457 I think when you mesh that together we 08:15.457 --> 08:17.457 actually had quite a great event in 08:17.457 --> 08:19.734 terms of how we had had its structured . 08:19.734 --> 08:21.734 But then the Iraqis want a lot more 08:21.734 --> 08:23.846 people and people we weren't planning 08:23.846 --> 08:25.720 on coming necessarily but their 08:25.720 --> 08:28.270 presence added a lot more to the to the 08:28.270 --> 08:31.240 event and the conversations , the 08:31.240 --> 08:33.910 ability to interface with certain 08:33.920 --> 08:37.130 certain key leaders was critical uh in 08:37.130 --> 08:39.360 some cases too many of these guys , 08:39.840 --> 08:41.951 these some of these Iraqi leaders are 08:41.951 --> 08:43.840 but a name where they have seen a 08:43.840 --> 08:45.840 picture of the guy and they see his 08:45.840 --> 08:47.784 name on a report or in an order or 08:47.784 --> 08:50.007 something like that . Now a lot of guys 08:50.007 --> 08:52.173 got to actually meet these guys have a 08:52.173 --> 08:54.340 brief conversation , talk about things 08:54.340 --> 08:56.562 and it wasn't all shot talk , it wasn't 08:56.562 --> 08:58.618 all talk about work and operations , 08:58.618 --> 09:00.896 general armor for instance the G three , 09:00.896 --> 09:03.050 I sat by him today at dinner and we 09:03.050 --> 09:05.730 were talking about his brother who was 09:05.730 --> 09:07.780 on a Fulbright scholarship and is 09:07.780 --> 09:10.860 studying in Chicago and he did uh and 09:10.860 --> 09:13.027 he's coming back to Iraq and then he's 09:13.027 --> 09:15.193 going to be an instructor . He's gonna 09:15.193 --> 09:17.360 be a professor in uh at the university 09:17.360 --> 09:17.260 in module .