Taji, Iraq
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- Taji redirects here. For the town in Brazil sometimes called Taji see Fazenda Tagy
| Taji, Iraq Taji |
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  Taji, Iraq
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| Country | Iraq |
| Governorate | Salah ad Din |
| Population | |
| - Total | 200,000 |
Taji or Al Taji (Arabic: التاجي) is a region approximately 12 miles[citation needed] north of Baghdad in the Salah ad Din Governorate, and the site of a large U.S.-controlled military base.
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[edit] History
Al-Taji airfield, in the volatile Sunni Triangle, was originally an Iraqi Republican Guard base during the Saddam era. It was once a center for the manufacture of chemical weapons. Taji was also the largest tank maintenance facility in Iraq.
[edit] US occupation
The base came under United States control following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.
It was initially occupied by the 4th Infantry Division, then the 1st Armored Division. It was turned over to the 1st Cavalry Division in April 2004, at which time the 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, 4th Aviation Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, a company of Oregon National Guard Soldiers,3rd Platoon from Cco 1/102nd Inf(L) Connecticut, 1-25th Aviation Battalion from the 25th Infantry Division, and the 39th BCT (Brigade Combat Team) from the Arkansas National Guard lived and worked together with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment who had fought alongside with the first cavalry,and the 1st Cavalry Division within the camp. The 1/206th fa(Arkansas) of the 39th along with A battery 1/103fa of the RI National guard where the main base defense of the base in 2004 to include gate security, QRF, as well as convoy escort and the inherent Field artillery mission. the 206 along with the 103rd supplied soldiers to train, live with and fight alongside the iraqi national guard.
The 1st Cavalry Division relinquished control to the 3rd Infantry Division in March 2005, and the camp came again under control of the 4th Infantry Division in 2006. In November 2006, the 4th Infantry Division was relieved, and 1st Cavalry Division was once again in control of the base. 1st Cavalry Division relinquished control back to 4th Infantry Division as of December 2007 and is currently occupied by the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
[edit] Camp Taji
Camp Taji is now known as one of many United States camps that also house members of the new Iraqi Army and the Iraqi National Guard. Camp Taji is broken up between two Camps that are joined by a joint Iraqi/US gate. The Iraqi side called Camp Tadji is where the Iraqi troops, as well as the Transition Teams live. There is great controversy over the fact that the camp is divided, between "US and them". Much has been written on the subject, but with a simple look at the two camps one can see that there is a great difference in the quality of life on the two sides of the camp. [1]
In December 2004, Camp Taji reportedly boasted the largest PX facilities in Iraq, with Subway, Burger King and Pizza Hut franchises.[2] Although the PX facility is large, it remains poorly stocked in comparison to Baghdad and Balad due to supply issues. Of some 106 bases used by the United States in Iraq, Camp Taji is considered one of 14 "enduring" bases.[3]
On 15 August 2007, 9 rockets hit Camp Taji, including one at the PX. Two US Soldiers and two non-Iraqi civilians were killed and five US soldiers and five Iraqi civilians were wounded. One US contractor was hit by shrapnel but not injured.
[edit] References
- ^ Gregg Jaffe- A Camp Divided - Wall Street Journal
- ^ Camp Taji - Globalsecurity.org
- ^ If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases? - Friends Committee on National Legislation
[edit] Sources
- http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Stories/02_05/16.htm "The 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, together with a company of Oregon National Guard Soldiers, and Cco 1/102nd's 3rd Platoon from Connecticut ... The battalion began its Iraq chronicle in Taji, a city just 20 miles north of Baghdad"
- http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/mar2005/a031405la1.html "CAMP TAJI, Iraq, ... with 39th BCT (39TH Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas National Guard)"
