DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/14/2004

Home Page - DefendAmerica
[NOTE: Because of increased web traffic, you may experience delays. Please be patient.]

Jan 14, 2004

Government

Military

How To Help

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Transcripts

COALITION PARTNER — Italian Carabinieri provide security as Coalition Provisional Authority Administrator, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, visits sheiks, council members, the Women's Civil Society, the governor and other Dhi Qar Province officials in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, Jan. 10, 2004. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Reynaldo Ramon

Reconstruction Project Funds Provide Improved Life for Iraqis

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2004 — Millions of dollars dispensed through a U.S. civil affairs fund have fueled myriad reconstruction projects across Iraq, improving the lives of Iraqis in the post-Saddam Hussein era, according to a senior U.S. military civil affairs officer.
     Army Brig. Gen. David Blackledge, commander of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, noted today in a Baghdad briefing that U.S. civil affairs troops in Iraq are playing a vital role in operations "to improve the lives of Iraqis across the country."
     The Commander's Emergency Response Fund was established in May, the general explained, "to allow commanders to make an immediate impact and address local (Iraqi) issues."
     To date, commanders have allocated more than $126 million in CERF money, Blackledge pointed out, to improve schools, buy new textbooks, clean up water, provide electricity, and improve medical care and security across Iraq. More

Capture Is ‘Significant Step’ in Reducing Anti-Coalition Acts

By K.L. Vantran / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2004 — A combined operation by members of the 82nd Airborne Division and special operations forces resulted in the capture of number 54 of Iraq's 55 most-wanted fugitives Jan. 11 near Ramadi, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, announced during a briefing from Baghdad today.
     Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad, former Baath Party regional chairman for the Karbala governate, is in coalition custody, the general said. Due to circumstances of the capture, Kimmitt said, he could not provide any further details.
     This capture, he said, is "another significant step in reducing anti-coalition resistance. He was an enabler for many of the resistance attacks on Iraqis, as well as (against) U.S. and coalition forces. These attacks were crimes against the Iraqi people."
      The general said terrorists and former regime elements that support and condone violence have "no place in a free and democratic Iraq. 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.

. Iraq Update . Maps of Iraq

. Iraq's 55 Most Wanted

. Saddam's Iraq Reign of Terror

USS Bataan Deployment to
Support Iraqi Freedom Rotation

NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 13, 2004 (NNS) — The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan will deploy Jan. 19 from Norfolk to the Central Command area of responsibility in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom II force rotation.
Bataan will provide amphibious lift support for Marines from the Second Marine Expeditionary Force headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Second Marine forces will augment forces from the First Marine Expeditionary Force, headquartered at Camp Pendleton, Calif. More

George Washington Strike Group to Deploy

Air Force Committing
2,000 Airmen to War

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2004 — Airmen vulnerable to deploy as part of the Silver Air and Space Expeditionary Force but not originally asked to go, could end up going after all.
In a recent message sent to the major commands, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said continuing efforts in the war on terrorism have created a need for additional support in some areas. More

Soldiers Face Consequences for
Transporting Prohibited Items

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2004 (Army News Service) — A junior soldier was stopped from boarding a commercial airliner after an inert landmine was found in his checked baggage this month. Increasingly soldiers are attempting to carry prohibited items on commercial airliners either going to or returning from an overseas assignments, officials said. More

82nd Airborne, Special Ops
Forces Capture 'Number 54'

Former Iraqi Ba’ath Party member Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad, number 54 in the top 55 “Deck of Cards” list, was captured during a combined operation by members of the 82d Airborne Division and special operations forces on Jan. 11, 2004, in the vicinity of Ar Ramadi. Khamis was a former Ba’ath Party regional chairman for the Karbala governate.

Radio

Television

Top General Visits Mongolia More Photo Essays

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers meets with Maj. Gen. Tesvegsurengin Togoo, chief of the General Staff for the Mongolian Armed Forces, in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on Jan. 13, 2004. American Forces Press Service photo by Jim Garamone 6 More Photos

Gen. Pace: Iraqis Provide More Info Since Capture of Saddam

By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample / American Forces Press Service

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace responds to a reporter's question during a Jan. 13, 2004, joint press conference with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Defense Dept. photo by R. D. Ward.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2004 — Despite attacks against U.S. and coalition troops and innocent Iraqis, an encouraging trend since Saddam Hussein's capture has been the increasing number of Iraqis who are coming forward with information, Marine Corps General Peter Pace told reporters Jan. 13 during a Pentagon briefing with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said both those who had no apparent previous affiliation with the Baath Party and now some previous Baath Party officials are "coming forward and leading us to caches, giving us information about individuals who we're looking for." More Briefing

Myers Thanks Mongolian Allies For Peacekeeping Help in Iraq

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

A Mongolian honor guard welcomes Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Jan. 13, 2004. American Forces Press Service photo by Jim Garamone

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia, Jan. 13, 2004 — The last time Mongolian soldiers were in Iraq was in 1258. They destroyed Baghdad then. Now, the Mongolian military has 173 soldiers of the 150th Elite Peacekeeping Battalion in Hillah, Iraq. All reports, said Myers, are that the unit is doing an excellent job as part of the Multinational Division Central-South, according to U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Story Related Photo Essay

Rumsfeld Takes Steps to Avoid Increasing End Strength in Iraq

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

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld addresses reporters during a Jan. 13, 2004, Pentagon press briefing. Defense Dept. photo by R. D. Ward

     WASHINGTION, Jan. 13, 2004 — Despite what he called a "spike" in the operational tempo in Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today he hopes stress from increased operations will not lead to increased troop strength in the country.
     "We hope and believe that the current stress that is being put on the force is a spike . a temporary increase, rather that what would prove to be a plateau," he told reporters during a Pentagon briefing. "Very simply, we do not expect to have 100,000 (or) 120,000 troops in a single country permanently deployed."
More     Briefing

General Says Coalition Forces
Winning Iraqis' Hearts, Minds

By U.S. Air Force Sr. Master Sgt. Gene LaDoucer / 506th AEG

KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq, Jan. 13, 2004 — While overwhelming force brought a quick end to major combat operations in Iraq, it's the coalition's ability to win over it's the country's people that ultimately will lead to a free Iraq, U.S. Central Command's deputy commander said here Jan. 12.
During the first of three stops in a daylong tour of military bases in Iraq, Air Force Lt. Gen. Lance Smith spoke highly of the efforts of U.S. forces in establishing security and stability in Iraq. He also was quick to praise the efforts of Iraqis who have stepped forward to turn in weapons and identify anti-coalition forces. More

Gamble's Deployment Journal

Army Staff Sgt. Zeno Gamble, a Gulf War veteran, is one of the thousands of reservists who have been called to active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During his deployment, Gamble plans to share some of journal entries with the readers of DefendAmerica.mil.

Jan. 13, 2003 - I have not had much of a chance to talk to any of the Marines who are taking part in Operation Horn of Africa. Learning the ropes of how our organization must interact with the Djiboutian government has taken precedence in my daily routine, and I only was able to visit Camp Le Monier yesterday to pick up some packages that the military postal service had received on our behalf.
On my way out the gate, I stopped to give a case of cold Coke and two bags of Doritos to the lance corporal. More

Global War on Terrorism

. Ridge Lowers Threat Level, but Nation Remains On Guard

. Guard Artillerymen Training as MPs to Support Terror War

. Sailors, Marines Crack Down On Drug Smuggling in Arabian Sea

Iraq

. Iraqi Officials to Issue 1st Postal Stamps Since Saddam's Fall

. Officials Call Saddam a POW But Say Status Could Change

. Powell: U.N. Speech Presented Facts about Weapons Program

Military News

. Myers Says Reenlistment Rate Strong During War on Terror

. Drill Sergeants Volunteer for Duty Training New Iraqi Soldiers

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Transformation

African Exercise Tests
Evolutionary Catamaran

Ensign Greg Haubner fires a dual 50-caliber machine gun under the instruction of Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Pixley during a familiarization fire exercise while underway on High Speed Vehicle Swift. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Michael Hjelmstad

WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA, Jan. 6, 2004 — Low intensity conflict, littoral warfare, special forces that can be whisked ashore at a moment's notice-all familiar terms to describe just how the military must transform to fight the ongoing global war on terrorism, and the battles of the 21st century. More

More Transformation News

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

Send your message Read others

Tom Green Visits
Sailors in Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS), Jan. 9, 2004 — Actor and comedian Tom Green visited with service members, military family members, and government civilians at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain, Jan. 7 as part of a United Services Organization and Armed Force Entertainment sponsored tour of the region. 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

President George W. Bush

"A democratic, free Iraq is in the national interests of our country. A free country in the midst of the Middle East will make America...more secure...The decision I made (to go to war in Iraq) was the right one for America. And history will prove it's the right one for the world. And we will stay the course until the job is done."

Special Summit of the Americas, Jan. 12, 2004

Profile

U.S. Air Force
Sr. Airman Deliana Kelly

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 8, 2004 — She is of Bulgarian descent; her last name is Irish; and she picked up English as her fifth language.
Although Air Force Senior Airman Deliana Kelly, of the 376th Mission Support Group, has lived in the United States for less than five years, she feels she is the living, breathing embodiment of “the American dream.” More

More Profiles

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Afghanistan

U.S. Medical Personnel
Share Technical Expertise

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2004 — Teaching and training medical residents how to save lives is a demanding but rewarding mission for American medical personnel assigned to Afghanistan.
Although the hospital settings are unlike those found in the United States, these individuals, along with local doctors and nurses, are paving the way to secure a more stable hospital setting and provide better quality medical care. More

In Iraq

Medical Team Helps
Accident Victims

Maj. Donovan Tapper (right) and Maj. Bonnie Mack dress the wounds of a burn vicitim folowing a vehicle accident Jan 9. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. C. E. Lewis TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN), Jan. 12, 2004 — Two Iraqis and one Pakistani, all seriously injured, were transported to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group here Jan. 9 after an automobile accident left two dead and more injured outside Camp Cedar, Iraq.
“It was a great medical response,” said Col. (Dr.) Bob English, commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group and deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del. More

Soldiers Donate Supplies
To Baghdad Schools

Capt. Alexis Gartner, B Company Battery commander, 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Riley, Kan., unloads school supplies donated by the family members of the 4-1 Field Artillery in Baghdad, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Anthony Reinoso

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 8, 2004 — Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, from Fort Riley, Kan., recently brought school supplies and toys to private special education schools in Baghdad.
The soldiers coordinated with other soldiers from the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Abilene, Texas, to distribute donations to four schools in Baghdad: the Hiba Down Syndrome School, the Rami Autistic School, the Mansur Institute and the Al Rawabi School. More

'On The Ground' Archive