Iraqi Security Force

Today a group of us were touring the Green Zone and had a unique experience.  We were at the famous "Crossed Swords", site of a huge parade field where Saddam Hussein used to watch his troops march up and down the field.  The arms holding the Crossed Swords are modeled after Saddam's own arms.  The new Iraqi government has expressed their plan to tear down this monument in the near future. 

Anyway, on today's tour, there were several of us walking around and taking pictures.  As we were doing this, a group of "uniforms carrying firearms" approached us.  We recognized that they were not U.S. soldiers, and for a moment wondered if we were in an "off limits" area.  But they seemed friendly enough as they approached us from their Humvee.  As they came over, we recognized them as Iraqis, serving in the Sons of Iraq program.  These are similar to "community watch" guards, usually assigned to a local community and keeping an eye on everything.  This has been a huge success as it pays "military aged males" to help with security, as opposed to having them unemployed (and potential recruits for Al Qaeda).  

They approached us and stuck out their hands and spoke to us, in very good English.  They asked if they could get a picture made with us!  We were excited to join them for a photograph to commemorate our visit to this landmark.  No, it wasn't excitement about the landmark, it was excitement over the historic moment that we shared with these young Iraqi soldiers.  As we chatted with them, one of the guys asked me quickly if I could help him emigrate to America.  He stated that his brothers and sisters had made it to England, but he wanted to come to America.  I was only able to give him a quick word of advice, we shook hands and parted ways.  I was glad that we'd exchanged greetings with them, and had our picture made together.  The upcoming change in political leadership in the States makes us all wonder what the future holds for both our reconstruction efforts, and the future of Iraq.  I know that I speak for all of us in the picture when I say that we hope for peace in this war-torn country.  

Scenes in the Palace

The Embassy is now housed in one of Saddam's palaces, known as the Republican Palace.  By the end of December, we expect to vacate the Palace and hand it back to the government of Iraq.  It's been an unusual workplace!  A few days ago I took a couple of pictures to share with you.

The chairs and couch are in a little corner around from my office.  Since there are about 10 of us in my office, with no privacy, we often use these little sitting areas to hold conversations that require privacy.  

The other photo shows the ceiling in one of the ballrooms in the Palace.  The story I heard was that the artist was instructed to paint these horses, all stallions, in this scene.  (Saddam saw himself as quite the "stallion").  The artist knew that upon completion of his work in this palace, he would be executed.  (I was told that this was because Saddam didn't want the artist doing any future, better, work for anyone else.....that's sick, huh)?  Anyway, as a last act of defiance, the artist painted the horses as geldings, not stallions.  

If I could show you the ballroom floor, you'd be surprised!  When the Palace was set up as our Embassy, our construction crews built a series of plywood cubicles all across the ballroom.  Underneath that ornate, beautiful ceiling.......it's Dilbertville!!! I find this so ironic!!

Going to the Dogs!!

Security is tight for all of us serving in the coalition forces in Iraq.  I’d dare to venture that a very large percentage of the people and budget for Operation Iraqi Freedom is dedicated to security.  We have military security and private-contractor security.  A very important component of our security is non-human….they’re dogs!! 

There are a lot of details that can’t be shared, but suffice it to say that we all transit through security checkpoints on a daily basis.  Some of these checkpoints have specially trained dogs on duty 24/7.  You do not pass through these checkpoints without a highly trained canine giving you the “once over”!!

Today we were treated to a rare opportunity to see some working dogs in action!  We visited the compound of one of the private contract security companies that is responsible for providing security teams to the Embassy.  They currently have over 100 teams working here, each team consisting of a person (handler) and their dog. These teams are specialists at detecting explosives, and the dog is the working part of the team!!!

For this work, 4 breeds of dogs excel…they are German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, Belgian Malinois (MAL-in-wah) and Labrador Retrievers.  I’m familiar with two of these breeds, but the Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois are new to me.  Both of these breeds mature at around 65 lbs, and like the other two breeds, are real working dogs.  The security company obtains these dogs from four breeders; two in the U.S., one is Tanzania and another in South Africa.  Seventy percent of their handlers are from South Africa, the rest from the States.

The dogs are trained to react (sit down) when they recognize one of the thirty-five different explosive components that they are trained to detect.  These dogs cost between $5,000 and $15,000!!!  These dogs arrive in Iraq already trained to a certain level.  This security company then trains the dogs to an even higher level.  Once trained, the go to work, putting in 8 hour shifts, regardless of the weather or other conditions.  In addition to work, they continue to receive 12-14 hours of additional training every week!  They have to maintain a 95% proficiency rate in order to keep their jobs. 

We learned that these dogs are generally pretty “high strung”, and don’t usually make good pets.  These dogs are almost “obsessive-compulsive”…..they work hard and want to work hard!!!  We were allowed to pet a few of the dogs, but mostly had to keep our distance. 

These working dogs are really impressive.  I’m glad to know that they, and their dedicated handlers, are watching out for our safety!!

Headed to America!!

Today, Oct 27, 2008 is a special day for two of my Iraqi friends, Omar and Mohammed. They leave on a flight to America to start a new life! I know it's a day of mixed emotions for them. I can't imagine leaving my homeland for what may be the last time. I can't imagine the bad experiences they've had here in Iraq, and I can't imagine the uncertainty that they must feel.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you about these guys. Omar has been working here in the Embassy for as long as I've been here. He appears to be about 25 years old. His "office" space has been in a hallway, in a bit of a cubbyhole under a flight of stairs. He has managed our version of "kinko's", a little space equipped with 4 copy machines. Whenever we need copies, we head down the stairs and sign them in with Omar, and he dutifully makes all our copies. He always greets us with a smile and a friendly nod from across the counter. When he's not busy with copies, we see him studying his Arabic-English Dictionary. He speaks very good English, it's evident that he has studied hard.

Omar lives in Baghdad with his mother and 2 younger brothers. His father is dead, a victim of the violence in Iraq. Every day Omar gets up at 5:30 am so he can report to work in the Embassy at 8:00 am. You see, he has to be very careful as he comes to work, or else he could be targeted by the anti-American insurgents who have killed hundreds of Iraqis who have worked with/for the Americans. Omar, his mother and 2 younger brothers will be leaving for America today, together, to start a new life. He has studied "business administration" in Iraq and hopes to continue those studies in America.

Mohammed has been working in another office where he's been the "jack-of-all-trades". He did everything from wash the cars to repair our computers. Unlike Omar, he's been living in the Green Zone, with a greater degree of safety for several months. He made a sign for me, with my name and title in Arabic and English. It sits proudly on my desk today, and will return home with me in a few weeks.

Both of these young guys head off to America today. I don't know many details, but some agency or non-profit will be waiting for them in the States. I think they are both headed to Atlanta. Their sponsor agency will meet them, and help them get started. I can't imagine how they feel today!! There must be a huge mixture of hope, anticipation, uncertainty and sadness.

It makes me think now of my ancestors who sailed across the ocean to start their new lives in our great land of freedom and promise. America has been a beacon of hope to people from all over the world for centuries. It makes me appreciate, even more, the fact that I am an American.

Baking Bread

These pictures were taken by a friend, and fellow USDA-employee, James Bright.  He was on the outskirts of a town one day at a farm village, and came upon these women baking bread in the traditional way!  Of course, with the daily power outages, baking in the "old way" is almost the only way to bake.

The bread in Iraq is wonderful, and like most breads served in the Middle East, is a traditional style of "flat bread".  In Iraq, the bread is known as "khoubiz" or "khubz".  There are probabluy other variations on the English spelling.  If you google on "arabic flat bread", "lebanese flat bread" or "syrian flat bread", you'll find a recipe.  

The first photo shows a preparation table where several balls of dough are sitting ready to be rolled out and placed in the oven.  On the right side of the photo you can see the finished product!

Look at the second photo, it shows the bread baking in a traditional oven....very unique!!!  The dough is rolled or patted out into a thin, round shape.  Then it is simply "slapped" into the oven and up on the near-vertical oven wall!!!  It's left there for just a few minutes, probably around 5 minutes, and it's ready to go!!!  These traditional ovens use wood or charcoal for building the fire.  I understand that many are fired with propane.

This bread is wonderful and chewy with a great taste!  We all look forward to the opportunity to get some authentic Iraqi flat bread.  

Chicken Feed

One of the constraints on Iraqi agriculture is a source of high-quality animal feeds.  Iraq does not come anywhere close to producing enough feedstock for their domestic needs.  Yields are low, feed values are low......this makes it difficult to produce a high quality meat product for the Iraqi consumer.

One of our ag advisors is a poultry specialist, very knowledgeable about all aspects of poultry management.  Part of his effort has involved helping the Iraqi farmers import high-protein feedstocks to increase their efficiency in growing chickens.  

These pictures are of a typical feedmill in Iraq.  They are labor-intensive, which is probably a good thing since it provides employment for some number of men.  Much of the operation is still manual, such as shoveling ingredients into the hopper, bagging and transporting.  I suspect these guys are plenty tired when they finish their day!!

Terrorists??? Al Qaeda???

Just kidding!!!  As I took this photo, I was thinking that it could easily be mistaken for some kind of explosion, maybe from a mortar or rocket attack.  It wasn't!

This is the site of a poultry slaughter/processing facility under construction in Anbar Province. These guys are the roofing crew working to melt the tar that will be used in construction of the roof.  I think they were using old tires to fuel the flames under the big tank holding some molten tar.

We (USDA) have supported this project with financial support as well as technical advice.  Much of the food supply in Iraq now is processed in very un-hygenic conditions.   Livestock are slaughtered and processed on bare ground, in places without even running water, and no refrigeration!  Meat may hang in the open environment for hours and hours.....even more.  Can you imagine purchasing a roast that is covered with flies, and the temperature is 120 degrees?  I once saw a small truck, just a pickup, with a load of dead fish in the bed of the truck.  The fish appeared to have been dead for at least a few days.  The farmer had them covered with a tarp, but the flies were buzzing all around!  I don't think the fish were sanitary in any stretch of the imagination!

When completed, this facility will provide a hygenic location where Iraqi-grown poultry is processed under clean conditions, with water and refrigeration.  They'll be quick-chilled, packaged and shipped via refrigerated truck to the nearest city.