Kirkuk Arab Sheiks meet with coalition forces to prioritize projects

Editor's Note: The following press release was recently received from CPT Monte Hibbert, 116th BCT Public Affairs, serving in Iraq with the 116th Engineering Battalion of the Idaho National Guard. Some of the soldiers of that battalion are from the Orofino Armory.

FOB WARRIOR, Iraq- Leaders from Kirkuk's Arab community met with officials from the 116th Brigade Combat Team's Task Force 2-116 Armor and economic action team during an Arab Tribal Council Project meeting at the Kirkuk government building May 17.

Sheiks attending the meeting were Sheik Badir Hashim Abu Atheer, Sheik Moshin Yezy Jassim Abu Ala , Sheik Ali Abdallah Mohamad and Sheik Addia Abdulhadi Al Sadi. The purpose of the meeting was to brief Arab Sheiks on what is being done to correct the water shortages in southern Kirkuk, and how future projects will be administered by coalition forces and the Kirkuk Project Coordination Center.

"I presented information regarding a major water project for the southern area of Kirkuk," said Lt. Col. Steven Knutzen, 116th BCT's team economics chief. "This would involve building a ground storage tank and pipes in the area-in addition to pumping station repairs which would alleviate the water shortages in their area."

The council also discussed several cleanup projects in their areas that involved hiring local laborers in order to employ local citizens. The group discussed the need to become more self sufficient and utilize the Kirkuk Business Center in order to grow small businesses that could hire local workers to carry out these projects.

"We asked the council to present to us at next meeting a list of projects they would like to develop in their sectors," said Maj. Jenkins, Task Force 2-116 executive officer. "They will prioritize their projects and present them at the next meeting."

Stimulating economic progress in the provinces of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah is one way the 116th BCT is helping the people of north-central Iraq. Members of the brigade are also helping local Iraqis establish their new government, train their security forces and facilitate their communications.

With component units from the states of Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, New Jersey and Maryland, the 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units that is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

Photos: Lt. Col. Steven Knutzen (left), 116th Brigade Combat Team economics liaison officer, and Maj. David Jenkins, Task Force 2-116 Armor executive officer, meet with members of the Arab Tribal Council to discuss projects May 17. (Photo submitted by TF 2-116 Armor)