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Apr 21, 2004
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| Government |
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| Military |
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| Help Fight Terror |
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| Transcripts |
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| STABILIZING AFGHANISTAN — Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment pass through a valley near Orgun-e, Afghanistan, April 20, 2004. The light infantry soldiers are helping stabilize the country and rooting out Al Qaeda terrorists and remnants of the Taliban regime. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A. Alisan |
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| Terrorists Can't Compete With
Reconstruction Team Projects |
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| By Donna Miles / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, April 21, 2004 — The scope and scale of projects
being undertaken by provincial reconstruction teams throughout
Afghanistan are among the best defenses against terrorism in
the region, according to the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps.
It's something the Taliban recognizes they can't compete with," said
Army Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, who commanded coalition forces in
Afghanistan from September 2002 to October 2003. He told the
American Forces Press Service last week that these teams are
increasing the central Afghan government's ability to improve
the lives of its people. More |
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Rumsfeld Says Requirements
To Drive Troop Levels in Iraq |
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| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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 WASHINGTON, April 20, 2004 — There is "no intention" to keep the 20,000 American soldiers extended in Iraq any longer than 90 days in the country and 120 days in the theater, Defense Department officials said today.
But if U.S. Central Command commander Army Gen. John Abizaid decides he needs 135,000 U.S. service members in Iraq, rather than the 115,000 planned, then other troops will come in, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said at a Pentagon news conference.
What DoD will do remains to be seen. As with all military operations, the enemy will have a say in what the coalition will do, said DoD officials. Officials said they have any number of plans ready for any number of situations. More |
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Fear Biggest Problem in Iraq,
Deputy Tells Senate Committee |
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| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, April 20, 2004 – The biggest problem facing Iraq is that fear of the former regime still pervades the country, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said here today.
Wolfowitz told the Senate Armed Services Committee a "blanket of fear woven by 35 years of repression where even the smallest mistake could bring torture or death" won't go away in a few months, or even in a year or two. More |
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| Bush: Patriot Act Vital to Protect
U.S. Citizens, Secure Homeland |
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| By Kathleen T. Rhem / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, April 20, 2004 – Ensuring the safety of the public is a government's top responsibility, President Bush said April 19. And the USA Patriot Act allows governments at all levels to protect their citizens.
Bush explained that Americans' thinking on how to protect this country changed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. People realized "the best way to secure our homeland … is to go on the offensive against the terrorist network(s)," he said during a speech in Hershey, Pa. More |
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| Insurgents Attack From Mosque
As Talks Continue in Fallujah |
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| By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, APRIL 20, 2004 — Even as coalition and Iraqi officials are trying to move forward with peace talks in Fallujah, U.S. Central Command reported today that insurgents attacked coalition forces from a mosque in the city April 18.
A CENTCOM news release reported that
anti-coalition forces fired on the crew of an M1-A1 tank from a
building next to the mosque. More |
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Terror War Demonstrates
Need to Update Doctrine |
| WASHINGTON, April 20, 2004 – Current military doctrine needs an overhaul to better address the challenges confronting U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, the commander of the 18th Airborne Corps told the American Forces Press Service last week at the corps headquarters at Fort Bragg, N.C. More |
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Navy Leadership
Visits Sailors in Gulf |
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GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS), April 20, 2004 — Chief
of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark and Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy Terry Scott visited USS George Washington
in the Arabian Gulf April 17. "I flew halfway around
the world for one reason: to look you in the eye and tell
you that I’m proud of you," Clark told the sailors. More |
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Some Soldiers to Get
Reenlistment Bonuses |
WASHINGTON (Army News Service), April 18, 2004 – An estimated 5,000 soldiers who re-enlisted last year may be eligible for a pay bonus.
Bonuses up to $5,000 will be paid retroactively to soldiers, between the ranks of specialist and staff sergeant, with 17 months to 10 years in service, who re-enlisted between March 18 and Sept. 18, 2003. More |
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Benning Team Collects
Lessons Learned in Iraq |
FORT BENNING, Ga., April 16, 2004 — A team from Fort Benning’s Combined Arms and Tactics Directorate recently paid a visit to the Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Mosul, Iraq, to collect feedback from leaders and Soldiers, observing the unit in action and joining in operations.
The team assessed “all the key functional areas,” said one team member, evaluating doctrine, urban-operations strategy, equipment, leadership development, personnel and facilities to compile lessons learned. Story |
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Air Force Lab Donates
Books to Baghdad University |
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 ROME, N.Y. (AFPN), April 20, 2004 — Staff at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Rome research site here and the local community have collected nearly 5,000 books, predominantly textbooks and university-level literature, for donation to Baghdad University in Iraq.
The university's library was destroyed during a firefight, and the few books left date back to the 1960s. More |
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Defense Officials
Identify Casualties |
| WASHINGTON, April 20, 2004 – The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of five soldiers and four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. More |
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| Honoring the Fallen |
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Monument Honors
3rd Brigade Troops |
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| FORT BENNING, Ga., April 16, 2004 – Soldiers and families of the 3rd Brigade gathered recently on Kelley Hill to unveil a monument dedicated to the soldiers in the brigade who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom — those who came home and those who did not. More |
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Rangers Dedicate Trophy
To Fallen Comrade |
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| FORT
BENNING, Ga., April 16, 2004 – A
former Ranger returned here 42 years after earning
his own Ranger tab and three years after pinning
the tab on his only son--this time to dedicate
a trophy in memory of his son, Capt. Russell
B. Rippetoe. More |
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CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq, April 20, 2004 -- Marines from the 1st Marine Division engaged enemy forces across the entire Al Anbar Province last week.
TALLAFAR, Iraq, Army News Service, April 20, 2004 -- Amidst mortar attacks, fire fights at the front gate, drive-by shootings, and the ever-present danger of improvised explosive devices, a team of the 75th Division (Training Support) is training hundreds of soldiers of the Iraqi Armed Forces. 
BAGHDAD,
Iraq (Army News Service), April 19, 2004 — The stench of
rotting animal carcasses and decaying garbage filled the
air as truckloads of “Thunder Horse” Soldiers
rolled into the dark, desolate district of Abu Ghraib.
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss., April 21, 2004 — It is like father, like son in the Gutierrez family when it comes to conducting military training. Air Force Staff Sgt. Victor Gutierrez is serving as an instructor in the same course his father, Ernesto, taught during his military years. 
CAMP MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Barry C. Gibson makes life and death decisions every day. As 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment's triage officer, he's the one charged with deciding which wounded Marines are treated first. 