DefendAmerica - Home Page 12/29/2003

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Dec 29, 2003

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AIDING IRAN — U.S. Central Air Forces C-130 aircraft commander, Lt. Col. Scott Decker, center, works with Iranian soldiers and other Air Force personnel to offload 20,000 pounds of medical supplies at Kerman, Iran, Dec. 28, 2003, two days after a devastating earthquake destroyed the city of Bam, Iran. U.S. Central Command plans to provide nearly 150,000 lbs of relief supplies from U.S. military logistics sites in the Arabian Gulf. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins

U.S. Delivers Supplies, Experts
Following Earthquake in Iran

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2003 — Proving that disaster knows no politics, U.S. service members are delivering humanitarian aid to Iran in wake of an earthquake that has left an estimated 25,000 Iranians dead.
     A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the area near the city of Bam. Iranian officials said the death toll could reach 40,000 in Bam and the surrounding countryside.
     The U.S. military responded by deploying more than 150,000 pounds of medical supplies from bases in Kuwait to the people of Iran. It was the first U.S. aircraft to land in Iran since the end of the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1981. Story

Ops. Enduring & Iraqi Freedom Show Transformation in Action

By Paul Stone / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2003 — If you want to see the face of transformation - if you want to see what it looks like in action - you need not look any further than Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
     That's the view from the top by Retired Vice Adm. Arthur Cebrowski, chief of the Defense Department's Office of Force Transformation and one the department's chief architects in the effort to transform the military.
     Cebrowski said several elements of OEF and OIF were both representative of transformation and historic. He cited speed of operations as an example - speed of planning; speed of decision making; speed of physical movement; and speed with which physical barriers were overcome, particularly in the mountains of Afghanistan. More

Bush Praises Troops Fighting Terrorism, Defending Freedom

By Rudi Williams / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2003 — President Bush expressed the nation's gratitude to military men and women "defending freedom around the world," in his weekly radio address Dec. 27.
"These brave Americans are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere so that we do not meet these killers on our own streets," he said. "We are grateful for the courage and commitment of our troops, and we are safer because of their skill and sacrifice. Story

Rewards Announced for Capture Of Former Regime Members

     BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 27, 2003 — The Coalition Provisional Authority and Coalition Joint Task Force-7 today announced monetary rewards for the remaining 13 wanted senior members of the former Ba’athist Regime.
      The capture of Saddam Hussein brings to 42 the number of the “deck of 55” either captured or killed by Iraqi and coalition security forces. With these new rewards, Iraqi security forces and the coalition expect final closure to this search.
      “With Saddam Hussein now captured, the Iraqi people are able to focus on their future of freedom and stability,” said Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, CPA administrator. “The Iraqis and the coalition look forward to taking out of circulation the remaining senior members of his regime and continuing the reconstruction and reconciliation of this country.” More

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.

. Maps of Iraq

U.S. Central Command
Reports Two U.S. Casualties

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2003 — U.S. Central Command reported the deaths of two soldiers during incidents in Iraq.
     A Combined Joint Task Force-7 soldier died of injuries received in a single military vehicle traffic accident at approximately 8 p.m. Dec. 26 in the Baghdad area.
     The soldier’s name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
     The incident is under investigation. Northeast of Fallujah, one 82nd Airborne Division soldier was killed and three others were wounded at approximately 1 p.m. Dec. 28 when their convoy was attacked by an improvised explosive device. The three wounded soldiers were evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment.
     Names of soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
     The incident is under investigation..

U.S. Airstrike Targets
Enemy Safe House

AR RAMADI, Iraq , Dec. 27, 2003 — Air Force F-16 fighters from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron dropped two joint direct attack munitions bombs to destroy an abandoned two-story house known to be a launching pad for attacks against Coalition Forces. The house was used on six different occasions to attack Coalition Forces and is located three kilometers northwest of Khalidiyah. More

Radio

Television

Daily Insurgent Attacks Persist In Iraq, but Numbers Declining

By Rudi Williams / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2003 — Though the number of attacks by insurgents in Iraq continues the decline it has shown since mid-September, the coalition isn't ready to say the trend will continue.
      At a Baghdad press conference today, Army Brig. Gen. Mark T. Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for Combined Joint Task Force 7, pointed out that in mid-September, there were as many as 50 attacks on coalition forces per day.
      "In the last 24 hours, we've only had 14 attacks," he noted. "The number is ranging around 14 to 15 per day. So with the exception of the minor spike we had on Christmas Day, when there were 18, the numbers are going down." More

Operation Avalanche in Afghanistan More Photo Essays

Task Force 1-501st E Company paratroopers board a Ch-47 Helicopter at dawn earlier this month after providing security during Operation Avalanche at Salerno Forward Operating Base, Afghanistan. The operation was designed to impede the enemies of Afghanistan from moving weapons and supplies across the border to stage them for a spring offensive. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A. Alisan 6 More Photos

5 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq; Operation Nets 66 Prisoners

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26, 2003 — Four soldiers were killed in operations in Iraq and another was killed in an accident Dec. 24 to 26, coalition officials announced.
News reports said that guerrillas also launched a series of mortar and rocket attacks on coalition targets in and around Baghdad. More

Samarra Blast, Urbil Suicide Attack Kill U.S. Troops, Iraqis

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, 2003 — Separate incidents in Iraq today claimed the lives of U.S. soldiers and Iraqis.
     Three American soldiers were killed near Samarra by an improvised explosive device, and a number of Iraqis were killed or wounded in a suicide bombing on a government building in Urbil, according to coalition reports from Baghdad.
     The Urbil bombing targeted the front of the Ministry of the Interior building, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for Combined Joint Task Force 7, told reporters today during a news briefing. More     Briefing

Rumsfeld, Myers Laud Troops, Caution Terror Threat Remains

By Staff Sgt. Michelle L. Thomas, ANG / American Forces Press Service

Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers makes his opening statements during a joint press conference with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon Dec. 23. Both men commented on how pleased they were that Time magazine named the American armed forces the 2003 WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2003 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld today lauded the accomplishments of those who willingly put their lives at risk so that all Americans can live in peace and freedom.
During a Pentagon briefing, Rumsfeld, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, credited military men and women for the strides made during the past year in the global war on terror. More Briefing

Defense Dept. Stops Anthrax Shots, Studies Court Decision

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, 2003 — The Defense Department will stop anthrax vaccinations until the legal situation around a recent court decision is resolved, defense officials said.
Defense officials and lawyers with the Justice Department are examining a decision handed down by a federal judge in Washington Dec. 22 that ordered DoD to stop anthrax vaccinations for U.S. service members without their consent, Pentagon officials said Dec. 23. More Briefing

U.S. Troops Leave Pump Station With Memories & Friendships

Combined Joint Task Force 7

AL JAZEERA, Iraq, Dec. 24, 2003 — Mohamed Sami sat rigid in his chair. He appeared restless, as though at any moment he would try to express all the thoughts in his mind. So he did.
“I am very sad and very happy right now,” he said. “I do not want you to leave us. But I want to thank you, really, for everything you have done for us." More

Global War on Terrorism

. Heightened Security Not Tied to Saddam Hussein's Capture

. Bush, Blair Welcome Libya's Pledge to Dismantle Weapons

. 'Tremendous Strides' Made in Iraq, Afghanistan, Collins Says

On Iraq

. Learning Democracy is Iraq's Biggest Challenge, Bremer Says

. Iraqi Legal Profession Trains to Prosecute Regime Crimes

. Iraqi Volunteering Increases Following Capture of Saddam

Military News

. Military Blood Program Seeks Holiday Donors

. Myers Salutes U.S. Troops, Recaps Central Command Trip

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Send your 'Best Wishes' to the
troops waging the global war on terror.

Send your message

Read other messages

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Affleck Visits Enterprise Crew

Actor Ben Affleck addresses the crew of USS Enterprise while kicking off a United Service Organization-sponsored tour of the Arabian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Justin N. McGarry

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) — Just on the heels of a crowd-pleasing show by actor/comedian Robin Williams, the United Service Organization brought another taste of Hollywood aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) for the holidays. On Dec. 22nd, actor Ben Affleck came aboard the deployed aircraft carrier to spend some quality time with the "Big E" crew.
Affleck is spending the holidays with forward-deployed troops. He kicked off his USO-sponsored tour with a visit to Enterprise, currently enjoying a port visit to Bahrain. The actor is no stranger to the Navy, having worked with sailors for his films "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor." More

Profile

U.S. Navy Lt. Michael Orr

U.S. Navy Lt. Michael 'Bobby' Orr is the first pilot from another branch of the U.S. military to fly the B-2 stealth bomber. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nick Martin

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — While the B-2 bomber has already seen many milestones in its first 10 years, the 394th Combat Training Squadron is currently training the program's first Navy pilot, who will fly his first B-2 sortie here next month.
U.S. Navy Lt. Michael Orr, a California native who has been flying the EA-6B Prowler for the Navy since 1998, began his B-2 training with the 394th Combat Training Squadron in April. More

More Profiles

	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

President George W. Bush

“Separation from loved ones is always difficult, especially at this time of year. All our men and women serving abroad can know that their families miss them, millions are praying for them, and their nation is proud of them.”

Remarks during weekly radio address,
Dec. 27, 2003

Honoring the Fallen

Maine Students Honor 9/11
Victims, Iraqi Freedom Pilots

Fifth and sixth-grade students from Margaret Chase Smith School in Skowhegan, Maine, took a 15-hour bus trip Dec. 16, 2003, to the Washington area. The trip was a part of their

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 18, 2003 — It all started with a 6th-grade teacher Margaret Chase Smith School in Skowhegan, Maine, who thought of a way, with his students, to honor victims of Sept. 11, 2001, an idea that has grown and recently brought some of his students to the Washington area. Story

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Iraq

Neighborhood Survey
Sheds Light on Samarra

Trash litters a street corner in Samarra, where the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion of Belton, Mo. is trying to expand its presence in the city, which is located inside the Sunni Triangle. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tim Berger

SAMARRA, Iraq - The maps inside the detachment's tent simply did not tell the whole story of southeast Sammara or its people. So a team of civil affairs soldiers, armed with digital cameras and global positioning systems, toured the city Dec. 8 to get a clearer picture.
Using the high-tech equipment, members of the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion's general support detachment set out to snap pictures and map points of interest for a neighborhood survey that will be a blueprint for rebuilding an area that is now considered hostile to Coalition forces. More

'On The Ground' Archive