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The Advisor April 23 Working Copy April 23, 2005 www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil Official Weekly Command Information Report for the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq 74 and still soaring Iraqi and Coalition leaders join together to celebrate 74th anniversary of Iraq’s Air Force Vol. 2 Issue 17 April 23, 2005 Saddam-defying colonel now leads Iraqi Army battalion pride of his imprisonment after an MNSTC-I By U.S. Army Spc. Matthew McLaughlin alleged argument with Hussein, Commanding General 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs the tyrant known for executing U.S. Army dissenters. Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAWK, Iraq — When Coalition “I told Saddam I don’t care about Command Sergeant Major Forces were faced with having to him, I care about God,” U.S. Marine Corps help Iraq rebuild its Army, they Mohammad recalled of the com- Sgt. Maj. Ronnie L. Edwards knew they needed someone who ment that sent him away for eight would walk down the most dan- months and 11 days, a number Public Affairs Officer gerous street in Baghdad without Mohammad kept track of by mark- U.S. Army fear; someone who would ignore ing every day on the wall of his Lt. Col. Frederick Wellman religious differences for the cell in between beatings from the greater good; someone who once prison guards. Deputy Public Affairs Officers told Saddam Hussein where to go. U.S. Army “Every day they beat me,” he said Capt. Larry George They needed a leader and found as if reading the memories from a U.S. Army an outspoken warrior. book, apparently devoid of hatred. Capt. Tim Jeffers Col. Mohammad Faik Rauf al- Eventually, Hussein released Operations NCO Samarai, 2nd Battalion, 1st Iraqi Mohammad and reinstated him as U.S. Army Army Brigade commander, is a an officer. Mohammad no longer Sgt. 1st Class Allen R. Thomas stark contrast to the image of a wished to serve in the Army. ruthless Iraqi Army commander. Editor “I told Saddam I need to quit. I U.S. Army Known to all as “Colonel told him that I’ve gone crazy and I Sgt. Lorie Jewell Mohammad,” his graying hair and can’t work. He said if I can’t work wrinkles around his eyes and I’ll go back to jail. I said ‘Okay, I’ll CPATT Public Affairs Liaison mouth from years of laughter go back to work,’” Mohammad Ann Bertucci mask a hardened warrior’s said and laughed. heart. He has experienced both national and personal struggles After Coalition Forces defeated The Advisor is an authorized publication for yet manages to laugh in the face Hussein’s Army, Mohammad members of the U.S. Defense Department and of strife. joined the Iraqi National multinational partners. Guard. He joined as a captain for Contents of this paper are not necessarily the Mohammad served as an air de- operations and in less than a year official views of the U.S. government, fense officer in Hussein’s re- worked his way to colonel. After multinational partners or the U.S. Dept. of Defense. The editorial content of this publication gime. He boasted that he excelled several unsuccessful battalion is the responsibility of the Multi-National Security beyond officers who outranked commanders, Mohammad be- Transition Command - Iraq Public Affairs Office . him and was a valued asset to the came commander of the 303rd Army. He received 14 medals ING, now known as the 2-1 IA. Direct questions and comments to: [email protected] from Saddam, awards he now gives as gifts to American allies. MNSTC-I PAO See ‘Mohammad’ APO AE 09316 As proud as he is of his accom- Page 3 DPN: 318-852-1334 plishments, he spoke with equal To subscribe to The Advisor, visit us online at: www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil/advisor “Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands Cover: An Iraqi pilot, with a Coalition still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders co-pilot, flies over the Iraqi Air Force 74th anniversary celebration in a Bell seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” 206 helicopter. — Harry S. Truman (1884—1972) Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Lorie Jewell April 23, 2005 Multi-National Security Transition Command—Iraq The Advisor 2 “It was hell,” Mohammad said. “No soldiers’ loyalty to Mohammad and Mohammad one could open shops, no one could their fearlessness in battle. From Page 2 leave their house, no one could go to Under Mohammad’s leadership, the school. Many people were killed.” His soldiers don’t run from a fight 2-1 IA flourished, said Staff Sgt. and their courage is a reflection of Kiplangat D. Marisin, an IA Mohammad combated the terrorists their leader, said Lt. Col. Mark Kne- advisor from the 2nd Brigade Com- by saturating the streets with dis- ram, officer in charge of 2nd BCT bat Team, 10th Mountain Division. mounted soldiers and working with advisors. the community to un- cover terrorist opera- “They respond to the fact he leads tions. After several from the front,” said the New Castle, weeks of intense fight- Penn., native. “He cares about his ing, 2-1 IA significantly soldiers and they know that.” reduced terrorist activi- ties. Mohammad’s success and high pro- file has come at a price, however. “When my 303rd (soldiers) go to Haifa He is under constant threat from ter- Street, they take care of rorist attacks, claiming he’s escaped the problem,” 42 assassination attempts. He joked Mohammad boasted. that if cats have nine lives, he must “They captured many have at least 43. terrorists and worked Col. Mohammad Faik Rauf al-Samarai, 2nd Battalion, 1st Iraqi Army very hard. They cleaned His family is also subjected to at- Brigade commander, talks with U.S. Army Lt. Col. David B. Batchelor, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Com- the roads, cleaned up tacks. His cousin was reportedly kid- bat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during a mission March 30. the trash and helped napped by terrorists and Mohammad Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Matthew McLaughlin people.” had to restrain himself from retalia- tion. “He is the type of leader they needed Mohammad led the pack of moti- to get things done,” the South Bend, vated soldiers on the front lines. He Even his mother was attacked and Ind. native said. “He’s compassion- gained respect from U.S. and Iraqi threatened. His wife and children ate to the Iraqi people, but if you’re soldiers by leading from the front must take tremendous precautions bad …” and willingly putting himself in dan- to ensure their safety. ger’s way. A major contribution to Mohammad’s “It is hard for them,” he said. “We success was his personal selection Mohammad made his presence felt continue with our lives. It is worth it if of 2-1 IA leadership. Mohammad, a to Haifa Street, residents, introduc- it gives my son a future, En shaa Sunni Muslim, is in charge of an ing himself to everyone he could, Allah (God willing).” overwhelmingly Shia battalion. said Capt. Mike Campbell, an IA He ignored religious and political advisor from Ce- affiliations and selected officers and lina, Tenn. non-commissioned officers for pro- motion based on performance, said “Mohammad will Capt. Christopher G. Johnson, a 2-1 walk the streets IA advisor from Kent, Ohio. and talk to people,” he said. “Someone “He operates no differently with Sun- will wave at him nis, Shias and Christians,” he and he will go and said. “They are all soldiers first.” talk to them. Twenty feet later Mohammad and his 2-1 IA soldiers he’s talking to faced a major challenge in February someone else.” when they assumed responsibility U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multi-National Security Transition over part of Haifa Street, a notori- His willingness to Command-Iraq commander, greets commanders in the 1st Brigade of the ously dangerous road in Baghdad. face danger as Iraqi Army 6th Division on Baghdad’s Haifa Street April 14. The 1st Brigade (formerly 40th IA Brigade) was the earliest Iraqi unit to assume autono- Violent hostilities towards Coalition well as his loyalty mous control of its own battle space in Iraq when it took over the Haifa Forces earned the street the title to his troops is area of downtown Baghdad and has transformed the area into a safe and “Death Street” to media outlets. matched by the quiet neighborhood again. Photo by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Fred Wellman April 23, 2005 Multi-National Security Transition Command—Iraq The Advisor 3 Iraqi forces take control during Salman Pak mission By U.S. Army Sgt. Lorie Jewell They found a terrorist training camp, Spatt said, that in- MNSTC-I Public Affairs cluded a car bomb factory. Six vehicles and one motorcy- cle were confiscated; one of the cars was completely SALMAN PAK, Iraq — Five battalions of roughly 3,500 wired with explosives and ready to be used, he said. Iraqi troops responded to insurgent threats and claims of hostage-taking by taking control of the city in a four-hour One weapons cache was discovered buried under the sweep that brought in about 40 suspects, officials said. floor of a house under construction. “The dis- The April 18 operation by two battalions of police com- covery of this hidden mandos and three public order battalions uncovered sev- cache is very fortu- eral vehicles loaded with explosives and two large weap- nate; it will save nu- ons caches. No hostages were found.
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