Photo By Virginia Reza | Iraqi delegates of the Maysan and surrounding provinces, along with 4th Brigade Combat...... read more read more
FORT BLISS, Texas - Despite the conflict in Iraq, friendships between American and Iraqi forces in the Maysan and surrounding provinces have strengthened. This was evident Oct. 5 when top Iraqi officials were invited to dinner at the Newell's home here.
Col. Peter Newell, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, who is currently deployed in Iraq and who works closely in country with the visiting Iraqi officials, extended the dinner invitation with his wife Vianne and other guests.
Vianne said the guest list was limited to battalion commanders' spouses because she wanted to offer the Iraqi delegates a casual, non-threatening, intimate dinner, much like the ones their husbands attend in Iraqi homes. She wanted them to see a little of how Soldiers live when they are home.
"This is great, because of all the times Peter has deployed, I've known people through his stories, but never had an opportunity to meet these people who work so closely with him downrange," said Vianne. "One of the things Peter told me the first time he deployed to Iraq was that there is no difference between Iraqi families and our families. Every man wants work to take care of their families."
Amy Varney, a dinner guest, said her husband has deployed three times and she has never seen anything like it.
"I think it's a very unique opportunity," said Varney. "I don't think this would be anything we would ever get to do, so I'm very excited to meet the gentlemen."
During the social hour, the group talked about their families, American and Iraqi traditions and some of the celebrated holidays. Iraqi delegates told stories they had recently experienced with a few of the battalion commanders in Iraq.
And before the cowboy dinner was served, which included brisket, baked beans, coleslaw and strawberry shortcake, Maj. Gen. Sa'ad ali-Harbiyah, police commander of Maysan province, thanked the spouses for supporting their husbands during the difficult times.
"First, I really appreciated all the wives who give their full support to the husbands," said Sa'ad through an interpreter. "For every sacrifice there are good deeds without your support I don't think there would be success. I have great appreciation for all Soldiers and spouses for all their sacrifices and their humanitarian efforts because this is not a traditional war against another army; it's actually war against terrorists and it's greatly appreciated because it's harder to fight them than a regular army. But I can assure you that [4th BCT Soldiers] are our guests. We are looking after them and their safety, just like if they were our own family."
The Iraqi delegates toured areas in the U.S. as part of a state department program. Their journey began in Washington where they got a series of in-depth briefs from different officials within the D.C. area. Then they headed to Niagara Falls, Buffalo, N.Y., Tampa Bay, Fla., followed by El Paso.
While here, the delegates visited White Sands Missile Range and Old Mesilla, N.M., the Border Patrol Agency, El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso Police Department, Joint Task Force North and several other agencies. The last day they spent with 40 spouses whose husbands are deployed in their province. Sa'ad reiterated the importance of their support and thanked them for their sacrifices.
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2009 18:22 |
| Story ID: | 40699 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, US |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 168 |
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