DefendAmerica 12/08/2003

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Dec 08, 2003

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GREETING THE TROOPS — Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld shakes hands with the troops after having breakfast at Kirkuk Air Base, Kirkuk, Iraq, Dec. 6, 2003. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway

Rumsfeld Wraps Up Overseas Travel With Visit to Baghdad

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2003 — A first-hand look at Iraqi Civil Defense Corps training and a series of meetings with military, coalition and Iraqi officials made for a busy afternoon in Baghdad Dec. 6 for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
     The Iraqi capital was the last stop of an overseas trip for the secretary, who left Washington Nov. 30 and participated in the Dec. 1-2 NATO defense ministers conference in Brussels, Belgium. Over the next four days, Rumsfeld traveled to Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Georgia and Iraq. A planned stop in Uzbekistan Dec. 5 was cancelled when heavy fog prevented his plane from landing.
      Rumsfeld arrived at about 11 a.m. following a morning visit to Kirkuk, and traveled by helicopter to a forward operating base of the 82nd Airborne Division. At various sites on the compound, he watched U.S. soldiers training ICDC recruits. One group - the newest - was working on drill and marching skills. More

Sanchez: U.S.-Coalition Efforts
Against Insurgents Succeeding

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2003 — Recent U.S.-coalition operations against insurgents in Iraq are succeeding, a senior U.S. military commander said during a briefing from Baghdad.
     "The only way you win in combat is to stay on the offensive," Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7, told reporters, noting that insurgent actions against U.S. and coalition forces have dropped off recently.
     In order not to aggravate Iraqi citizens during U.S.- coalition military operations against insurgents, Sanchez noted it's important that those operations are "focused" and "based on intelligence" in coordination with pro- coalition Iraqis and their security forces. More

Sec Def Praises U.S. Troop
Dedication, Progress in Iraq

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

SHANNON, Ireland, Dec. 6, 2003 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld applauded current Georgian leaders' close working relationship and improving conditions in Iraq during a news conference today with reporters en route with him back to Washington.
The secretary said U.S. forces are "wonderful men and women who are dedicated to what they're doing, and they're well-led and well-trained and well-equipped, and in my view are doing an outstanding job." Story

Wolfowitz Accepts Patriot Award
On U.S. Defense Team's Behalf

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2003 — Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz accepted the 2003 American Patriot Award Dec. 5 "on behalf of our fallen heroes" and "the hundreds of thousands of men and women in uniform and all of those that support them," including defense civilians and contractors.
The award, sponsored by the National Defense University Foundation, was previously issued to former President George H.W. Bush, now-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. President George W. Bush provided his thanks for the award via videotaped comments, noting America's military members perform "the highest form of citizenship" during the war against terrorism. Story

Iraq Weekly Progress Update (Governance, Electricity, Education, Oil, Security, Economics, Health Care)

U.S. Defense Dept. slides with facts &
figures on reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

U.S. State Dept. fact sheet on the latest developments in restoring Iraq's essential services, security, economy & governance.

Defense officials provide an update on the Coalition Provisional Authority & the Iraqi Governing Council agreement that outlines the process of restoring Iraq's sovereignty and the adoption of a permanent constitution.

Sixth-Grade Winners
Offer Their Insights

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2003 — Lindsey Rettke from Mililani, Hawaii, has watched her father deploy in the name of freedom throughout her life. In the Weekly Reader’s Operation Tribute to Freedom essay contest, she remembered being “a confused and scared 5-year-old girl, clinging to my dad’s leg” and not wanting to let go as he deployed to Bosnia.
Four years later, Lindsey remembers that “tears rolled down my cheek” as she hugged her father goodbye when he deployed to Kuwait. “But once again,” she wrote, “my mom told me not to worry.” More

. More essays

'Bulldog' Brigade Detains 43,
Captures Weapons Caches

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 7, 2003 — Soldiers from Task Force 1st Armored Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team struck at insurgent elements in the Al Mansor district on the west side of the city Thursday, according to U.S. Central Command officials. More

Radio

Television

Insurgent Success Rate Down,
4th Infantry Gen. Tells Sec Def

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

KIRKUK, Iraq, Dec. 6, 2003 — Attacks against coalition forces in northern Iraq have dropped significantly in recent weeks, and 95 percent of them fail to hurt coalition personnel or even damage coalition vehicles, the commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division told visiting Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld here today.
Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno said that while the numbers of attacks went up at first when insurgents changed to more "stand-off" kinds of attacks using improvised explosive devices and rocket and mortar attacks, the attacks have fallen off as more and more factors are working against the insurgents. More

Rumsfeld Overseas in Georgia More Photo Essays

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld reviews paper work while traveling to Tbilisi, Georgia, on Dec. 5, 2003, where he would meet with acting President Ms. Nino Burdzhanadze. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway 5 More Photos

Rumsfeld Praises Georgia for Assistance in War on Terror

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

TBILISI, Georgia, Dec. 5, 2003 — With mounting concern in this former Soviet republic over Russia's behavior in the region and a new interim government still finding its feet, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld toured a U.S.-sponsored military training facility and met with key leaders here today.
In a joint press conference with acting president Nino Burdzhanadze, Rumsfeld said the United States agrees with Georgia that Russia needs to live up to its obligations under the so-called Istanbul Accords of 1999 to withdraw its forces from Georgia, except for a 2,500- to 3,000-member peacekeeping force in a troubled region of the country. Story

. Secretary of Defense Visits U.S. Georgia Train, Equip Program

Troops See President Usher in Christmas at the White House

By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2003 - The countdown began with "5," and four seconds later the 40-foot blue spruce burst forth in with red, white and green – Christmas at the White House had officially begun.
President Bush and wife, Laura, greeted hundreds of children, their families and special guests on the White House lawn in chilly temperatures to watch the national Christmas tree-lighting ceremony Dec. 4. Several service members from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom were among those assembled. More

77th Maintenance Company
Returns from Operation Iraqi Freedom

Capt. Ben Lipari, commander of 77th Maintenance Company, and his wife, Melissa, cuddle their 8-month-old son Dominik during the 77th's Nov. 26 welcome home to Babenhausen (Germany) Kaserne. The captain and more than 100 members of the 77th deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when Dominik was 12 days old.

     BABENHAUSEN, Germany — More than 100 soldiers from 77th Maintenance Company, 3rd Corps Support Command, were welcomed home here Nov. 26 after being deployed for eight months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
      Excited wives and children carrying signs, flowers and American flags gathered on the sidewalk outside the Army Community Service center on Babenhausen Kaserne to greet their loved ones.
      With a military police escort, the soldiers marched from their motor pool through the base to ACS. With the first glimpse of the unit, family members broke out in cheers and tears flowed. More

Army Reservist MPs Train
Iraqi Police at Weapons Range

By U.S. Army Cpl. Todd Pruden / 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Cpl. Ernesto Pinedo, a military policeman with the 382nd Military Police Detachment, 18th Military Police Brigade, assists an Iraqi policeman with clearing his weapon at a firing range in Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Todd Pruden      BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 8, 2003 - Iraqi Police Service officers had the chance to hone their skills on a live-fire weapons range for the first time with the help of soldiers of the 382nd Military Police Detachment.
     The Army Reserve unit from San Diego is assigned to the 18th Military Police Brigade, part of Task Force 1st Armored Division.
     The weapons training is part of a three-week course called the Iraqi Police Integration Program. The program is intended to teach the existing Iraqi police basic weapons fundamentals and tactics and to brush up on their police skills. More

Global War on Terrorism

. Myers: Transformation Vital to Fighting Global War On Terror

. Rumsfeld in Azerbaijan; Talks Include NATO, War on Terror

On Iraq

. Bush Surprises Troops, World With Thanksgiving in Baghdad

. Sanchez: More Mobile Force Will Have 'Right Blend' of Units

On Afghanistan

. Rumsfeld Meets with Karzai, Notes Progress in Afghanistan

. Rumsfeld Visits Afghanistan, Praises Reconstruction Team

Military News

. Legacy Project Seeks to Preserve GIs' History in Iraq

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Send your 'Best Wishes' to the men and women in uniform supporting the global war on terror
Send your message
Read other messages

Video Project Sends
‘Hearts Across Water’

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 4, 2003 (Army News Service) — Duty in Baghdad kept U.S. Army Pfc. Al Simons away from his family’s Thanksgiving dinner, but an American Red Cross project is making sure he’ll soon get a recap of the holiday feast.
With Project Video Connect, family and friends can send free visual messages to troops through electronic mail. More

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

	U.S. Views — Quotes by President Bush & other U.S. leaders
	Defense Views — Quotes by U.S. defense leaders
	Maps of Iraq — Maps of the nation of Iraq and the region

Secretary of Defense
Donald H. Rumsfeld

"I'd like to see us to the extent we can continue to...accelerate the training and recruiting and deployment of Iraqi security forces. I think we've got a good program, and the people in our armed forces that are doing the vast amount of hte training are doing it very well. Bit I'm constantly trying to find ways to increase the pace."

Remarks in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 6, 2003

. Maps of Iraq

. Maps of Afghanistan

Profile

U.S. Army
Capt. Darryl M. Butler

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 3, 2003) — Ingenuity and improvisation have been hallmarks of the U.S. Army since its inception. Whether it is making something faster, easier, deadlier or safer, soldiers always find a way to improve upon what they are issued.
An improvising reservist has been using his engineering skills to help provide better protection to soldiers riding around Iraq in unarmored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. More

More Profiles

Seaman from the USS Enterprise, underway in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, send holiday greetings home to their loved ones. Sending holiday wishes are, from left, Petty Officer 2nd Class Phillip Adams, Petty Officer 2nd Class Lee Grays, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jon Gray and Petty Officer 2nd Class Hakim Mathis. U.S. Navy Photo by Seaman Justin N. McGarry

In Afghanistan

College Education
En Route to Bagram Troops

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Dec. 5, 2003 — In the midst of deployment and combat, formal college education options are rarely the top priority, but with units being extended and troops leaving school to serve their country, Bagram personnel are planning to make the difficulties of deployment a little easier with a new education center. More

In Djibouti

Personnel Renovate School,
Improve Life in Obock

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Mastin M. Robeson, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, along with Omar Farada Mohamed, the commissioner for the District of Obock, Abdoulkader Ahmed Hussain, the Obock Primary School director, and a handful of school children, cut the ribbon strung across the entrance of the newly opened school, Dec. 4. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bradly Shaver OBOCK, Djibouti, Dec. 5, 2003 — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held here Dec. 4, marking the grand opening of the newly renovated Obock Primary School by personnel from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. More

'On The Ground' Archive