WEBVTT 00:04.240 --> 00:09.590 today 00:09.590 --> 00:11.701 on FBI soldiers and airmen talk trash 00:11.701 --> 00:13.868 playing softball . And an Iraqi leader 00:13.868 --> 00:15.979 invites us commanders into his home . 00:15.979 --> 00:24.160 Welcome 00:24.160 --> 00:26.216 to this edition of Freedom Journal . 00:26.216 --> 00:28.271 Iraq . I'm private Rihanna Douglas , 00:28.310 --> 00:30.310 the U . S . Army and Air Force have 00:30.310 --> 00:32.421 different missions in Iraq . But when 00:32.421 --> 00:34.532 it comes to softball , winning is the 00:34.532 --> 00:36.699 main objective for both . Specialist . 00:36.699 --> 00:36.610 Amanda Jackson tells us about a recent 00:36.610 --> 00:38.666 game between the two services at Cob 00:38.666 --> 00:42.330 Speicher , another home run for the 00:42.340 --> 00:45.030 82nd Brigade Support battalion . They 00:45.040 --> 00:47.262 were just one of the teams on the field 00:47.262 --> 00:48.873 during a softball training , 00:48.873 --> 00:51.840 consistency operations Spyker Iraq 00:52.820 --> 00:54.542 which builds community between 00:54.542 --> 00:57.230 everybody in our everybody in our unit 00:57.240 --> 00:59.351 but also build camaraderie with other 00:59.351 --> 01:02.380 units . We have units from all over 01:02.380 --> 01:04.920 the country here and so we get to play 01:04.920 --> 01:07.142 with them and meet some of those guys . 01:07.142 --> 01:09.790 It was a typical softball game . Lots 01:09.790 --> 01:11.920 of taunting and teasing from the 01:11.930 --> 01:13.980 bleachers . You guys aren't even 01:13.980 --> 01:16.620 airborne . They lost . It was all in 01:16.620 --> 01:19.530 fun . After the dueling teams roasted 01:19.530 --> 01:21.697 in the sun for a few hours , they were 01:21.697 --> 01:23.863 up to that . Some teams actually lived 01:23.863 --> 01:25.919 up to the stellar paratrooper way by 01:25.919 --> 01:29.510 winning a few and some not so much . 01:29.810 --> 01:33.590 We played the Air Force and we're 01:33.590 --> 01:36.770 tied until the fifth inning and 01:38.160 --> 01:41.430 then they started snapping the ball 01:41.430 --> 01:43.263 since you to right field . I was 01:43.263 --> 01:45.486 playing left field though , so I didn't 01:45.486 --> 01:47.541 know how to have anything to do with 01:47.541 --> 01:50.330 the loss . It was mainly right fielders 01:50.570 --> 01:52.792 plus despite and perhaps because of the 01:52.792 --> 01:55.370 trash talking service members went away 01:55.370 --> 01:59.100 laughing after months in Iraq . This is 01:59.100 --> 02:01.322 a very good thing after the game , even 02:01.322 --> 02:03.560 though we lost me were too upset about 02:03.560 --> 02:05.782 it , we would have liked to stay up and 02:05.782 --> 02:07.893 play some more , but it was passed at 02:07.893 --> 02:10.004 the end of the beauty day anyway , so 02:10.004 --> 02:12.116 most of us weren't too disappointed . 02:12.116 --> 02:11.700 We spent the whole day playing softball , 02:12.760 --> 02:15.270 special commando Jackson biker rock . 02:16.440 --> 02:18.273 Many organizations worldwide has 02:18.273 --> 02:20.107 stepped up to help Iraq become a 02:20.107 --> 02:22.051 sovereign nation after years under 02:22.051 --> 02:24.162 Saddam Hussein six leadership special 02:24.162 --> 02:26.162 threat . Miller tells us one of the 02:26.162 --> 02:25.980 ways U . S . State Department is 02:25.980 --> 02:28.330 contributing . Capacity building is a 02:28.330 --> 02:30.552 tough job but members of the provincial 02:30.552 --> 02:32.719 reconstruction teams are ready to face 02:32.719 --> 02:34.910 the challenge . A PRT is the State 02:34.910 --> 02:37.180 Department led team assigned to a 02:37.180 --> 02:40.690 particular province in Iraq . The PRTS 02:40.690 --> 02:42.801 main goal is to strengthen provincial 02:42.801 --> 02:45.450 Iraqi government and their capacity to 02:45.450 --> 02:48.300 serve their people . We are advising 02:48.300 --> 02:50.189 the government and drafting their 02:50.189 --> 02:52.411 potential development strategy which is 02:52.411 --> 02:54.467 the comprehensive strategy that will 02:54.467 --> 02:56.633 guide this province for the next three 02:56.633 --> 02:58.244 years to decide what are the 02:58.244 --> 03:00.133 reconstruction priorities for the 03:00.133 --> 03:02.078 government , Where should they put 03:02.078 --> 03:04.189 their money that they're getting from 03:04.189 --> 03:06.189 Baghdad helping them , helping them 03:06.189 --> 03:08.356 organize their faults around what this 03:08.356 --> 03:10.411 program should consist of . So we're 03:10.411 --> 03:10.330 helping them develop their potential 03:10.330 --> 03:12.120 development strategy . The PRTS 03:12.120 --> 03:14.231 complete their mission with help from 03:14.231 --> 03:16.398 various other government organizations 03:16.398 --> 03:18.620 to include coalition allies and the U . 03:18.620 --> 03:21.350 S . Army Corps of Engineers . There's 03:21.350 --> 03:22.850 no template for provincial 03:22.850 --> 03:25.050 reconstruction . Each province has its 03:25.050 --> 03:27.410 own set of challenges and successes 03:27.420 --> 03:29.990 that the challenge to get into Mcdonald 03:29.990 --> 03:33.340 province and meet with the Madonna 03:33.340 --> 03:36.520 government officials has regularly . Um 03:36.530 --> 03:39.710 And for as long as we would like we 03:39.710 --> 03:41.932 could always do more if we were able to 03:41.932 --> 03:44.250 interact with them more often more 03:44.250 --> 03:47.920 frequently . Um Trying to 03:47.920 --> 03:50.000 accomplish this mission in just a 03:50.000 --> 03:52.920 couple of hours a week is a significant 03:52.920 --> 03:55.650 challenge . Um That said we have made 03:55.650 --> 03:59.540 significant strides I believe by the 03:59.550 --> 04:02.160 middle of next month we expect that 04:02.170 --> 04:05.090 Mcdonald province will publish um it's 04:05.090 --> 04:07.440 provincial budget , I believe that it 04:07.440 --> 04:09.440 will make it the second province in 04:09.440 --> 04:11.950 Iraq to do so . In the end it's the 04:11.950 --> 04:14.400 need to return control to the Iraqis 04:14.410 --> 04:16.480 and their future that drives the 04:16.480 --> 04:19.700 members of the Prp on specialist Brett 04:19.700 --> 04:22.550 Miller reporting from Camp adder Iraq 04:23.040 --> 04:25.490 after the break us commanders meet with 04:25.490 --> 04:26.990 an Iraqi local leader stay 04:26.990 --> 04:29.840 with . 04:33.040 --> 04:35.800 Mhm . Mhm . It's an adventure . Every 04:35.800 --> 04:38.610 time we go out we're normally 3 to 5 04:38.620 --> 04:40.787 days a week we're on the road checking 04:40.787 --> 04:42.898 on all the different teams looking at 04:42.898 --> 04:44.898 the different checkpoints that they 04:44.898 --> 04:47.120 have . And it's an adventure . I mean , 04:47.120 --> 04:49.231 we know we can get hit any day of the 04:49.231 --> 04:51.398 week . We have not got hit with an I . 04:51.398 --> 04:53.231 D . Yet . Our team in particular 04:53.231 --> 04:55.287 because we're always looking , we've 04:55.287 --> 04:57.176 had to stop a few times and we've 04:57.176 --> 04:59.120 discovered I . E . D . S . We just 04:59.120 --> 05:01.176 haven't uh been unfortunate thing is 05:01.176 --> 05:03.342 being blown up by one . When we go out 05:03.342 --> 05:05.453 when we have very good convoy brief , 05:05.453 --> 05:07.620 we always know what's going on . We're 05:07.620 --> 05:09.842 all pretty much ready to wear . The hot 05:09.842 --> 05:12.009 spots are going to be . Um and I think 05:12.009 --> 05:14.120 the continuous training that we do on 05:14.120 --> 05:14.020 our TCP keeps us looking out and 05:14.020 --> 05:16.840 knowing what's going on for the 05:16.840 --> 05:19.007 regional headline update . We check in 05:19.007 --> 05:21.118 with specialist Charles Mclaughlin at 05:21.118 --> 05:22.118 the news desk . 05:22.118 --> 05:25.660 Coalition 05:25.660 --> 05:27.382 forces contained six suspected 05:27.382 --> 05:29.438 terrorists Wednesday during raids in 05:29.438 --> 05:31.271 cedar city . The individuals are 05:31.271 --> 05:33.327 believed to be members of the secret 05:33.327 --> 05:35.216 terrorist cell networks known for 05:35.216 --> 05:37.327 facilitating the transport of weapons 05:37.327 --> 05:39.549 and explosively formed penetrators from 05:39.549 --> 05:41.660 Iran to Iraq . They're also known for 05:41.660 --> 05:43.716 bringing militants from Iraq to Iran 05:43.716 --> 05:45.827 for terrorist training and operations 05:45.827 --> 05:47.882 around Iraq Tuesday coalition forces 05:47.882 --> 05:49.716 detained 14 suspected terrorists 05:49.716 --> 05:51.938 including the believe al Qaeda regional 05:51.938 --> 05:53.827 in near Mosul . They detained the 05:53.827 --> 05:56.049 brother in law and the supposed emir of 05:56.049 --> 05:58.490 Ansar al Suna in Mosul region who 05:58.490 --> 06:00.601 returned to Iraq after having fled to 06:00.601 --> 06:03.610 Syria . In 2005 , the coalition nabbed 06:03.610 --> 06:05.666 the remaining eight individuals were 06:05.666 --> 06:07.832 tied to a Q . I leadership and various 06:07.832 --> 06:10.070 locations across Iraq with headlines 06:10.070 --> 06:11.959 from around the region of special 06:11.959 --> 06:15.860 Charles in boston . Yeah , yeah , 06:16.440 --> 06:18.830 an Iraqi leader in baquba invited to US 06:18.830 --> 06:20.719 commanders to his home to discuss 06:20.719 --> 06:22.830 recent military operations specialist 06:22.830 --> 06:24.774 Samantha's Orca tells us how these 06:24.774 --> 06:26.719 leaders use words as ammunition to 06:26.719 --> 06:28.941 accomplish their mission . Far from the 06:28.941 --> 06:31.052 explosions and destruction that seems 06:31.052 --> 06:32.941 to make up the face of modern war 06:32.941 --> 06:34.886 holders are discovering that their 06:34.886 --> 06:36.552 words can be just as powerful 06:36.552 --> 06:38.680 commanders of the one false and five 06:38.690 --> 06:41.340 73rd cavalry regiments arrive at the 06:41.340 --> 06:43.570 home of prominent and influential book 06:43.570 --> 06:46.440 CUBA leader Sheikh icon . A meeting 06:46.440 --> 06:48.551 like this is made even more important 06:48.551 --> 06:50.662 by the fact that it came about at the 06:50.662 --> 06:52.760 invitation of shape . Annan himself 06:52.840 --> 06:54.930 impressed with recent operations 06:54.930 --> 06:57.097 throughout the city . He requested the 06:57.097 --> 06:59.263 prices of the commanders to offer both 06:59.263 --> 07:01.319 his gratitude and reflections on the 07:01.319 --> 07:03.700 outcome of the operation . In this 07:03.700 --> 07:05.740 quiet atmosphere , Sheikh Adnan can 07:05.740 --> 07:07.962 share with the commander of what he has 07:07.962 --> 07:09.851 learned from the people of CUBA . 07:09.851 --> 07:11.962 You've got to destroy that core of al 07:11.962 --> 07:14.018 Qaeda fighters or whatever insurgent 07:14.018 --> 07:16.240 element that may be because the core is 07:16.240 --> 07:18.073 there . You can never build upon 07:18.073 --> 07:20.296 because the foundation loan a week . So 07:20.296 --> 07:22.296 with his feedback which is in sight 07:22.296 --> 07:24.240 when he could tell us that we have 07:24.240 --> 07:26.980 killed , captured or run out that core . 07:26.990 --> 07:29.212 Now we know that we'll be able to build 07:29.212 --> 07:31.101 upon that foundation to honor his 07:31.101 --> 07:33.157 guests and take a break from serious 07:33.157 --> 07:35.570 discussion . Sheikh Adnan treats every 07:35.570 --> 07:37.240 soldier at his home to a huge 07:37.240 --> 07:40.020 traditional rocky feast . America , the 07:40.020 --> 07:42.080 rockies side by side break bread 07:42.080 --> 07:44.670 together and share in the bounty for 07:44.670 --> 07:47.170 the americans . It is a humble offering 07:47.180 --> 07:49.460 from their host and even more symbolic 07:49.460 --> 07:52.020 in the land where food is scarce for 07:52.020 --> 07:53.909 the shaking his family . It was a 07:53.909 --> 07:56.131 chance to see the human side of the U . 07:56.131 --> 07:58.590 S . Soldiers with full bellies and 07:58.590 --> 08:01.240 happy hearts . The tops resumes . Now 08:01.240 --> 08:03.462 joined by other leaders from throughout 08:03.462 --> 08:06.000 CUBA . The open forum setting . Give 08:06.000 --> 08:08.111 them any unique chance to get to know 08:08.111 --> 08:09.944 the people who leave some of the 08:09.944 --> 08:12.111 biggest U . S . Military operations in 08:12.111 --> 08:14.222 their city . If you're at the table , 08:14.222 --> 08:16.389 that means you're not fighting and you 08:16.389 --> 08:16.370 get issues on the table , you can work 08:16.370 --> 08:18.426 through some issues and provide some 08:18.426 --> 08:20.592 insight that you normally wouldn't get 08:20.592 --> 08:22.814 staring down the barrel of the rifle of 08:22.814 --> 08:24.870 the at the other end of that , these 08:24.870 --> 08:27.092 men are the voice of the people of CUBA 08:27.092 --> 08:29.370 and they bring with them the questions , 08:29.370 --> 08:31.426 concerns and hopes and dreams of the 08:31.426 --> 08:33.537 people that they lead chaotic streets 08:33.537 --> 08:35.481 of CUBA where the coalition forces 08:35.481 --> 08:37.648 battle insurgent activity daily . It's 08:37.648 --> 08:39.537 good common citizens that seem to 08:39.537 --> 08:41.759 suffer the most . So for them a meeting 08:41.759 --> 08:43.592 like this is they don't want the 08:43.592 --> 08:45.926 turmoil they want what most people want , 08:45.926 --> 08:47.759 which is an environment that the 08:47.759 --> 08:49.981 Children grow up safely and grow up and 08:49.981 --> 08:51.814 not be threatened . Let's not be 08:51.814 --> 08:53.926 threatened by the terrorist actions . 08:53.926 --> 08:56.037 Ultimately , it seems the path toward 08:56.037 --> 08:58.148 lasting stability in this region will 08:58.148 --> 09:00.370 be made more by the ability to exchange 09:00.370 --> 09:02.730 words than bombs reporting from Baquba . 09:02.730 --> 09:04.990 Iraq on specialist Samantha's short 09:05.200 --> 09:08.110 on the next edition of Freedom General 09:08.110 --> 09:10.470 Iraq soldiers keep Iraqi roads safe for 09:10.470 --> 09:12.692 other service members . It feels pretty 09:12.692 --> 09:14.859 good to be the first ones out there to 09:14.859 --> 09:16.914 clear the raffle for the rest of the 09:16.914 --> 09:19.137 brigade can do their job basically . We 09:19.137 --> 09:21.081 go out there trying to find on the 09:21.081 --> 09:23.248 diabetes , everybody move around the L 09:23.248 --> 09:25.470 freely . And that wraps up this edition 09:25.470 --> 09:28.040 of FJ . I log onto Mnf dash of Rock dot 09:28.040 --> 09:30.040 com for more stories from the front 09:30.040 --> 09:32.096 lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 09:32.096 --> 09:34.151 from all of us here at A . F N . And 09:34.151 --> 09:36.207 Freedom Journal Iraq . Stay safe out 09:36.207 --> 09:38.340 there . Yeah , 09:47.640 --> 09:48.640 yeah , 09:57.440 --> 09:57.640 yeah .