Operation Arrowhead Ripper has as it's goal the clearing of al Qaeda from Diyala Province, and most especially the capital city of Baqouba. But once the clearing is done, the counter-insurgency plan, written by General Patreus, says you hold and rebuild.
Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Lightning Soldiers continued delivering food and water to the people of Baqouba Monday as major operations to remove al-Qaida from the city entered their seventh day.
Since the beginning of the humanitarian effort, ISF and Coalition Forces have distributed more than 56,000 pounds of rice and more than 58,000 pounds of flour throughout the city and its surrounding area. They have also distributed thousands of bottles of fresh water along with the food.
"Now that we have begun to clear al-Qaida out of Baqouba, we can begin to place more effort into helping the people of the city," said Col. Steve Townsend, commander, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. "The government is working to distribute these supplies as fast as they can, and the improved security in the area will help to make that possible."
Throughout Iraq, reconstruction efforts continue during, and follow in the aftermath, of security operations
As of June 10, 2,924 Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund projects have been completed out of 3,393 planned. Under the Commanderâs Emergency Response Program (CERP) , there have been 6,278 projects completed out of the 7,494 planned. CERP is designed to enable local commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction requirements within their areas of responsibility by carrying out programs that will immediately assist the local population.
