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Feb 27, 2004

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TROOP VISIT — Joyce Rumsfeld (center), wife of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, greets soldiers at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, with Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander, Combined Joint Task Force 180 (second from left), and Paula Dobriansky (right), Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs. Rumsfeld also accompanied Dobriansky and her delegation on a visit to the Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Vernell Hall

Iraqis Continue Leading U.S. Troops to Weapons, Suspects

By American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2004 — Iraqi citizens continue to point U.S. troops to sites where weapons and ammunitions are being found – even in some cases hand delivering turn-in of the deadly munitions.
Over the past week there have been at least four incidents where Iraqi civilians have led U.S. troops to hidden stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, coalition officials report.In Mosul, a concerned group of citizens in northwestern Iraq led soldiers to a large cache of weapons, according to a Central Command release. Story

Defense Secretary Reaffirms Commitment to Afghanistan

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2004 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld reaffirmed the U.S. and coalition commitment to helping Afghanistan's people rebuild their nation under President Hamid Karzai's leadership.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Karzai after meeting at the presidential palace here Feb. 26, Rumsfeld said NATO partners will play an increasing role in the effort. More

Afghan President Karzai Says Taliban Movement is Defeated

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2004 — The Taliban is dead as a movement or a military factor in Afghanistan, the country's president said here Feb. 26.
President Hamid Karzai held a joint news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld after they met in Afghanistan's presidential palace. Karzai said former Taliban leaders seeking to return home will be allowed back if they don't have criminal records. 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

Defense Leaders Speak

Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld

"...Twenty-five million Iraqis are liberated and finding their way towards a freer economy and a freer political system. And they no longer have to fear the killing fields that we found in Iraq -- where tens of thousands of Iraqis are buried, one on top of another. The world is a vastly better place with Saddam Hussein in prison, and the Iraqi people free."

Remarks in Kazakhstan, Feb. 25, 2004

Defense Views

Troop Rotations
Underway in Iraq

KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait, Feb. 26, 2004 (NNS) — The transition from the previous force rotation of Operation Iraqi Freedom to the current one is now underway. Troops and equipment are continuing to flow into Kuwait Naval Base and the port of Ash Shuaybah under the guidance of U.S. 5th Fleet’s Commander Task Force 51 and the Army’s 359th Transportation Battalion. More

Transformation

Software Saves Time for
Marine Buildup in Kuwait

CAMP VICTORY, Kuwait, Feb. 26, 2004 — As Marines here continue to assemble their fleet of vehicles and stockpiles of gear, a team of 1st Force Service Support Group Marines is using some new software that could become the standard for prepostioning operations in the future. Learning from their previous deployment to Iraq, the group developed accounting software to keep track of each and every arriving item. Story

More Transformation News

Saddam's Capture - A Video from Golf Troops' Perspective

Radio

Television

The Striped Beagle

U.S. Army Reserve Maj. David L. Barber recently deployed to the Persian Gulf with the 172nd Corps Support Group. Along with his duties as the unit's legal advisor, Barber began publishing his own newsletter The Striped Beagle. With his permission, DefendAmerica.mil will publish excerpts giving you another glimpse of what daily life is like for America's troops in the field.

Kuwaiti Campout Provides Message from Space
UDAIRI RANGE, Kuwait -- Sleeping under the dessert sky on a clear night is an awesome experience. I spent 25-27 January 04 at the Udari Range receiving additional training in convoy operations and defensive tactics in close quarters.
The range is in the middle of nowhere with Bedouin shepherds and their camels and goats as your only neighbors. In the Udari dessert you sense that things haven’t changed much over the last 8000 years, other than some Bedouins now have an old pickup truck outside their tent. More

Vet Care in Roza Sharif 4 More Photos

Army Col. Earl Morgan, a veterinarian with Headquarters Company, Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, gets ready to give dewormer to a monkey brought to the site during a civil medical assistance misison by the Task Force's civil affairs team in the village of Kuhday Dad , Afghanistan, Feb. 16, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A Alisan
Photo Essay Archive

Civil Affairs Team Focuses on Rural Djibouti, Provides Medical Care to People, Livestock

By Judy Lazarus / Naval Service Training Command

Army Staff Sgt. Johnny A. John and Army 2nd Lt. Kristy R. Linginfelter, both with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, clean the foot of a child during a recent Medical Civic Action Program. Defense Dept. photo by Lance Cpl. Adam C. Schnell

ALI SABIEH DISTRICT, Djibouti — A convoy of vehicles passes over countless miles of mountainous lava rock terrain in eastern Djibouti with one mission in mind, to improve the health of the people in the region.
Two teams from the the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion treated more than 450 people in the villages of Guistir and Assamo recently. More

Ceremony Recognizes Iraqi
Civil Defense Corps Leaders

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 27, 2004 - The Iraqi Civil Defense Corps officially welcomed and recognized its new commissioned officer leaders during a formal ceremony taking place at Martyrs’ Monument Feb. 25. “Today is an historic day for these men, for their families, for Baghdad and for the people of Iraq,” Brig. Gen. Martin Dempsey, 1st Armored Division commander told those on hand to observe the event. More

Hospital Corpsmen Receive Bronze Star for Actions in Iraq

War on Terrorism

. War on Terrorism: Homeland Defense is a 'Must Win' Game

. Homeland Security Official Lists Accomplishments, Goals

. U.S. Still Faces Terror Threat Despite Damage to al Qaeda

. Homeland Security Official Cites Challenges, Success

. Guantanamo Detainees Face Conspiracy Charges

. Ridge Announces New System, Database

Iraq

. Iraq Progress: 'Tide of Change' Now Inevitable, Sanchez Says

. Coalition Provides Details on Terrorist's Death, Updates Ops

. Rumsfeld in Kazakhstan; Talks Focus on Military Relationship

. Polling Data Shows Majority Of Iraqis Want U.S. to Stay

. Coalition Raids Lead to Several Captures

. Bremer Calls U.N. Report on Iraqi Elections 'Constructive'

Military News

. Defense Dept. Introduces Global War on Terror Medals

. Battle Dress Uniforms in Short Supply

. Service Members Can Apply for Expedited U.S. Citizenship

. More Pay for 1,500 Soldiers in War Zone

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualty

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. David E. Hall, 21, of Uniontown, Kan., died Feb. 25 in Kabul, Afghanistan, in a non-hostile accident. Hall was assigned to 805th Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, Raleigh, N.C. The incident is under investigation.

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

More Afghanistan Update Details

. Maps of Afghanistan

Profile

U.S. Army
Maj. Jay P. Nelson

With help from Sgt. Caroyen Minter of Fort Bragg's 528th Medical Detachment, then-1st Lt. Jay Nelson attends an occupational therapy session in 1994 to improve the movement in his hands. five days a week. At the time, Nelson attended such sessions five days a week to recover from severe burns. U.S. Army photo

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Ten years ago next month a tragic midair collision of two military transport aircraft at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., resulted in 24 deaths and more than 100 injuries. One survivor, Army Maj. Jay P. Nelson, has his burns to remind him daily of the accident. More

More Profiles

In Afghanistan

Marine Reserve 'Red Dogs'
Support Ground Troops

Marines of the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 prepare an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter for it's next mission. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lana D. Waters

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2004 — For the last three months, the Reserve Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773, Marine Aircraft Group 42, have had a new home in Afghanistan. The “Red Dogs,” who originate from Atlanta and Belle Chasse, La., packed up their bags, six AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters and three UH-1N helicopters in late October to come here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. More

In Qatar

All-Weather Friends
Vital to Air Operations

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar, Feb. 26, 2004 (AFPN) — It really does all depend on the weather when it comes to planning air operations. This holds true at the Combined Air Operations Center here, the central hub for air and space operations dealing with operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and in the Horn of Africa region. More

In Kyrgyzstan

Military Working Dogs Help
Keep Base Safe, Secure 24/7

Staff Sgt. Kelly Minnix and Houby, a military working dog, check a vehicle for explosives before entering the base. Sergeant Minnix is a dog handler with the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. When not biting perps, Houby dispenses advice to the troops through a column in the base paper. U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Brus Vidal

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan, Feb. 26, 2004 (AFPN) — When military people are in trouble, they call the cops. When cops need help, they call the K-9 unit. Working dogs here provide explosive detection support and establish a force-protection presence that will halt or deter hostile action against coalition forces. More

'On The Ground' Archive