DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/23/2004

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Jan 23, 2004

Jan. 20, 2004

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ARABIAN GULF BOUND — USS George Washington clears the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel enroute to the Arabaian Gulf, where it will relieve USS Enterprise, Jan. 20, 2004. Accompanying the carrier are Carrier Air Wing 7, cruiser USS Vella Gulf, destroyer USS Bulkeley, fast combat support ship USNS Supply and Canadian patrol frigate HMCS Toronto. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Joan Kretschmer

Bush Says Nation Will Prevail, ‘Bring the Terrorists to Justice’

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — Although significant victories have been achieved against global terrorists and their enablers in Afghanistan and Iraq, the war isn't over, the commander in chief noted today.
President Bush told New Mexico Military Institute cadets and emergency first responders in Roswell, N.M., that he remains committed to defend the American homeland from attack. Terrorists, he pointed out, "still plot against us." More Remarks

RUMSFELD

Terrorism Challenges Freedom

By Rudi Williams / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2003 — Terrorism is a "truly deadly" challenge to freedom, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today.
     Speaking at a Pentagon breakfast honoring the late Martin Luther King, Rumsfeld said the terrorist threat is more deadly than any that could be imagined during King's era.
     "It's a challenge – not only to the freedom that we enjoy, but also to the very idea of living free. It's a challenge to being able to say what you wish, go where you wish and behave as you wish. We're fighting it by setting in motion the forces of freedom and trying to help make that freedom real to others," Rumsfeld said. More

Change in Tactics: Insurgents
Shift Focus to Attacks on Iraqis

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

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — Anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi elements are moving away from attacking coalition forces as their primary targets and more toward attacks against Iraqi civilians, security forces and government officials, a military spokesman said in Baghdad press conference today.
Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, said that in the latest attack on Iraqi civilians, three vans were ambushed about a kilometer west of Fallujah. More Briefing

Mortar Attack Kills 2 Soldiers; Raids Continue to Get Results

Coalition Requests U.N. Team
Evaluate Iraq Election Potential

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

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — The Coalition Provisional Authority has asked the United Nations to send a team of advisors to take a look at the viability of direct elections in Iraq.
The request comes just months before the June 30 handover of sovereignty in the country, a timetable set by a Nov. 15 agreement and strongly supported by President Bush. 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

California Resident Shows Support for Troops

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2004 — Last year, when the prospect of war was taking heat from critics, June Downum was concerned about the men and women in uniform about to risk their lives for America.
Her response to the criticism was, “No matter what your opinion of the war, these are our best and bravest, and we need to do something to let them know that we are behind them 100 percent.” More

Hockey Fans to Show
Support for Troops

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — National Hockey League fans will have a chance to show their support for the troops during an NHL matchup Jan. 25. The RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C., will host Military Appreciation Night Jan. 25 as the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Buffalo Sabres 1:30 p.m. More

Former Marine Helps
Military Wife Visit Family

ABOARD USS PELELIU, Jan. 20, 2004 — The biggest sacrifices made in the current war against terror are not only made by the men and women currently serving in operations around the world, but also by the families they leave behind.
Stephen G. Smith, a former Marine, recognized those sacrifices, and during the holiday season, purchased a round-trip plane ticket for Julie Jones so she could visit her family while her husband, Marine Sgt. Jacob Jones, is deployed. Story

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

4th Infantry Div., Iraqi
Police Conduct Patrols, Raids

TIKRIT, Iraq, Jan. 23, 2004 — Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse have, over the past 24 hours, conducted 184 patrols, eight raids and captured 31 individuals. Thirteen of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Border Guard. More

Soldiers Capture Weapons, Personnel

101st Brigade Transfers
Authority to Strykers

MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 22, 2004 — The 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) handed over control of the Tigris River Valley area of northern Iraq today to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker) 2nd Infantry Division in a ceremony at the Qayarrah West Airfield. More

Radio

Television

Full Honors More Photo Essays

Five military members who were killed when their MH-53M Pave Low helicopter crashed Nov. 23, 2003, in Afghanistan are carried to their final resting place by horse-drawn caisson during a full-honor mass funeral at Arlington National Cemetery on Jan. 21, 2004. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi 3 More Photos

Resistance Elements 'Brought
To Their Knees,' Odierno Says

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — Former regime elements have been "brought to their knees" in the 4th Infantry Division area of Iraq, the division commander said in a news conference today.
Army Maj. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said the capture of Saddam Hussein was a major defeat for the enemy. The most important result of the capture, he added, was the increase in intelligence coming from Iraqis on anti-coalition activities. More Briefing

Terror War Highlights Troops' Need for Nonlethal Systems

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2004 — To win hearts and minds during 21st-century military operations, it will be essential for U.S. service members to have options other than the use of deadly force, a senior Defense Department official asserted.
"You don't want to go into another person's country with the only option being lethal force, because that will turn the populace against you," said Alan R. Shaffer, the director for plans and programs with the Defense Department's Office of Defense Research and Engineering. More

USS Philadelphia Returns from Historic Deployment

GROTON, Conn., Jan. 22, 2004 (NNS) — USS Philadelphia returned to Naval Submarine Base New London Jan. 18 after completing a seven-month deployment supporting the global war on terrorism. This deployment was a historic one. The Philadelphia became the first Los Angeles-class submarine to complete 1,000 dives. More

Afghan, Iraq Lessons Learned Assist Transformation Efforts

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2004 — Lessons learned from U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are greatly assisting Defense Department transformation efforts, the chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command said here today.
"The fact that we are conducting (those) operations with the breadth and depth that we are allows our services and allows our joint forces to experiment in a way that you can't replicate running any type of concept development and experimentation program – war games or the like," noted Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. More

Iraq War Points Out Need to Improve Logistics System

International Partners

Multi-National Forces Conclude 'Sea Saber' Maritime Exercise

Spanish Special Operations Forces soldiers stand guard over role players aboard the Military Sealift Command combat stores ship USNS Saturn during a mock non-compliant boarding as part of exercise Sea Saber 2004. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeffrey Lehrberg MANAMA, Bahrain, Jan. 22, 2004 (NNS) — In a flash of explosive action, special forces teams successfully boarded and seized a suspected merchant ship Jan. 17 in the Arabian Sea, bringing to conclusion Sea Saber, a multi-national exercise aimed at stemming the flow of weapons of mass destruction. More

Saddam is Gone, But Work Goes On

Soldiers from G Troop 10th Calvary Regiment 1st Brigade Combat Team run down stairs of an Iraqi's home during a raid in Tikrit, Iraq Jan. 5. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Bronwyn N. Meyer

TIKRIT, Iraq — “Why do you guys only speak English when we are trying to arrest you?” a soldier asked an Iraqi man while scrambling for his Arabic language handbook.
After breaking the language barrier, the Iraqi man presented the troops with his AK-47 assault rifle while his house was searched during a daytime raid. More

Local Entrepreneur Provides Desert Oasis

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIDGWAY, Iraq — A sign of progress sits on a small patch of green grass at Forward Operating Base Ridgway, Iraq. It is an Iraqi-owned and -operated restaurant that serves up Middle Eastern culture and a small reminder of home to soldiers stationed here. More

Global War on Terrorism

. Officials Explain Commissions That Will Try Terror Detainees

. Nation Strong, Americans Are 'Rising to the Tasks of History'

Iraq

. Coalition Officials: Iraqi Army First Brigade Nearly Complete

Military News

. Bush Praises Nation's Military

. Guard-Staffed Civil Support Teams Slated to Increase

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Sailors 'Sea Swap'
USS Chinook in Bahrain

      MANAMA, Bahrain, Jan. 21, 2004 (NNS) — Crew members on the first coastal patrol vessel to participate in the Chief of Naval Operations’ sea swap initiative met face-to-face recently, to pass ownership of the ship to the new crew in Bahrain.
     Off-going USS Chinook sailors, who have manned the ship since July 2003, spent the morning performing various demonstrations at sea with the oncoming crew, USS Tempest sailors of Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.
     The off-going crew, formerly from USS Tornado, is returning to Little Creek for a post-deployment stand-down period and then regaining command of Tornado. More

Coast Guard Cutter Crew
Helps Keep the Homeland Safe

KODIAK, Alaska, Jan. 21, 2004 — The Coast Guard cutter Storis and its crew answered the call to keep the homeland safe from possible terrorist attacks when the Department of Homeland Security raised the national threat level to orange last month.
“Being at such a high state of readiness on the ship stretched us pretty thin; but we were ready for anything,” said Seaman Peter Avery. Story

	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

"...The men and women of the American military – they have taken the hardest duty. We've seen their skill and their courage in armored charges and midnight raids, and lonely hours on faithful watch. We have seen the joy when they return, and felt the sorrow when one is lost. I've had the honor of meeting our servicemen and women at many posts, from the deck of a carrier in the Pacific to a mess hall in Baghdad.

"Many of our troops are listening tonight. And I want you and your families to know: America is proud
of you."

State of the Union Address, Jan. 20, 2004

Profile

U.S. Air Force
Capt. Brent Davis

WASHINGTON — When Capt. Brent Davis agreed to help drum up support for a bone marrow donor drive, he had no idea that 18 months and 1.5 liters of bone marrow later his actions may have saved a young man’s life.
The journey began when a fellow officer contacted Davis, 910th Airlift Wing public affairs chief at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, while trying to raise enough interest to sponsor a visit by representatives from the C. W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program. More

More Profiles

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Uzbekistan

Airmen Accomplish Big
Mission From Small Base

Senior Master Sgt. Terry Gazaway (right) prepares to guide Master Sgt. Tom Guerrero as he backs a fuel truck toward a visiting C-17 Globemaster III here. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson

KARSHI-KHANABAD, Uzbekistan, Jan. 22, 2004 — At first glance, the little-known airfield in Karshi-Khanabad appears to be nothing more than a sleepy, little whistle-stop for aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Officially named Camp Stronghold Freedom, the base is most often referred to as “K-2.” More

In Iraq

Weapons, Explosives
Mark Bomb-Making Ring

Soldiers from 5th Engineer Battalion search an orange grove Jan 12, after coalition forces discovered a bounty of weapons and bomb making material buried in a rural village in Taji, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. David Bennett

TAJI, Iraq, Jan. 14, 2004 — A tip from an Iraqi informer led coalition forces Jan. 12 to a large bounty of weapons and explosives hidden in an orange grove a few miles from Forward Operating Base Gunner. Teaming with Macedonian Special Forces troops, members of 5th Engineer Battalion unearthed rockets, mortar rounds and plastic explosives from shallow holes in the rural village. More

'On The Ground' Archive