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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 20, 2010 - 5:39:42 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Ali Abd Al-Ameer Al-Yasseri, General Director of Operations, Ministerial Presidency signs the official transfer of authority paperwork during a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Iskan, Feb. 22. The transfer of authority releases Coalition Forces from responsibilities of the FOB and puts the Ministry of Electricity in full control. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bethany L. Little) |
FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKAN, Iraq - Soldiers, Iraqi Police and power plant workers gathered to transfer authority of Forward Operating Base Iskan from Coalition Forces to the Ministry of Electricity during a ceremony here Feb. 22.
The ceremony officially turned over the responsibilities of the FOB to the Ministry of Electricity and signified that the Iraqi government has the capability to secure the Musayyib Thermal Power Plant.
Al Abd Al-Ameer Al-Yasseri, the General Director of Operations at the Ministerial Presidency and Lt. Col. Steven Miska, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment Commander, both spoke about what it meant to transfer the responsibility for FOB Iskan over to Iraqi officials.
"This transfer of authority reinforces the Iraqi government's independence and demonstrates the capabilities of the Iraqis," said Miska.
Lt. Col Mary Morehouse, the Deputy Director of Personnel, Logistics and Resource Management for Multi-National Forces- Iraq, and Al-Yasseri, signed the official paperwork transferring the authority of FOB Iskan over to the Ministry of Electricity.
"The Iraqis have come to a point where they can stabilize security on and around the FOB without our help," said Capt. Bradley Kinser, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander, 1st Bn., 2nd Inf. Reg.
According to Kinser, maintaining security around and on the FOB is one of the biggest factors in fully transferring authority to the Ministry of Electricity.
The Musayyib Thermal Power Plant is located on FOB Iskan. The power plant provides power to the majority of Babil Province and 25 percent of the electricity to Baghdad.
Security for the plant will be one of the major responsibilities for the Ministry of Electricity. The last attack by ant-Iraqi forces on the FOB happened around late October 2008, when a mortar attack occurred and left many Iraqis without electricity.
The power plant had stopped generating electricity in 2003 due to anti-Iraqi forces' activities.
American forces maintained the security on the FOB, while the Iraqis fixed and continued to work in the power plant. Approximately 1,600 employees work at the power plant.
"Today is symbolic of a new life in Iraq, and a taste of freedom for Iraq," said Miska. "We congratulate our brothers of Iraq in self-sufficiency in a new spring of a new Iraq."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Lt. Col Steven Miska, the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment Battalion Commander, delivers a speech during a transfer of authority ceremony held at Forward Operating Base Iskan, Feb. 22. During Miska's speech, he spoke about how now is the perfect time to give the Ministry of Electricity full control over FOB Iskan. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bethany L. Little) |
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| Lt. Col. Mary Morehouse, Deputy Director of Personnel, Logistics and Resource Management for Multi-National Forces- Iraq, and Ali Abd Al-Ameer Al-Yasseri, General Director of Operations, Ministerial Presidency, prepare to sign the official paperwork transferring the authority of Forward Operating Base Iskan to the Ministry of Electricity during a ceremony Feb. 22. The Ministry of Electricity will be in charge of maintaining security for the Musayyib Thermal Power Plant and its 1,600 employees located on the FOB. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bethany L. Little) |
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