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Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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U. S. Still Patrolling Iraqi Cities But, With Apology Signs On Vehicles.

July 15th, 2009 • Richard Cochrane
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iraq-flag1 The U.S. military is continuing its patrols in Iraqi cities, despite the much ballyhooed Obama June 30th withdrawal.    Officials said the U.S. has been granted approval by the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki for operations in Iraqi cities. They said the U.S. military has reassured Iraqi residents that the operations in their cities were meant to help the country.

In Kirkuk, the U.S. Army has begun to attach signs to the sides of its vehicles that read “Iraqi partnership provincial approved convoy. Thank you for your patience and support.”

Officials said the signs began to appear after the U.S. military’s announced  withdrawal from Kirkuk on June 30.

These signs show that we are working with our partners and that we’re abiding by the security agreement,” Maj. Frazier Epperson of the army’s 1st Cavalry Division, said. “These signs explain to the Iraqis that our vehicles are allowed by the Iraqi government in this province to be in the cities.”

Officials said the U.S. Army has been asked to continue security operations in Kirkuk amid rising tension between Kurds and Arabs. They said the army reinforced its presence in Kirkuk in 2009 to prevent a confrontation between the Iraqi military and Kurdish security forces.

Under the security agreement, U.S. military units were redeployed outside Iraqi cities. Officials said joint security patrols and reconstruction operations have been conducted at the discretion, and apparent direction, of the Baghdad government.

“U.S. forces serving in an advisory and assistance role continue to travel within the city [Kirkuk] to meet with their Iraqi counterparts or government officials,” the U.S. military said on July 9.

Officials said the U.S. military has also continued operations in Baghdad. They said Iraqi and U.S. forces were cooperating in joint operations centers.

The U.S. redeployment has sparked mass-casualty attacks in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh. Forty people were killed and 80 injured in twin suicide bombings in Tal Afar on July 8 and July 9.

“It is clear that these attacks have been conducted by Al Qaida and remnants of the Baath Party,” Iraqi Vice President Adul Abdul Mahdi said.

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