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Jan 29, 2004

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CALL FOR FIRE — An Army sergeant receives a call for mortar fire while a fellow soldier processes the call for direction and elevation on a mortar ballistic computer during an indirect fire support rehearsal in rural Djibouti. The soldiers are from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard," B Company, which is currently deployed to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric M. McKeeby

Sanchez: al Qaeda Seeking
To Establish Foothold In Iraq

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

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — Last week's capture of Hassan Ghul along the Iran-Iraq border proves al Qaeda terrorists actively are seeking a foothold in Iraq "to continue their murderous campaigns," the commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7 said in Baghdad today.
"For months I've been saying that al Qaeda's fingerprints have been here in Iraq," Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez told reporters during a briefing. "Those (fingerprints) are showing themselves in the techniques that were being employed by foreign fighters, and this included the tactics being employed by suicide bombers against innocent Iraqis and against coalition forces." More Briefing

Kay: Iraq May Have Been ‘More
Dangerous’ Than We Thought

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — The man who spent eight months leading the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq told senators here Jan. 28 that although no such weapons have been found, he believes Iraq may have been "even more dangerous than we thought" before Saddam Hussein was removed from power.
David Kay, who stepped down last week as head of the Iraq Survey Group, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee. More

Army Restructure: Temporary
Measure To Add 30,000 Troops

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — The Army will grow to 510,000 soldiers over the next four years as a temporary measure, a senior Army official said today.
The official briefed the press on background after Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker told Congress Jan. 28 that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has authorized the Army to exceed end strength limits by 30,000. 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

Armed Forces Entertainment
Spices It Up for Troops

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — Its list of offerings reads like a who's who of entertainment icons: musical superstars, award-winning actors and professional athletes among them.
Armed Forces Entertainment has been presenting first-class entertainment to U.S. troops and their families overseas for more than 50 years. Story

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

NASCAR Driver Hamilton Visits Quantico

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

"Go, USA!!! We love you and pray for your safe return. Be strong. Thank you for protecting our freedom and that of the Iraqi people."

Send your message Read more messages

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Task Force 'All American'
Continues Patrols, Searches

AR RAMADI, Iraq, Jan. 30, 2004 — The 82nd Airborne Division and its subordinate units continued patrols Jan. 29 in the Al Anbar province, according to U.S. Central Command officials. More

Radio

Television

Myers: Reserve Components
Vital to Winning War on Terror

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

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 biggest point in Myers' speech: America needs its reservists if the country is to win the war on terror. Story

Defense Dept. to Transform Reserve, Guard by Rebalancing Mission

Troops Transfer Authority
Of Baghdad’s Al Rashid District

Soldiers from the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment stand proudly as 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division transfers authority of Camp Falcon and the surrounding districts to 1st Armored Division Artillery, Jan. 23, 2004. U.S. Army photo BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 29, 2004 - The 1st Armored Division Artillery accepted authority of the Al Rashid district in southern Baghdad from 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Falcon, Jan. 23.
With numerous local District Advisory Council members watching the ceremony, Col. Jon Brockman, Division Artillery commander, accepted the job of helping rebuild Baghdad's southern district of more than 1.5 million people from Col. Kurt Fuller, commander of 2 nd Brigade, 82 nd Airborne Division. More

Armed Forces Entertainment More Photo Essays

Actor Robin Williams is surrounded by military admirers during a holiday stop at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, December 2003. Williams and other entertainers treated the troops suring a visit jointly sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment and the USO. The visit was part of Armed Forces Entertainment's effort to provide live entertainment to U.S. troops overseas. AFPS photo by by Jim Garamone 12 More Photos 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

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

Journey to Iraq

Ms Joyce Reed, Manager, Community Relations for Tyson Foods contemplates her thoughts aboard a C-130 Transport Aircraft enroute to visit troops in Iraq. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve photo      As a recipient of the Defense Dept. 2003 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Awards, Tyson Foods, of Springfield, Ark., was recognized for its support of employees who serve in the Guard or Reserves.
     Joyce Reed, Tyson Foods' community relations manager, was given the opportunity to participate in a six-day trip to visit U.S. troops serving in Southwest Asia.
     Reed kept a diary of her recent trip for her children and grandchildren, recording her impressions of dedicated troops performing their mission in often dangerous circumstances. Diary

War on Terrorism

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

. '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

. Marines Ready for Another Iraqi Endeavor

. Thousands Gather, Pledge to Support New Iraq

. Three Airborne Div. Soldiers Missing Following Accidents

. 101st Brigade Transfers Authority to Strykers

Military News

. Army Chief 'Adamantly Opposes' Added End Strength

. Army Support Command Keeps Supplies Flowing to Troops

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Explosion Kills
7 Soldiers in Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 29, 2004 — Seven U.S. soldiers from Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan were killed, one is missing and three U.S. soldiers and one interpreter were injured after an explosion at approximately 3 p.m. today west of Ghazni, according to U.S. Central Command officials. More

Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualties

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The three Combined Joint Task Force Seven soldiers were killed in an improvised explosive device attack on Jan. 27 near Iskandariyah. Killed were:
     2nd Lt. Luke S. James, 24, of Oklahoma, Staff Sgt. Lester O. Kinney II, 27, of Zanesville, Ohio. Kinney and Luke were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Infantry, Fort Bragg, N.C.
     Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, 26, of Hay Springs, Neb. Mracek was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Honoring the Fallen

Florida Guardsman Killed
In Afghanistan Laid to Rest

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., Jan. 27, 2004 — The soldier who gave up his major’s rank to deploy as a Special Forces medic was laid to rest on a hillside in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery here Jan 20.
Florida Army National Guard Sgt. Roy A. Wood, 47, who worked as an emergency room surgeon before his Special Forces unit was mobilized, volunteered to go even though it meant going as a sergeant. 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

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 Iraq

Tallil's All-Guard Legal Office
Maintains Full Docket

Lt. Col. Brent Wright (right), 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Mary Alice Rebis (left), 332 Air Expeditionary Wing paralegal, reviews a legal claim with 1st lt. Kim Kwankoo, a Korean military JAG at Tallil. National Guard photo

TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq, Jan. 29, 2004 -- For some, the base legal office is a place to take care of wills or powers of attorney, but the office staff here does a lot more than that.
Lt. Col. Brent Wright, an Oklahoma Air National Guard staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Mary Alice Rebis, a New York Air National Guard paralegal, are teamed together to provide legal advice and counsel to commanders here on such topics as military justice, fiscal law issues; and international and operational laws, such as rules of engagement. More

'On The Ground' Archive