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| Bremer Prepares to Return to Iraq,
Continues Discussions |
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| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON,
Nov. 12, 2003 — Following meetings with President Bush
and his advisers, Ambassador Paul Bremer will go back to Baghdad
and continue discussions with the Iraqi Governing Council.
In a White House press conference, Bremer, the
coalition administrator in Iraq, said the discussions centered around two questions:
How does the coalition win the war on terrorism in Iraq, and how should the move
proceed toward a sovereign Iraqi government?
"I'll be taking (the governing council) a
message from the president that he remains steadfast in his determination to
defeat terrorism in Iraq and steadfast in his determination to give the Iraqis
authority over their country, authority they're already beginning to assume very
quickly in the area of security and in the area of running the Iraqi ministries," Bremer
said. More |
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Terrorists Strike Italian HQ
In Iraq; More Weapons Seized |
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| By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press
Service |
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WASHINGTON,
Nov. 12, 2003 — At least 22 people were killed today when
two vehicles crashed the gate of the Italian military headquarters
in Nasiriyah, Iraq, and one exploded.
News reports say the death toll is expected to
rise. The blast leveled the building, and people are presumed to be trapped under
the rubble. Eight Iraqis and 14 Italian military police and soldiers accounted
for the preliminary death toll number.
In overnight raids that concluded this morning,
4th Infantry Division soldiers took 36 suspected insurgents into custody, including
the man believed to have shot down a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Tikrit
on Nov. 7, and five suspected accomplices. Six U.S. soldiers died aboard the
Black Hawk. Story |
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Tax Relief Act Aids Families
Of Fallen
Service Members |
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| By K.L. Vantran / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON,
Nov. 12, 2003 — Legislation signed by President Bush on
Veterans Day increases the death gratuity payment to $12,000
and provides that the full payment is tax-free.
That portion of the Military Family Tax Relief
Act of 2003 is retroactive to Sept. 10, 2001, to provide for service members
who died in the terrorist attacks the following day and in the ongoing global
war on terror, said Army Lt. Col. Janet Fenton, director, Armed Forces Tax Council.
The death gratuity has been $6,000 since 1991,
with half of it being taxed, said the director. "It just didn't seem to
be fair for the military family who was left grieving for their service member
to get hit with a tax bill," she added.
Capital gain exclusion for home sales is one of
the most common areas people were looking for tax relief in, said Fenton. Story |
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U.S. Names 15 Members
of
Italian Al Qaeda Cell as Terrorists
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Washington File, U.S. State Dept.
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WASHINGTION,
The U.S. Treasury Department says it has designated 15
persons as terrorists
for their involvement in Al Qaeida terrorist cells in three
Italian cities - Milan, Cremona and Parma.
Most of the 15 are already in custody in Italy.
The Italian government has frozen their assets within Italy and has submitted
their names to the United Nations to be included on a United Nations list of
terrorists.
According to a Treasury Department fact
sheet, the 15 have been charged with various terrorist activities including
planning to commit international terrorist activities in Italy and Europe; providing
cell members with weapons and explosives; recruiting individuals and fabricating
travel documents to help them reach military camps, mainly in Iraq; collecting
money for terrorist-related activities;
and sharing religious and extremist ideals. |
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| A
Captain's Letter from Bagdhad |
Friends,
I write this late on Veterans Day 2003 from Baghdad.
I did u0p this special edition of the Ironsides and I wanted to send it out with
a special note.
I know most of you will get this later or tomorrow morning
but please take a minute and read the 1st Armored Division Veteran's Day Message.
This morning we conducted our usual brief to the Commanding
General. We then stood as one as Maj. King read Brig. Gen. Dempsey's message.
We then watched a presentation put to Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten".
Then each primary staff member read one of the enclosed names who gave their
life in defense of our country and it's ideals. I sounded off with Sgt. Francisco
Martinez. Although I never met Sgt. Martinez I have spent most of my day thinking
about him. I am proud to serve in the same division as Sgt. Martinez.
In the afternoon I attended a memorial ceremony for
a young soldier recently killed by an explosive device. His friends talked about
his dedication to our mission. Pvt. Kurt Frosheiser is an example of the great
Americans I am surrounded with everyday. The same young men and women who are
bringing freedom to Iraq. More |
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Veterans Day in Iraq
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| Soldiers
from the Army's
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and
5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment gather
to pay their last respects to fallen comrades
during a memorial ceremony at Qayyarah West,
Iraq, Nov. 11, 2003. Cpt. Benedict J. Smith,
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kyran E. Kennedy,
Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff, and Staff Sgt. Scott
C. Rose all members of the 5th Battalion
were killed in action Nov. 7, 2003 while
conducting a mission from Mosul to Tikrit,
Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
U.S.
Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Siemion |
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| 'Terror is Not the Tool of the Free';
U.S. Will Finish Mission |
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| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON,
Nov. 12, 2003 — "We will finish the mission we have
begun, period," President Bush said during a Veterans Day
speech at the Heritage Foundation here Nov. 11.
Bush said that two years into the war on terror,
the United States cannot afford to appear weak. He contrasted the decision Harry
S. Truman made to launch the Berlin Airlift to the current war on terror. More Remarks |
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| Global War on Terrorism |
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| On Iraq |
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| Military News |
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Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualty |
WASHINGTON,
Nov. 13, 2003 — Defense Department officials announced today
the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc.
Rayshawn S. Johnson, 20, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was killed on Nov.
3, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. Johnson was on patrol when
his vehicle hit a landmine. The soldier died as a result of
his injuries. Johnson was assigned to the 299th Engineer Battalion,
4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Hood, Texas. The
incident is under investigation. Story |
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Sanchez: Enemy Will
Not
Break Coalition's Will |
WASHINGTON,
Nov. 11, 2003 - Anti-coalition forces "will fail" to breakthe
will of the coalition and of the vast majority of the Iraqi people,
Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez said in Baghdad.
Militarily, he said, the regime terrorists have
no chance to defeat the coalition. "I would like to remind those who might
attempt to undermine or subvert the progress of the Iraqi people through violence
that although the coalition can be benevolent, this is still the same lethal
formation that removed the former oppressive regime," he said. Story |
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| KANDAHAR
PROVINCE, Afghanistan - An explosion occurred near the firebase
at Kandahar Wednesday night. About two hours later a rocket
landed near the firebase also. There were no injuries to coalition
soldiers or damage to equipment or property in either incident.
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KUNAR
PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Coalition veterinarian personnel traveled
to the Nangalam village near Asadabad firebase from 8-10 November
2003 and performed veterinary services as part of the coalition's
civil military efforts. 153 goats, sheep, and cattle were treated
on the first day, and 226 goats, sheep and cattle were treated
on the second day.
Accompanied by Infantry elements from the 10th
Mountain Division, the veterinarians performed a much need preventive medical
service improved the quality of life and well being for the grateful people of
Nangalam. |
| More
Updates |
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| Service Members
Involved in 'Noble Cause,' Chairman Says |
| WASHINGTON,
Nov. 11, 2003 — American service members are involved in
a "noble cause" in protecting the United States from
the threat of terrorism, Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen.
Richard B. Myers said today. Story |
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| Stryker Brigade
Lands in Kuwait |
PORT
OF KUWAIT, Kuwait, Nov. 12, 2003 (Army News Service) — For
the first time since World War I, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry
Division has deployed overseas.
The brigade’s Stryker vehicles and other equipment
arrived Nov. 12 in the port of Kuwait on board the USNS Shughart and USNS Sisler
after a three-week voyage from Fort Lewis, Wash., via the Port of Tacoma. More
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Naval Support Activity
Bahrain Holds Disaster Drill |
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) — A simulated
terrorist attack put emergency personnel to the test recently
during a disaster preparedness drill aboard Naval Support Activity
Bahrain.
“We held this exercise to
provide us with some data points on conducting a joint emergency
response operation aboard the installation,” said Robert
Massie, director of Emergency Services for NSA Bahrain. Story |
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| Profile |
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U.S. Air Force
Airman 1st Class Vernon Millican
Airman 1st Class Toni Chapman |
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 BALAD SOUTHEAST AIRFIELD, Iraq, Nov. 10, 2003 (AFPN) — Two airmen said "I do" above Iraqi soil in an Army UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter here Nov. 6.
Airmen 1st Class Vernon Millican and Toni Chapman, both of the deployed security forces contingent here, pledged to spend the rest of their lives together before God and four of their friends during the helicopter's training mission. More |
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U.S.
Troops Destroy
Recovered Ordnance |
|
 BAGRAM,
Afghanistan, Nov. 11, 2003 — Troops
supporting Operation Enduring
Freedom looked toward the horizon
as an enormous blast transformed
the sky into the backdrop for
a firework’s show
as more than 2,300 pounds of
hazardous ordnance went up
in smoke. Story |
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| 'On The Ground' Archive |
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