Forces in Iraq's Diyala Province Conduct Election Rehearsal

By Sgt. Kimberly Snow, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAQUBAH, Iraq, Jan. 21, 2005 – Leaders from the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and Iraqi security forces gathered here Jan. 20 to prepare for and set the conditions for a successful election process in Iraq's Diyala province Jan. 30 when Iraqis elect a national assembly to write a new constitution for the country.

Leaders from the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and Iraqi security forces gathered at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, to conduct an election rehearsal Jan 20. Iraq's national assembly election is scheduled Jan. 30. Photo by Sgt. Kimberly Snow, USA   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Col. Dana J.H. Pittard, 3rd Brigade Combat Team commander, explained that the meeting was necessary to coordinate the efforts of Iraqi security forces and multinational forces.

The 32nd Iraqi Army Brigade's commander, Brig Gen. Ha'ad Ibrahim Ali Mohammad Al Timimi, also provided perspective. "We've been preparing for a while, hoping to improve security at the polling sites and trying to encourage maximum participation," he said. "The main issue is to discover weak points and figure out how to correct them."

Lt. Gen. Abd-Azziz, commander of the 4th Iraqi Army Division, which covers the northern Iraqi provinces, explained that improving the security situation was crucial to increasing public confidence and ensuring a good turnout.

(Army Sgt. Kimberly Snow is assigned to the 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)