Marines in Iraq Help Reopen Border; Marines in Afghanistan Conduct Air Strike

As reported by the U.S. Marines in Iraq, the new port of entry building and operations center is now open for the Iraqi - Syrian border. It officially started operations after a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The border was shut down in 2005 due to the fighting in the area. As a result, the surrounding communities have suffered from a lowered level of economy because of difficulties in transporting goods for trade. Syria had a healthy trade relationship with Iraq that climbed as high as two billion U.S. dollars a year. The closing of the port of entry was very hurtful.

However now there is hope...now there is thought of a better tomorrow, as the port is now reopened and will bring an increased economy to Al Anbar.

"This facility will play a major role in the economic development of Iraq and Syria and will help relieve the strain at other borders," said General Mohsin, the head of the Department of Border Enforcement. "This used to be an open theater for terrorist and criminals, but we managed to take control of the area. We have fought a battle to open this port-of-entry."

It is not just the Iraqi economy that has had issues to deal with. The Syrian government and economy have had to deal, not just with a lack of trade, but also a flood of refugees from Iraq that have overwhelmed their land. Due to the large increase in population, Syria's consumption rate increased sharply, and they have struggled to keep up.

Onlookers were on both sides of the ribbon that separated the two countries for the ceremony and all cheered for joy when the ribbon was finally cut by Iraqi Minister of Interior, Jawad Karim al-Bolani, and they all watched it fall to the ground.

"This is life back to normal after the darkness that has befallen Iraq," said Mayor Farhan Tekan Farchan, the regional mayor of Al Qa'im. "Today is a special day for all the people of Iraq."

Coalition forces were present at the ceremony as guests and did not participate in the ceremony. It is stated that they felt this was a historical day for the Iraqis, and not something they should get involved in.