DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/15/2004

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

Jan 15, 2004

Government

Military

How To Help

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Transcripts

THE OLD GUARD — Soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) walk on the airfield at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, during a helicopter training exercise. Old Guard Soldiers are participating in tactical missions and training exercises in support of the Global War on Terrorism as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. This is the first deployment for an Old Guard unit since the Vietnam War. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric M. McKeeby.

New Style of Warfare Vital to
Fighting Global War on Terror

By Paul Stone / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2004 — Within 10 years, U.S. forces around the world will enjoy greater combat effectiveness as a result of network-centric operations. That's a vision John Stenbit has pursued for the past two years, and it is already bad news for America's enemies. Stenbit is the assistant secretary of defense for networks and information integration, and DoD's chief information officer.
     The term "network-centric warfare" broadly describes the combination of emerging tactics, techniques and procedures that a fully or even partially networked force can employ to create a decisive warfighting advantage.
     As an example, Stenbit cited the special forces soldier deployed to Afghanistan, who, while riding a horse with Northern Alliance forces, was calling in air support. "So what you had was a B-2 or B-52 pilot -- who didn't know this guy, didn't know his frequency, had no knowledge of how that guy was operating -- getting the word he wanted a bomb, and it would happen," Stenbit said. "That's an enormous change." Story

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

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

Troops Nab Two More
Senior Iraqi Insurgents

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2004 — Task Force All-American soldiers nabbed two more senior anti-coalition leaders during combat operations in western Iraq, according to a Combined Joint Task Force 7 news release. Brig. Gen. Kalil Ibraham Fayal al-Dulaymi and Gen. Mamoud Khudair Younes were captured by 82nd Airborne Division troops today and Jan. 14, respectively. More

Myers: "Positive Momentum"
In U.S.-China Relationship

BEIJING, Jan. 15, 2004 — The United States and China are making progress on security issues, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said today following meetings with senior Chinese leaders. The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said there is a "positive momentum" in the security relationship
Myers discussions with Chinese leaders also addressed the global war on terrorism. He said there is consensus that international terrorism "is a scourge that all countries need to fight," adding the Chinese are disturbed, as is the United States, by the possibility of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists. Story

Air Force Translator Arraigned

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Jan. 14, 2004 (AFPN) — The opening session in the court-martial case involving Senior Airman Ahmad A. Al Halabi convened here Jan. 13. The accused is charged with Uniform Code of Military Justice violations including failure to obey a lawful general order, making false official statements and attempted espionage. Story

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. More

Radio

Television

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. 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

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

North Carolina, Maryland Reservists
Assist Iraq's Disabled Veterans

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 15, 2004 – Soldiers from the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Greensboro, N.C., and the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, an Army Reserve unit from Riverdale, Md., both part of Task Force 1st Armored Division, said their goodbyes to the Iraqi disabled veterans at the Al Shamookh Village for Disabled Veterans after the units' final mission there Jan 4.
Maj. Eric Murray, team chief for the 422nd, said the units built strong ties with the veterans after the veterans traveled across the city to visit them at the Al Karkh Civil Military Operations Center for help. More

Soldiers' Efforts Put Iraqi Fire Boat Back in Action

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 13, 2004 (Army News Service) — For the first time since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Baghdad has a fire boat officially patrolling the Tigris River.
The fire boat, named the Future 2, was discovered during the summer – looted and inoperable – by Soldiers of the 40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, on the bank of the Tigris near the 14th of July Bridge. More

The Art of War More Photo Essays

U.S. Marine Cpl. Edwin Charles Broadnax, with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, stands post at Echo Four at Camp Commando, Kuwait, March 18, 2003. This granite sketch is part of a collection drawn by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jack Carillo in Iraq during 2003. 7 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

. Myers Thanks Mongolian Allies For Peacekeeping Help in Iraq

. Rumsfeld Takes Steps to Avoid Increasing End Strength in 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

. National Guard, Reserve Update

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.

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 here. More

More Transformation News

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

Send your message Read others

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

Vice President Richard B. Cheney

"We have, today, more than 125,000 Americans serving in Iraq. They are confronting terrorists every day in that country, so that we do not one day meet the same enemies on the streets of our own cities."

Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Jan. 14, 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

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Afghanistan

The Eyes Have It at
Afghan Combat Hospital

Capt. Mark Reynolds, 452nd Combat Support Hospital ophthalmology clinic at Bagram, Afghanistan, examines the eyes of 1st Sgt. Earnest Robertson, 1st Embedded Training Team. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2004 – If U.S. and coalition forces here are going to be successful in their quest to kill, capture and deny sanctuary to al Qaeda and Taliban militants, they must first be able to see their nemesis. More

'On The Ground' Archive