Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090905-01
Sept. 5, 2009
Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
DSN:  318-852-8742
Maj. Bob Owen

U.S., Iraqi Experts Discuss Counter-Explosives Challenges

BAGHDAD – A $23-million program dedicated to training and equipping Iraqis with counter-explosive techniques topped the agenda during a meeting here Sept. 2 between U.S. advisors and Iraqi Security Force officials.

Iraqi Maj. Gen. Jehad Jabari, the director of the EOD directorate, discussed the program’s successes with U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Richard Rowe, director of Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. The Iraqi general also examined challenges Iraqis face in the field of explosives ordnance.

The mission of the EOD directorate is to discover, isolate and diffuse explosives and to advise and educate the Ministry of Interior personnel on counter-explosives techniques.  The United States helps the directorate by providing advisors who are experienced in counter-explosives tactics.

The train-and-equip program has dedicated more than $23 million so far. This money will help to field 12 additional counter-explosive teams in Iraq. The eventual goal is to have an EOD team in each province capable of communicating through a reliable network back to the National Command Center. This will help to professionalize the Iraqi EOD force structure and make it possible for them to perform vital explosive render safe operations and post blast crime scene evidence collection.

“This organization has responded to a lot of incidents in Iraq,” said Jehad.  “We started in 2005 to establish a group that could counteract the vehicle born improvised explosive devices and road side bombs. There use to be 35-40 attacks everyday throughout Iraq and explosives were coming into Baghdad uncontrollably.”

Forty-six Iraqis have lost their lives performing this dangerous work. There is a Martyr’s Wall in the EOD complex with a photograph and name of each of the brave men who  died while helping to make Iraq a more safe and secure place to live and work.

“These men are the true heroes of Iraq,” said Rowe.  “These martyrs should be honored for their sacrifices to your country.”

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY PHONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194-0270.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT:  WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL.