DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/28/2004

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Jan 29, 2004

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DEBA'ATHIFICATION OF IRAQ — Former members of the Ba'ath party assemble to denounce their affiliation with the party and pledge themselves to the building of a new Iraq in Mosul, Iraq, Jan. 27, 2004. U.S. Army photo Sgt. Justin Harris

Myers: Reserve Components
Vital to Winning War on Terror

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers spoke to the Reserve Officers Association Jan. 28, 2004. The association inducted Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, into the Minuteman Hall of Fame. Defense Dept. photo by Jim Garamone

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — In this time of crisis, the reserve components are doing exactly what they were designed to do, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said here Jan. 28, and America is grateful for their service.
     The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke at the Reserve Officers Association Mid-Winter Conference. Myers said reservists are integrated seamlessly into the total force, and they are serving in all aspects of the war on terror.
     The biggest point in Myers' speech: America needs its reservists if the country is to win the war on terror. Story

Defense Officials Outline Iraq
Rotation Plans to Congress

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 - Military officials detailed to the House Armed Services Committee just how the troop rotation plan for Iraq will work.
At the heart of the matter is how the military takes troops that are in contact with the enemy and replaces them with fresh forces. The troops leaving must give information to those replacing them so there is continuity of mission. Air Force Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, the director of operations with the Joint Staff, briefed the congressmen today. More

Army Chief of Staff 'Adamantly
Opposes' Added End Strength

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 - The Army chief of staff "adamantly opposes" an end-strength increase to the size of his service.
Gen. Peter Schoomaker told the House Armed Services Committee that an unfunded end-strength increase "puts readiness at risk, it puts training at risk, it puts modernization at risk, it puts transformation at risk - and that's why I'm resisting it." More

Marines Ready to Deploy Again To Iraq, Commandant Says

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 - Marines are getting ready to deploy again into Iraq, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael Hagee told the House Armed Services Committee today.
Hagee stressed to the congressmen that the Marine Corps is heavily committed to the war on terror. He said in the past year, Marines have been engaged in operations from Afghanistan to the Arabian Gulf. Marines have also been deployed to the Horn of Africa, Liberia, the Republic of Georgia, Colombia, Guantanamo Bay and the Philippines. 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.

. White House Fact Sheet: Progress in Iraq

. Iraq Update . Maps of Iraq

. Iraq's 55 Most Wanted

. Saddam's Iraq - Reign of Terror

Bo Jackson Will Host
Super Bowl Bash for Troops

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 -- With 200,000 pounds of chicken wings, meatballs and his signature "Bo Burgers" on the menu, and the biggest game in sports on the tube, it's safe to say that former two-sport star Bo Jackson knows more than football and baseball. Bo knows how to throw a Super Bowl party as well.
Jackson, who starred with the NFL's Raiders and with the Royals, White Sox and Angels in major league baseball, left for Kuwait today to host what is believed to be the largest Super Bowl party ever to take place in the Middle East. More

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

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Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Patrols, Raids Net
Personnel, Weapons

TIKRIT, Iraq, Jan. 29, 2004 - Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and Task Force Ironhorse, over the past 24 hours, conducted 172 patrols and four raids, and captured 43 individuals, according to Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials. Fourteen of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Border Guard.
Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operations include seven ZPU 57-2 anti-aircraft artillery weapons, 12 AK-47 assault rifles, one rifle, one machine gun, 10 grenades, 13 rocket propelled grenade launchers, five rocket propelled grenades, 37 mortar rounds, five blasting caps, 117 artillery rounds, six pounds of plastic explosives, 16 sticks of TNT, two 200 pound bombs, 21 rounds of 14.5 mm anti-aircraft ammunition and two improvised explosive devices.

Transformation

Army Focus Task Force
'Jump Starting' Future

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2004 (Army News Service) -- The "Current to Future Force" initiative is about more than accelerating futuristic technology for use in today's Army, according to a leader of the task force.
"We're creating a new way of doing business," said Ed Mazzanti, deputy of the Capabilities Development Directorate at the Training and Doctrine Command's 'Future Center.' More

More Transformation News

Radio

Television

Turkish Prime Minister Thanks
Bush for Anti-Terror Support

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 - Turkey's prime minister reinforced his country's commitment to the war on terror today, and he thanked President Bush for adding another alias of a group operating in his country to the U.S. State Department list of foreign terrorist organizations.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bush spoke to reporters briefly after a morning meeting, Erdogan's second visit to the Oval Office. They were scheduled to continue their meeting over lunch. More

Iraqi Civil Defense Corps Capabilities,
Responsibilities Increase in Al Anbar

AR RAMADI, Iraq, Jan. 28, 2004 - During the last 24 hours, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers conducted 13 independent patrols and 15 joint patrols with soldiers from Task Force "All American," according to Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials.
Elements of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps now have permanent barracks. More

Bremer Visits Iraqi Civil Defense Corps
More Photo Essays

U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer visits Camp Claiborne to observe Iraqi Civil Defense Corps training in Mosul, Iraq, Jan. 27, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Justin Harris 6 More Photos

Defense Dept. to Transform
Reserve, Guard by Rebalancing Mission

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 - A "window of opportunity to transform and change our Guard and Reserve forever" exists this year and next, and the Defense Department has several initiatives under way to rebalance Guard and Reserve forces, the department's top reserve affairs official said here this week. More

Army Reserve Chief:
Leaders Must Address Troops' Concerns

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 (Army News Service) - Stemming any possible exodus of Army Reserve soldiers returning from deployments starts with improving communication, the head of the reserve force said this week. Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly, chief of the U.S.Army Reserve, stressed he isn’t anticipating a crisis of soldiers choosing not to remain in uniform, but said he’s trying to take steps to avoid the possibility. More

Army Support Command Keeps
Supplies Flowing to Troops

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 - If the men and women serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom have it, chances are they got it from the 3rd Corps Support Command.
At a news conference today in Baghdad, Army Brig. Gen. Vincent E. Boles explained that the unit he commands is responsible for getting Combined Joint Task Force 7 forces the things they need. If the troops in Iraq "eat it, drive it, move it, drink it, fly it or wear it, we're responsible for getting it to them," the general said. More Briefing

‘Today’s Generation’ Faces
New Kind of War, Cheney Says

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2004 — A new generation of American service members has picked up the gauntlet thrown by terrorists and has accepted new responsibilities in the world, Vice President Dick Cheney said at Aviano Air Base, Italy,
Jan. 27.
"Today's generation of our military has been called to fight in the first war of the 21st century - a war that began on September 11th, 2001, when enemies struck the United States and murdered thousands of our fellow citizens," Cheney said to assembled airmen, their families and their Italian allies. More

Remarks at Caserma Ederle Army Base, Italy

Remarks at Aviano Air Base, Italy

War on Terrorism

. 'No Doubt' Terrorists Would Use WMD If Given Opportunity

. Enemy 'Still Lurks' Out There, Nation Must Remain Vigiliant

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

Iraq

. Thousands Gather, Pledge to Support New Iraq

. Three Airborne Div. Soldiers Missing Following Accidents

. 101st Brigade Transfers Authority to Strykers

Military News

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Navy Medical Course Teaches
Effective Crisis Communication

PORTSMOUTH, Va., Jan 28, 2004 (NNS) -- Naval Medicine’s Office of Homeland Security, partnering with the Navy Environmental Health Center, has developed a unique course to train military medical leadership personnel and disaster preparedness personnel to communicate more effectively in a crisis.
“The tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, followed by the anthrax deaths and the emerging threat of bioterrorism, have re-emphasized the need for [military treatment facilities] personnel to communicate effectively with their own staff, their beneficiaries, the public and the media to deliver messages that inform without frightening and educate without provoking alarm,” said Capt. Paul Gillooly, Navy Environmental Health Center project director. Story

2-17th Cavalry Gets Ready for Return to Fort Campbell

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait, Jan. 28, 2004 - The 2-17th Cavalry Regiment, an aerial reconnaissance asset of the 101st Aviation Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), is now at Camp Doha, Kuwait, preparing for redeployment, according to Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials. The unit has been in theater since February 2003.
Fifteen of the 2-17th Cavalry’s 24 Kiowa helicopters were carried into theater for the deployment. They have flown more than 12,000 flight hours during Operation Iraqi Freedom, an average of more than 800 flight hours per aircraft just this past year. More

	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

Secretary of State Colin Powell

"There’s...no doubt in my mind that what Hussein was trying to do was to get the international community to stop looking at him, to get relief from all the sanctions so he could go back to his programs and develop these weapons. He never lost the intention to develop even more deadly weapons. But he is gone and the world doesn’t have to worry about this anymore."

Remarks during interview in Russia, Jan. 27, 2004

Profile

U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Eduardo A. James Jr.

Staff Sgt. Eduardo A. James Jr., senior drill instructor, Platoon 1129, Company B, left his native country of Panama to emulate the men who inspired him to become a Marine. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. L. F. Langston

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. — On Dec. 15, 1989, the National Assembly of Panama declared a state of war against the United States. Two days later, President George H. W. Bush gave the order to execute "Blue Spoon" as Operation Just Cause.
The mission was to protect American lives, ensure implementation of the Panama Canal Treaties and remove Gen. Manuel Noriega, commander of the Panama Defense Force, from power and bring him to justice. More

More Profiles

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Kyrgyzstan

Firefighters Keep Flames at Bay

Senior Airman Steven Kuzel practices cutting through a metal obstruction with a K-12 cutting saw at the flightline fire station here. Airman Kuzel is assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Brus E. Vidal

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan, Jan. 27, 2004 (AFPN) -- Sixty seconds. Just 60 seconds is all it takes for a fire to decimate a tent in a deployed environment.
But the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s team of firefighters is here to prevent that from happening. The team has many missions, but fire prevention is the most critical so the team never has to practice their ultimate discipline, fighting fires. More

'On The Ground' Archive