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| Bush Says Iraqi People Should Help Determine Saddam's Fate |
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| By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2003 — The United States will assist Iraqis in developing a process to bring captured former dictator Saddam Hussein to justice for his crimes, President Bush told reporters here today.
Saddam will continue to be detained as the U.S. government works with Iraqi authorities "to develop a way to try him that will stand international scrutiny," the president said.
The Iraqi people, the president asserted, "need to be very much involved" with Saddam's fate, since they were the ones who were brutalized during Saddam's rule. More
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| Rumsfeld: Captured Saddam Compliant, But Not Cooperative |
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| By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2003 — Saddam Hussein has been compliant since he was captured Dec. 13, but so far is not cooperating, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Lesley Stahl on the CBS News program "60 Minutes" Dec. 14.
"He has not been cooperative in terms of talking, or anything like that," Rumsfeld said. "He clearly was compliant or resigned, in effect, as he was being examined and as he was being transferred from the hole to the transport that took him away, but I think … it's a bit early to try and characterize his demeanor beyond that."
Saddam, who had exhorted his followers to fight to the death both before and after the war that removed him from power, seemed "not terribly brave" when confronted by American soldiers as he hid in a 6-by-8-foot hole, the defense secretary said. More |
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Coalition Protects Saddam's
Geneva Convention Rights
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| By Donna Miles / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2003 — Coalition forces are ensuring that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's Geneva Conventions rights are protected while he is in custody and that he receives "all of the privileges of a prisoner of war," according to the commander of coalition forces in Iraq.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez said today on the CBS "Early Show" that Saddam "has been talkative" since his capture near Tikrit Dec. 13, and that "he'll respond readily to questions that are asked of him in terms of just normal administrative requirements."
But Sanchez stopped short of saying Saddam is cooperating with coalition forces. "I wouldn't characterize it either way, cooperative or uncooperative," he said. "We still have a long way to go in this process." More |
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Saddam ‘Caught Like a Rat,’
4th Infantry Commander Says |
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| By Kathleen T. Rhem / American Forces Press Service |
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 WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2003 – Saddam Hussein was “caught like a rat” and offered no resistance when U.S. soldiers captured him near Tikrit Dec. 13, the U.S. general in charge of the operation said today.
Saddam was found hiding at the bottom of a hole hidden on a farm near his hometown. Roughly 600 U.S. soldiers were involved in the operation, but no shots were fired. Two other men were captured in the compound, Maj. Gen Raymond T. Odierno, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said during a press briefing in Iraq. The 4th Infantry Division is responsible for coalition operations in the Tikrit area.
Odierno surmised the pressure on Saddam had become so tight that he couldn’t risk traveling with a large entourage, and therefore had no bodyguards with him. “It was him and just a couple other people with him, so he really didn’t have much of a security force,” the general said. “And he was in the bottom of a hole, so there was no way he could fight back, so he was just caught like a rat.” More |
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| 'WE GOT HIM' |
4th Infantry Captures Saddam
In Remote Village Near Tikrit |
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| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2003 —With three words –"We got him" –Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III announced at a press briefing in Baghdad today that U.S. forces had captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein near his hometown of Tikrit.
Saddam was taken into custody at a small mud-walled compound outside the village of Ad Dwar at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13.
About 600 members of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, along with special operations forces, launched Operation Red Dawn after receiving intelligence that Saddam was in the area, said Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in the country. More
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Holiday Spirit
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| Lt. Col. Steven Keith, a U.S. Air Force chaplain, hands out homemade cookies donated by Hill Air Force Base, Utah, to security forces troop Airman 1st Class Joseph Murphy on duty at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, Dec. 10, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lisa M. Zunzanyika |
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New Sergeant Major of the Army
Reflects on Role in Iraq
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 WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2003 (Army News Service) — Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Preston had one regret when he found out that he was going to be the 13th sergeant major of the Army: he would have to pack up and leave his troops in Iraq.
Preston, who served in a dual role as the command sergeant major of the Germany-based V Corps and the Combined Joint Task Force 7 in Baghdad, said there's always some reservation when you have to leave before the rest of the team. "However, the good news is the soldiers that I deployed there with will be going home within the next 30 to 45 days," he said. More |
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Navy's Master Chief Petty Officer
Visits Enterprise Crew
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USS ENTERPRISE, Dec. 16, 2003 (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott visited sailors from USS Enterprise Dec. 12 during the ship’s port visit to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Scott opened his remarks by commenting on the job Enterprise sailors are doing in the war on terrorism. “I don’t think anybody has had forces over Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa all at the same time before. When I hear about Enterprise doing it, it fills me with a great amount of pride and satisfaction knowing the great work all of you are doing out here.” More |
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| Global War on Terrorism |
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| On Iraq |
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| On Afghanistan |
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| Military News |
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Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualties |
WASHINGTON,
Dec. 15, 2003 — Defense Department officials announced today
the deaths of three soldiers who were
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Rian C. Ferguson, 22, of
Taylors, S.C., died Dec. 14, 2003, outside forward operating base
Quinn, Iraq. Ferguson fell from the light medium tactical vehicle
in which he was a passenger. Ferguson died of his injuries. Ferguson
was assigned to the Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment based in Fort Carson, Colo.
Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz,
27, of Carlisle, Pa., was killed Dec. 14, 2003, in Iskandariyah, Iraq. Voelz
was responding to an explosive ordnance disposal call when an improvised explosive
device detonated. Voelz was assigned to the 703rd Explosive Ordnance
Detachment based in Fort Knox, Ky.
Sgt. Jarrod W. Black, 26, of
Peru, Ind., was killed Dec. 12, 2003, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Black's convoy was
hit by an improvised explosive device. Black died of his injuries. Black was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment based in Fort Riley,
Kan.
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| Remembering the Fallen |
Troops Mourn Soldier
Killed After Returning Home |
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MOSUL, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2003 — After seeing eight months of violence in Iraq, Sgt. 1st Class Eduard Fico returned to his home in Georgia, where violence lurked in his shadow.
The soldier with the 501st Signal Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), went uninjured throughout the war and peacekeeping missions in Iraq only to lose his life at an auto repair shop in Augusta, Ga., after returning home to enroll in the Senior Non-commissioned Officer Course at Fort Gordon. More |
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| Soldier Dies in
Vehicle Accident |
AR RAMADI, Iraq, Dec. 16, 2003 — A soldier was fatally injured when the vehicle he was traveling in near Al Asad, Iraq hit a bump in the road causing him to fall out as the door opened at approximately 10 a.m. Dec. 14, according to U.S. Central Command officials. The soldier was evacuated to a nearby base and treated by the 945th Forward Surgical Team where he later died due to chest trauma. The accident is being investigated. The soldier’s name is being withheld pending next of kin notification.
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Gen. Richard B. Myers
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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"Leaders that ... cause the death or torture or disfigurement of hundreds of thousands of people eventually will be brought to justice." |
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Comments during trip to Kuwait, Dec. 15, 2003
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Preliminary Court Proceedings
For Travis Airman Delayed |
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILL., Dec. 15, 2003 — The military judge appointed to preside over the court martial case involving Senior Airman Ahmad I. Al Halabi, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., has delayed the court martial's initial session, originally set for Dec. 15 at Travis, until mid-January.
The judge postponed the session until Jan. 13 to allow resolution of questions raised by defense counsel related to the ongoing investigation involving Senior Airman Al Halabi. The military judge, Colonel Barbara G. Brand of the Central Circuit Judiciary, Randolph AFB, Texas, is expected to arraign Al Halabi and hear motions at the session on Jan. 13.
The date of the proceedings before the court members detailed to hear this case, also to be held at Travis AFB, remains tentatively set for Apr. 20.
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| U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jon Gray and Petty Officer 3rd Class Rebekah Caruso send holiday greetings home from USS Enterprise, underway in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Justin N. McGarry |
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Send
your 'Best Wishes' to the men and women in uniform
supporting the global war on terror. |
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Huge Holiday Wreath
Honors Service Members |
AUGUSTA, Maine (AFPN) — A Maine man is looking for photos of service members from across the country who are engaged in homeland defense and the war against terrorism. Corey Folsom wants to attach the photos to a giant Christmas wreath he designed that will be illuminated with 10,000 lights in Maine’s capitol city every night through the rest of this holiday season. More
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your message
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Read
other messages |
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BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Dec . 15, 2003 -- The coalition in Afghanistan remembers what we are fighting for; we remember the thousands of victims of terrorism, here and abroad.
In coordination with the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan, Combined Joint Task Force 180 continues to train the Afghan National Army, provide civil affairs support, and disrupt, deny, and destroy terrorist and anti-ITGA forces in order to establish a stable and secure Afghanistan. More |
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| Profile |
U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Shon Lewis |
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| ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service), Dec. 10, 2003 — Staff Sgt. Shon Lewis, coach of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program wrestlers at Fort Carson, Colo., has been selected as one of three coaches to lead Team USA's Greco-Roman wrestlers in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. More |
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Twelfth-Grade
Winners
Offer Their Insights |
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| WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2003 — Nicole Tidwell from Decatur, Ala., wrote in the Weekly Reader’s Operation Tribute to Freedom essay contest that she is “forever in debt to the people that have died and are still dying for…every freedom that I am privileged to have.” More More essays |
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![Home Page - DefendAmerica
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"Today
is a great day for the Iraqi people and for the Coalition.
Last night at approximately 8:00 p.m. local, forces from
the 4th Infantry Division commanded by Major General Ray
Odierno together with Coalition Special Operations Forces
conducted Operation Red Dawn to capture the former Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein." 
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2003 —President Bush praised the “superb skill and precision by a brave fighting force”that led to the 4th Infantry Division’s Dec. 13 capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, which Bush said “marks the end of the road for him, and for all who bullied and killed in his name.“
