KURDS, US ARMY REBUILDING AIRPORT

There are few good news stories being reported about Iraq since the major media seems to search for and dwell on bad news almost exclusively. However, there are positive stories to be told. This is a story about progress.

An abandoned and weed-choked airport in Kurdish Iraq is well on the way to becoming operational. Located outside Sulaymaniya in Northeastern Iraq, the airport has not been used since Saddam used it for military action against the Kurds. Laying at the heart of the Kurdish struggle against the Ba'ath regime, it was purposefully underdeveloped and neglected by the government.

Now, the US Army 887th Engineering Company of the 101st Airborne Division is rebuilding the runway, taxiways, and aprons. Kurdish workers are busy on the control tower and service buildings. The Kurdish regional government is funding the project with the US Army providing labor, equipment, and expertise. Completion is scheduled to occur before the end of December.

For local Kurds, it's a crucial connection to a world from which they have long been isolated. "We will no longer live in a forgotten spot on the globe," said Sami Hama Muamin, a 29-year-old photographer, reflecting the views of many local people.

Since the area is considered safe, businessman are already making plans for developing the region when flights begin. Also, since the area is mountainous and cool in the summer, an influx of tourists escaping the brutal summer heat in the south is expected.

This is only one of many good news stories that the major media is ignoring.