We still target the bad guys and conduct combat patrols in conjunction with the IA but our area especially has become very secure. We still target the bad guys and conduct combat patrols in conjunction with the IA but our area especially has become very secure. There are still some very bad people in our area and we spend a lot of effort on capturing these individuals, but most of what we do is focused on improving the quality of life for the Iraqi people in our area. These things you don’t hear on the news but it is what we do a majority of the time. Most of the people in Iraq (I estimate over 90%) support what we are doing here. They want to create a society that is free and one that is secure. They don’t have much. Most don’t have electricity but for 6-8 hours a day. They don’t have the school supplies they need. They don’t have the job opportunities. They don’t have what many of us back in the US take for granted. The members of the IA Brigade that I work with are good men. They are working extremely hard to build their unit into an effective military organization. They currently act as police as well as Soldiers and we continue to work with the Iraqi police to ensure they can become an effective law enforcement element in Iraq . Change is hard but the growth of the IA is nothing but amazing. They have built an Army from nothing to an organization that can conduct operations to secure and protect their own country. People don’t realize how hard that is to do and how incredible it is that they have done it in such a short time. There are still numerous challenges, but they are on their way to becoming an organization that can operate independently without US support. It will still take some more time to get there, but I don’t believe that time is that far off. If any of the young people have any questions they would like answered from us over hear in Iraq please do not hesitate to give their teacher my e-mail address. I have attached some pictures they might like to see as well.