DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/14/2004

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Jan 14, 2004

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POLISH PATROL — Polish soldiers with 2nd Platoon Reconnaissance Company make their way through the narrow streets of the outdoor markets during a foot patrol in the village of Al Mashru, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2004. As part of the Multi National Division Central South, the Polish Reconnaissance Company stationed at Camp Bravo are responsible for patrolling some of the villages in the city of Al Hilla with the Iraqi police to help maintain law and order with the Iraqi Police. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Siemion

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." More Briefing

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." More Briefing

Soldiers Capture Nephews of
Iraq's Most-Wanted Fugitive

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2004 — Soldiers have captured four relatives believed to have harbored Izzit Ibrahim al-Douri, the most wanted fugitive in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force 7 announced today.
An Iraqi citizen provided information that brought 720th Military Police Battalion soldiers to a location in Samara in the early morning hours today, a task force news release reported. 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

Exchange Service Brings 'Bit
Of Home' to Deployed Troops

Troops visit Burger King at Baghdad International Airport. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service operates three Burger Kings and two Pizza Huts in Iraq. The Baghdad facility is one of the top 10 Burger Kings in the world. Photo courtesy of Army and Air Force Exchange Service. WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2004 — For troops patrolling the dusty and often dangerous roads in Iraq, anything from home is a welcome sight. Since setting up a mobile store at Tallil Air Base, near the town of Nasiryah, in April, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service continues to provide "a little bit of home" to deployed troops.
Today, there are at least 30 post exchanges/base exchanges in Iraq and 52 throughout Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, said Judd Anstey, public affairs specialist for the exchange service. More

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. 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

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. Khamis was a former Ba’ath Party regional chairman for the Karbala governate.

Radio

Television

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

‘Market Sweep’ Captures Fallujah Arms Dealers

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, capitalized on a month of hard work as they executed Operation Market Sweep, becoming the first Coalition troops to successfully penetrate the weapons market in downtown Fallujah. U.S. Army photo FALLUJAH, Iraq, Jan. 13, 2004 (Army News Service) — Soldiers from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment capitalized on a month of hard work as they executed Operation Market Sweep, becoming the first Coalition troops to successfully penetrate the weapons market in downtown Fallujah.
Coalition forces had previously made attempts to confiscate arms from this area, but many of those selling weapons in the market had eluded capture. The earlier missions had resulted in the capture of only a few individuals. That left numerous men able to continue trading arms. However, this time the illicit arms dealers were not so lucky. More

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

Water, Water Everywhere More Photo Essays

Two Army soldiers remove a bunk from their flooded tent at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 13. The base was hit by nearly 2 inches of rain overnight, leaving many areas of the base, including tents for airmen and soldiers, deluged with water. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Gene LaDoucer 3 More Photos

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

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

Federal Hiring Of Nation's
Military Veterans Increases

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2004 — Hiring of military veterans across the federal civilian work force increased in fiscal 2002, the government's director of personnel recently reported. More

Transformation

Engineers Redesign Humvee To
Carry Ordnance Disposal Robot

Dr. Arthur Morton inspects the ramp to see if it meets clearance requirements. Dr. Morton works at the materials and manufacturing directorate's force protection branch here. (Courtesy photo)

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, Jan. 13, 2004 (AFPN) — A ramp and bumper mount for carrying small robots on armored Humvees was fabricated by engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory materials and manufacturing directorate here. More

More Transformation News

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

Send your message Read others

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	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. Army Capt.
Mohammed M. Ali Khan

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2004 — A line of Muslim service members stand shoulder to shoulder on a makeshift prayer rug facing southwest toward Mecca. The sound of prayer in Arabic is heard all throughout Freedom Chapel on Kandahar Air Field. The soldiers follow the lead of Army Capt. Mohammed M. Ali Khan, the Muslim chaplain of the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, deployed from Ft. Campbell, Ky. More

More Profiles

Paratroopers Discover
Weapons Cache

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2004 — Soldiers from Task Force 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment found three weapons caches while conducting a cordon and search patrol near Khost Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command officials. More

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Kuwait

Army Builds New Air Terminal

ALI AL SALEM AIR FORCE BASE, Kuwait (Army News Service) — The Army is operating a new air passenger terminal here, with the goal of transporting hundreds of soldiers daily to destinations within the Operation Iraqi Freedom theater. More

'On The Ground' Archive