Military

Abu Ghurayb

The prefered NIMA transliteration is "Abu Ghurayb" (pronounced ah-boo GRAYB) [with 1,350 google hits], although other variant transliterations recognized by NIMA in association with cognate place names include "Abu Gharab" [12 Google matches], "Abu Gharib" [597 Google matches], "Abu Ghuraib" [109 Google matches], "Abu Guraib" [13 Google matches], as well as "Ab-e Gharib" [no Google matches], "Ab-e Ghereyyeb" [no Google matches], "Abi Ghurayb" [no Google matches], "Abi Gharib" [6 Google matches], and "Albu Gharib" [no Google matches]. The widely attested "Abu Ghraib" [4,910 google hits] is only used by NIMA with respect to the the Abu Ghraib Farms [Mazari` Abi Ghurayb] location.

The prefix "abu" means "the father of" while the word "Ghurayb" means "raven" -- so "father of the raven" is the literal meaning of this place name. There are actually four discrete locations associated with this name in Iraq, as well as a number of other facilities that use this name, some of which are at locations with other placenames. Positional ambiguity is greatly increased by the close proximity of two of the populated places in close proximity to each other, and the abundance of cognate placename terms in this area. There is apparently no connection with Ali ibn Ghurab Abu Yahya al-Fazari al-Kufi, who was described by Ibn Hayyan as "an extremist Shi`a." He died in Kufa in early Rabi`ul-Awwal 184, during Harun's regime.

Abu Ghraib is a town in Baghdad's sprawling suburbs, just north of the international airport. The city was previously known as Batrah [Batra]. The name of the town is synonymous with one of Saddam Hussein's most notorious prisons. The Abu Ghraib market, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the west of the Baghdad city limits on the old road to Jordan, is known for its cucumbers, onions, potatoes, broad beans, oranges and lamb. Shoppers look for vegetables, fruit and poultry at the traditional market and everything else at the new looters' bazaar next door.

In the year 1944 AD the Iraqi government created the Abi-Gharib district, which is 15 kilometers far distant from the west of Baghdad. The aim of inventing this district was to make consultations easy for the farmers residing in that particular city.

US Special Forces worked secretly with Iraqi townspeople on the outskirts of Baghdad for months before the war with Iraq got under way. Soldiers from the U-S Fifth Special Forces Group worked for over eight months with the people of Abu Gharib. It is unclear whether Special Forces remained in Abu Gharib throughout the months leading to the start of the war. However, Pentagon officials have in the past indicated some Special Forces units moved in and out of Iraq before the war, without maintaining a permanent presence.

After the first municipal election in Iraq, the new city council of this Baghdad suburb met with Air Defense soldiers 23 April 2003 to discuss restoring services and order to the town. Abu Gharib, which has between 750,000 and 1.5 million citizens and lies on the outskirts of Baghdad, elected a city council in the first free elections in recent Iraqi history. Special Forces had been in the area before the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Capt. Mike, the Special Forces team leader, who preferred not to be identified by full name. The troops spent time developing a rapport with the townspeople before being accepted by the town's elders. As the relationship between the Iraqis and the Americans developed, the Special Forces team helped them set up an election without American influence.

In the 1920s, a Directorate General of Agriculture, affiliated to the Ministry of Economics and Transport, started agricultural research (AR) activities and established the first experimental stations at Abu Ghraib [Mazari` = Farms] and Neinevah, and the Central Veterinary Laboratory, which focused its work on the diagnosis and control of pests and animal diseases. In the 1940s, AR activities were covered by the Directorate General for Agricultural Research and Extension (DGARE) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), with its headquarters at Abu Ghraib. They were further strengthened upon the establishment of the College of Agriculture (created in 1952 by MOA) and the College of Veterinary Medicine (1956), affiliated to the University of Baghdad.

In May 3002 V Corps accepted the voluntary consolidation of the Mujahedin-E-Khalq's (MEK) forces in Iraq, and subsequent control over those forces. This process is expected to take several days to complete. When finally accomplished, the peaceful resolution of this process between the MEK and the Coalition significantly contributed to the Coalition's mission to set the conditions that will establish a safe and secure environment for the people of Iraq. Previously, V Corps was monitoring a cease-fire brokered between the MEK and Special Forces elements. The MEK forces had been abiding by the terms of this agreement and are cooperating with Coalition soldiers.

Abu Ghurayb 
STM  32°35'00"N 046°51'00"E
Abu Ghurayb
PPL  33°17'05"N 043°59'23"E 
Abu Ghurayb, Nahr [Canal]
CNL  33°18'00"N 044°00'00"E
Abu Ghraib Farms 
PPL  33°18'58"N 044°11'54"E 
Abu Ghurayb 
PPL  33°18'58"N 044°11'54"E 
Abu Ghurayb 
PPL  34°33'06"N 044°35'47"E
Abu Ghurayb, Wadi 
STM  34°34'00"N 044°32'00"E

FOB Constitution

On Match 2, 2006 control of FOB Constitution was transferred from U.S. to Iraqi control. Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, assumed the security responsibilities from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

FOB Constitution is a staging area for operations in western Baghdad and eastern Abu Ghraib and as of March 2006 was home to about 1,500 Iraqi soldiers. As of March 2006 American soldiers would continue their presence on base to help Iraqis plan and coordinate operations in Baghdad.

Previously at FOB Constitution U.S. forces trained their Iraqi counterparts. At first living conditions for Iraqi soldiers were difficult, with flimsy tents and little amenities. Iraqi soldiers routinely failed to show up and morale was low. Conditions and attendance improved after $35 million were poured into FOB Constitution from the American training command. This provided Iraqis a new command center and headquarters, a new mosque, kitchen, school for NCOs and more barracks which provide most of the soldiers a warm bed to sleep in at night.