IRAQ: A bridge closer to home

For the Marines in the once-violent Euphrates River Valley, the road home may include a bridge.

A new bridge across the Euphrates River at the farming community of Baghdadi was opened Saturday -- a project of the Marines, Seabees and Army Corps of Engineers.

The bridge will allow Iraqis to cross the river without making the lengthy trip along rutted roads looking for a crossing point.

It will also allow the Iraqi security forces to maintain a persistent, armed presence on both sides of the river, lest the insurgents attempt a bloody comeback.

When the Iraqi forces are in place, the Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 5th Regiment who have been manning an outpost in Baghdadi can withdraw to the U.S. base at Al Asad while remaining in "over-watch" if the Iraqis need help.

The larger strategy for Anbar province, apace for several months, has the U.S. turning primary security responsibility, region by region, over to the Iraqi army and police. The final turnover is set for mid-June. That will allow for a reduction of U.S. forces in the sprawling province.

—Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo:  The top Marine in Iraq, Maj. Gen. John Kelly, without helmet, crosses the new bridge at Baghdadi, accompanied by U.S. forces and Iraqi civilians.  Credit: U.S. Navy.

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Comments

[tim gilbert]

I just want to say the bridge project was the best project we had. We had alot of fun on that project. Excep when they opened the gun range and didn't tell no one.

EO2 Gilbert

[Barbara B. Allan]

To Scott Allan and the rest of the Sea Bees in Iraq.
Congratulation on a terrific job building the bridge over the Euphrates River. We are all so proud of you. I,m sure it will be a great help to the Iraqi government. Thanks to the Marines who kept you safe, and our Lord who is always there for you.
Love, Mom

[Joni Allan]

We seem to get caught up in the the negitive things that are happening and focus on them. But I am the wife of a man who loves his counrty enough to leave his family for however long he is asked. To do the job he is call too, no matter what that might be in an affort to make a change in a world that is always asking why. I think I know why my husband and the others that server us do this, for there faith, wifes, children, family, friends and people they do not even know. To make a difference. Honey we are so proud of you and send our love and prays. WAY TO GO!
Your Loving Family.
The Allans

[Joni Allan]

We seem to get caught up in the the negitive things that are happening and focus on them. But I am the wife of a man who loves his counrty enough to leave his family for however long he is asked. To do the job he is call too, no matter what that might be in an affort to make a change in a world that is always asking why. I think I know why my husband and the others that server us do this, for there faith, wifes, children, family, friends and people they do not even know. To make a difference. Honey we are so proud of you and send our love and prays. WAY TO GO!
Your Loving Family.
The Allans

[Yvette Reyes]

Thank you Seabees for what you have done!!
To our lil Seabee:
We miss you M.Stephens and can not wait for your arrival. Sending you lots of prayer and love from Las Vegas, NV and Oxnard, CA and may the hand of our Lord and Savior be graciously upon you and all of our military soldiers out there!!

The Reyes Family, Las Vegas NV

[Gina Cortes]

I am proud to say that I am the wife of one of the Seabees that worked on this bridge... Alfredo Cortes. We are so proud of you baby and miss you so much! Angels all around you! Gina, Mike-Daniel, Katie, Rachel and Joshua