Pearl Harbor Attack Presents Parallels, Lessons for Terror War

By Donna Miles

Dec. 6, 2006 – Sixty-five years ago tomorrow, the United States endured an attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that for the next 60 years -- until Sept. 11, 2001 -- stood as the most devastating enemy attack on U.S. soil. Like the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor has been called a defining moment in U.S. history. It caught the country by surprise, rallied its people against their attackers and thrust the nation into a long, difficult war against tyranny.

On the 65th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, they present more parallels, and possibly lessons, for today's global war on terror.

Within hours of the surprise attack in the early-morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941, more than 2,400 Americans were dead. Five of the eight battleships at the U.S. Fleet's Pearl Harbor base were sunk or sinking, and the other battleships, as well as ships and Hawaii-based combat planes, were heavily damaged.

By crippling the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Japan hoped to eliminate it as a threat to the Japanese Empire's expansion south.

The Sept. 11 attacks, in contrast, were more symbolic than tactical. The World Trade Center in New York -- which al Qaeda had previously attacked in 1993 -- stood as a symbol of the U.S. free-market economy. The Pentagon represented the U.S. military's command center, but not its operational arm.

The other intended target -- either the White House or the U.S. Capitol, many people speculate, if the passengers hadn't commandeered their hijacked plane over Shanksville, Pa. -- represented the epicenter of the democratic U.S. government.

When the smoke cleared, the death toll from Sept. 11 topped even the devastation of Dec. 7, 1941, with almost 3,000 people, mostly civilians, dead.

Both the Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11 attacks had another similar consequence: pushing the United States into war.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Dec. 7, 1941, "a day which will live in infamy" and signed the Declaration of War against Japan the following day.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chief of naval operations, described what the United States was up against when it entered World War II during a late October visit to Oklahoma City. "Things were tough," Mullen said. "Our fleet had taken a devastating blow. Japanese troops occupied Korea, China and would soon take over the Malaysian peninsula, Singapore and the Philippines."

Nazi Germany, which already controlled a vast empire, declared war on the United States four days after the Pearl Harbor attack, Mullen noted.

Despite different challenges in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, Mullen said, they ultimately boiled down to a common denominator. "There were clearly two competing visions of the world: one of freedom, the other of tyranny," he said. "And tyranny appeared to have the upper hand."

Mullen urged his Oklahoma City audience to "fast forward to today" and the global war on terror.

"If the attack on the destroyer Cole, the treachery of 9-11, if events across the globe from London to Lebanon, Baghdad to Bali, from Pyongyang to Tehran, have taught us anything," he said, "it is that the struggle we currently face is also about two competing visions of the future and our vision of hope and prosperity and a secure future for our children (and) all children."

In his National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2006 proclamation, Bush noted similar challenges facing the United States today.

"In the 21st century, freedom is again under attack, and young Americans have stepped forward to serve in a global war on terror that will secure our liberty and determine the destiny of millions around the world," he said. "Like generations before, we will answer history's call with confidence, confront threats to our way of life, and build a more peaceful world for our children and grandchildren."

Bush recalled the resolve Roosevelt demonstrated as the United States went to war. "We are going to win the war and we are going to win the peace that follows," Bush said, quoting Roosevelt.

Speaking in October at the dedication of the USS George H.W. Bush in Newport News, Va., the president praised the dedication World War II veterans demonstrated to ensure that victory.

He called U.S. troops fighting today's war on terror "a new generation of Americans every bit as brave and selfless as those who have come before them" and said they, too, will see the fight through to victory.

"Freedom is again under attack, and young Americans are volunteering to answer the call," he said. "Once again, with perseverance, and courage, and confidence in the power of freedom, a new generation of Americans will leave a more hopeful and peaceful world for generations to come."

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Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Hospitalman Christopher A. Anderson, 24, of Longmont, Colo., died Dec. 4 as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Anderson was a Navy Corpsman assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

For further information related to this release, contact Navy Public Affairs at (703) 697-5342.

Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Thomas P. Echols, 20, of Shepherdsville, Ky., died Dec. 4 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Media with questions about this Marine can call the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 451-9033.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Capt. Shawn L. English, 35, of Westerville, Ohio, died Dec. 3 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. He was assigned to the 577th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

For further information related to this release, contact the Fort Leonard Wood public affairs office at (573) 563-4013.

Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Joseph T. McCloud, 39, of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.

Cpl. Joshua C. Sticklen, 24, of Virginia Beach, Va.

Both Marines died Dec. 3 when the CH-46 helicopter they were in crashed in Al Anbar province, Iraq. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Media with questions about these Marines can call the Hawaii public affairs office at (808) 257-8870.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Nicholas D. Turcotte, 23, of Maple Grove, Minn., died Dec. 4 in An Nasiriyah, Iraq, from injuries suffered in a vehicle accident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, West St. Paul, Minn.

The incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release, contact the Minnesota National Guard public affairs office at (651) 282-4684.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Keith E. Fiscus, 26, of Townsend, Del., died Dec. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

For further information related to this release, contact the 25th Infantry Division public affairs office at (808) 655-4815 or (808) 655-8729.

Gates Vows to Focus on Iraq, Troop Welfare if Confirmed

Robert M. Gates told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing today that if he's confirmed to the top Pentagon post, his highest calling will be to ensure success in Iraq and look out for the men and women in uniform. Gates told committee members during his opening statement that he's "under no illusion why I

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Iraqi Troops Respond to Explosion Near Baghdad, Capture Insurgents

Dec. 5, 2006 – Iraqi soldiers responded to a vehicle bomb explosion near Baghdad earlier today, and Iraqi and coalition troops have detained several suspects and found numerous weapons caches over the past few days. Iraqi soldiers responded to a detonated vehicle bomb in the Mahmudiyah district south of Baghdad at 8:15 a.m. today. Upon arrival, soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, blocked off the street and requested an explosive ordnance team to clear the area.

While clearing the area, the team from 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment of 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, found another car bomb. The bomb was destroyed at 11:25 a.m. in a controlled detonation, and the area was cleared. One Iraqi civilian security guard was injured in the initial explosion.

A day earlier, coalition forces captured six suspects during a raid in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad. One of the suspects captured is believed to be an insurgent with ties to the al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network. He is a local tribal leader believed to have ordered attacks against Iraqi civilians and coalition forces.

Also yesterday, special Iraqi army forces with coalition advisors captured two suspected insurgents believed to be responsible for improvised-explosive-device and car-bomb attacks against coalition forces during a raid in the Jihad neighborhood of southern Baghdad.

Officials believe the insurgents belong to a terrorist cell implicated in an attack on coalition forces in Mosul that resulted in the deaths of several coalition soldiers. The cell is suspected of weapons trafficking throughout the Jihad area and Baghdad.

Minimal damage occurred at the objective or surrounding area in either of these operations yesterday. There were no casualties among Iraqi civilians, Iraqi forces or coalition forces.

Elsewhere, soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, responded to a suspected rocket attack in the Rusafa neighborhood of central Baghdad around 8:55 a.m. on Dec. 3. Two rounds impacted the building next to a local detainee facility. Two Iraqi army soldiers were wounded in the incident. One died of wounds en route to a hospital.

In a separate rocket attack in the same neighborhood, an unknown number of rockets hit the Algharbuha intermediate school at 11 a.m. the same day, wounding five Iraqi school children and two teachers.

Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers responded to an explosion in the Kadamiyah neighborhood of Baghdad while conducting combat operations around 3:20 pm. Dec. 3.
Upon further investigation, a platoon-sized element from Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment of 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, discovered that the dome of the Nida'al Dallah Mosque was partially collapsed.

The troops found no injured local nationals or insurgents in the area.

In other news, a 5-year-old Iraqi girl was shot during an attack on coalition forces and Iraqi National Police in the Doura district Dec. 3 and later died of her wounds.

U.S. Army medics took the girl was taken to a military hospital in the International Zone. The 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team surgeon, Army Maj. Bruce Rivers, said medics treated her on the scene and then transported her to the combat surgical hospital. Rivers said the girl received treatment but died from the wound.

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Gates Open to Increasing End-strength if Forces Deployed Correctly

By Jim Garamone

Dec. 5, 2006 – Robert M. Gates vowed today to be an independent voice if he is confirmed as defense secretary. "I don't owe anybody anything," Gates said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "I've come back here to do the best I can for the men and women in uniform and for the country in terms of these difficult problems that we face."

Gates, who was nominated for the top DoD post by President Bush, also said he is open to increasing the end-strength of the Army and Marine Corps.

Gates said he thinks the United States is not winning in Iraq, but he said the United States is going to have to have a presence in Iraq for some time. Iraqi forces have no logistical capabilities or air power of their own, he said.

Regardless of strategy changes, he said, "clearly we are still going to have to have some form of American support for a number of years, but it could be with a dramatically smaller number of U.S. forces than we have today."

Gates said the United States is willing to continue to help the Iraqis "as long as they want our help." But this does not imply that the U.S. military will be in Iraq at the same levels needed to handle major combat operations, he added.

He said he agrees with President Bush's goal for Iraq: a country that can defend, sustain and govern itself. Gates said the president believes "there needs to be a change in our approach in Iraq, that what we are doing now is not working satisfactorily."
Gates said Bush told him he wanted someone with "fresh eyes" to look at the situation in Iraq and make recommendations. "In my view, all options are on the table in how we address the problems in Iraq in terms of how we can be more successful and how we can, at some point, begin to draw down our forces," Gates said. "The bottom line is that I believe he wants me to take a fresh look and all options are on the table."

Gates also said there were "clearly insufficient troops in Iraq after the initial invasion to establish control over the country." But, if the Senate confirms him, he is "very open to the possibility of and the necessity of an increase in the end-strength of the Army."

Gates noted there are 150,000 troops engaged in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan today. But the Army has 500,000 active-duty soldiers and another 500,000 reserve-component forces. He said he would like to see how the rest of the rest of the Army -- those not engaged in Iraq or Afghanistan -- is being used to ensure that all forces are used in the best way.

"If the answer is those troops are deployed in the way we want them deployed, then I am very open to the idea of increasing the end-strength," he said.

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Three Servicemembers Killed in Iraq; Officials Identify Previous Casualties

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2006 – Three soldiers died in Iraq yesterday, and Defense officials have identified four earlier casualties.

A 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) soldier was killed in an accident when his M-1117 armored security vehicle rolled over north of Logistics Support Area Adder. Another soldier died in northeastern Baghdad when insurgents attacked a patrol. Five other soldiers were injured in the attack. A Task Force Lightning soldier assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, died as a result of an explosion near his vehicle while conducting operations in Diyala province. A second soldier from this unit was wounded. The deceased and injured soldiers' names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

In other news, DoD officials have released the names of four servicemembers killed in Iraq.

Army Spcs. Bryan T. McDonough, 22, of Maplewood, Minn., and Corey J. Rystad, 20, of Red Lake Falls, Minn., died Dec. 2 in Fallujah of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their Humvee during security operations. They were assigned to the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jesse D. Tillery, 19, of Vesper, Wis., died Dec. 2 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Anbar province. Tillery was assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Army Staff Sgt. John L. Hartman Jr., 39, of Tampa, Fla., died Nov. 30 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Officials also identified a soldier missing in Iraq.

Army Spc. Dustin M. Adkins, 22, of Finger, Tenn., has been unaccounted for since Dec. 3 in Haditha, Iraq, when the Chinook helicopter he was in made an emergency landing. He is assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky. Adkins is officially listed as "duty status: whereabouts unknown," a temporary designation used until more information is available. Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and the incident is under investigation.

Gates: Federal Experience Offered Valued Leadership Lessons

Bush's nominee to be the next defense secretary told Congress today that if confirmed, he'll bring important lessons to the job: the importance of working collaboratively with other federal partners and of tapping into the expertise of the professionals who carry out the mission, among them. Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee

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Federal Agencies Collaborating on Security Clearance Process

State Department and the Office of Personnel Management have combined resources to process security clearances for overseas Defense Department installations. The joint effort will make the clearance process more efficient and cost effective, officials said. Effective tomorrow, the Department of State will activate an overseas investigative program

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Air Force Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom

Capt. Kermit O. Evans, 31, of Hollandale, Miss. died when the U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter he was riding in made an emergency water landing in western Al Anbar Province, Dec. 3.He was assigned to the 27th Civil Engineer Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. and was deployed with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad Air Base, Iraq.

The incident is under investigation

.For further information related to this release the media can contact the Cannon Air Force Base public affairs office at (505) 784-4131.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier previously listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Dustin M. Adkins, 22, of Finger, Tenn., was pronounced dead Dec. 4 of injuries suffered after the Chinook helicopter he was in made an emergency landing near Haditha, Iraq, Dec. 3. He was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.
The incident remains under investigation.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at (910) 432-6005

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Troy D. Cooper, 21, of Amarillo, Texas, died Dec. 3 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Balad, Iraq. Cooper was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, 19, of Knox, Pa., died of injuries suffered when a grenade was thrown into his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. McGinnis was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the 1st Infantry Division public affairs office at 011-49-931-889-6408.

Iraqi Forces Capture Insurgents; Iraqi Children Wounded by Rocket Attack

Dec. 4, 2006 – Iraqi forces captured eight suspected insurgents and provided security in a northern Iraqi town, coalition forces foiled a mortar attack, and two Iraqi children were wounded by a rocket-propelled-grenade attack yesterday and Dec. 2 throughout Iraq, military officials reported. Special Iraqi army forces with coalition advisors captured a suspected insurgent and detained seven additional suspects during a raid yesterday near Taji. The insurgent is believed to be part of a cell that provides safe houses and staging areas for attacks and other operations in Baghdad to al Qaeda in Iraq, officials said. Several assault rifles also were confiscated during the operation.

Elsewhere, two Iraqi children were injured by an insurgent rocket-propelled-grenade attack against coalition forces yesterday in Haditha. The two children suffered minor shrapnel wounds from the attack and were treated and released on site by a local physician. Coalition forces detained two individuals believed to be involved in the attack.

In another operation, Regimental Combat Team 5 Marines patrolling on foot yesterday in Hasa were attacked with small-arms fire by insurgents positioned in a residential structure.

The Marines attempted to maneuver on the building but were unable to enter due to the high volume of insurgent fire. The Marines then fired a shoulder fired, anti-tank rocket at the building, and when the fire continued from the insurgents, the Marines employed precision-guided ordnance to destroy the building.

Separately, attack helicopters from Multinational Division Baghdad engaged an insurgent mortar team preparing to fire rounds northwest of the Iraqi capital Dec. 2. At about 4:55 p.m., the helicopters positively identified four individuals on a bridge in Kazimiyah preparing to launch a mortar attack.

Upon seeing the helicopters, the four fled in opposite directions in two vehicles. The helicopters chased and engaged one vehicle with precision fire, destroying it. One suspect escaped on foot, but was later found hiding in a nearby house. Coalition ground forces raided this and other homes in the immediate vicinity, detaining two suspected terrorists and four others for questioning.

Elsewhere in Iraq, soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, and paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, set up security checkpoints Dec. 2 in Siniyah, several miles south of Bayji, to control movement and safeguard the citizens of the town.

The checkpoints were established after insurgents executed several attacks on Iraqi security forces, coalition forces and Iraqi civilians in Siniyah and the surrounding areas. Iraqi and coalition forces allowed food delivery and provided water and medical care to all citizens of Siniyah, while asking for their patience and cooperation.

"These checkpoints are for the good of the people of Siniyah," said Army Lt. Col. Scott Harris, commander of 1st Battalion, 505th PIR. "We have made every accommodation for the civilian population, and the law-abiding citizens of Siniyah will be safe from those who wish to undermine efforts to restore peace to this city."

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Bodies of Missing Servicemembers Recovered After Helicopter Crash

Coalition forces have recovered the bodies of all three missing servicemembers lost during an emergency water landing by a helicopter yesterday

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Helicopter Crash Kills Marine; Five Other Servicemembers Die in Operations

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2006 – A Marine died yesterday in the crash of a CH-46 Chinook helicopter in western Anbar Province, Iraq. Three other servicemembers are missing following the accident.

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing made an emergency water landing with 16 personnel on board, including the crew. The accident does not appear to have been caused by enemy action, officials said. Thirteen passengers were accounted for yesterday. During search-and-rescue operations, one Marine was recovered from the water, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Search-and-recovery efforts are ongoing for the remaining three unaccounted servicemembers, officials said. "Every available resource is being utilized to find the missing servicemembers,"

Multinational Corps Iraq officials said in a statement. Elsewhere in Iraq, four soldiers and a Marine have been killed in two incidents. Two Task Force Lightning soldiers assigned to 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were killed and two others wounded yesterday in an explosion near their vehicle in Multinational Division North. The two wounded soldiers were transported to coalition medical treatment facilities.

Two soldiers assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group and a Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died Dec. 2 from wounds suffered due to enemy action in Anbar province.

Craddock Takes Reins of U.S. European Command

Army Gen. John Craddock took the reins of U.S. European Command during a change of command ceremony at Patch Barracks here today. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England presided over the ceremony that transferred command to Craddock from Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones, who served as the EUCOM commander since Jan. 16, 2003.

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National Guard Responds to Midwest Winter Storms

Hundreds of National Guardsmen responded over the weekend and today to devastating winter storms in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, National Guard officials reported. Missouri has 262 Guardsmen on state active duty, removing debris, providing generator support, health and welfare checks, and transportation support. Highways there are much improved,

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Bush Meets With Top Iraqi Shiite Leader in Washington

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA

Dec. 4, 2006 – The United States is committed to working with the Iraqi government to make it capable of securing Iraq from the extremists seeking to derail the young democracy there, President Bush said here today after meeting with a top Iraq Shiite leader. "I told him that we're not satisfied with the pace of progress in Iraq and that we want to continue to work with the sovereign government of Iraq to accomplish our mutual objectives, which is a free country that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself; a free country which will serve as an ally in the war against the extremists and radicals and terrorists," Bush said of his meeting with Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Bush thanked Hakim for his commitment to a unity government and his strong position against the murder of innocent Iraqis. Elected and society leaders must reject violence for Iraq to become a unified democracy, Bush noted.

Hakim said his conversation with Bush focused on how to advance the Iraqi government, because the issues at stake in Iraq are important to the region and the United States. Solving the problems in Iraq requires coordination between the U.S. and Iraq on the security, political and economic fronts, he said.

"The U.S. interest, the Iraqi interest, the regional interest, they are all linked," Hakim said through a translator. "Therefore, it is very important when we deal with this issue we look at the interests of the Iraqi people. If we don't, this whole issue could backfire and could harm the interests of the region, the United States, and Iraq as well."

Iraq's problems have to be solved by Iraqis, Hakim said, but the leaders welcome any efforts that could enhance the democratic reality in Iraq and protect the constitutional role of the country. He noted that Iraq has already gone a long way toward democracy, and the liberation of Iraq has required sacrifice from Iraqis, Americans and coalition forces.

Iraq now has a government that is determined to combat terror and violence, and believes in the unity of the country, Hakim said.

"We will work very hard and seek all forms of cooperation at the international level and the regional level in order to defeat terrorism that is trying to use Iraq as a base in order to sabotage the future of that nation," he said.

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Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Jesse D. Tillery, 19, of Vesper, Wis., died Dec. 2 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Tillery was assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

For further information in regard to this release the media can contact the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 450-6575.

Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Dec. 2 in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during security operations. They were assigned to the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn.

Killed were:

Spc. Bryan T. McDonough, 22, of Maplewood, Minn.
Spc. Corey J. Rystad, 20, of Red Lake Falls, Minn.

For further information on this release, contact the Minnesota National Guard public affairs office at (651) 282-4684.

Army Soldier as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown

The Department of Defense today announced the identity of a soldier currently listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Dustin M. Adkins, 22, of Finger, Tenn., has been unaccounted for since Dec. 3 in Haditha, Iraq, when the Chinook helicopter he was in made an emergency landing. He is assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and the incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release, contact the Coalition Press Information Center-Baghdad at (703) 270-0299 or (703) 270-0320.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. John L. Hartman Jr., 39, of Tampa, Fla., died Nov. 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

For further information related to this release, contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at (912) 767-5688.

Insignia: The Way You Tell Who's Who in the Military

One big problem throughout military history has been identifying who's in charge. From the earliest days of warfare to the present, special rank badges meant survival. In the heat of battle, knowing who to listen to was as important as the fighting skills soldiers and sailors developed. They had to know at a glance whose shouted orders to obey.

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Midshipmen Sink Cadets in 107th Army-Navy Game

As the sun sank below Philadelphia's skyline yesterday, gold helmets shone under the Lincoln Financial Field lights while the Naval Academy Midshipmen ground out a 26-14 win over the Black Knights of the Military Academy in the 107th Army-Navy football game. The Midshipmen's hard-fought victory yesterday before a crowd of 68,000 - including thousa

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Midshipmen Sink Cadets in 107th Army-Navy Game

As the sun sank below Philadelphia's skyline yesterday, gold helmets shone under the Lincoln Financial Field lights while the Naval Academy Midshipmen ground out a 26-14 win over the Black Knights of the Military Academy in the 107th Army-Navy football game. The Midshipmen's hard-fought victory yesterday before a crowd of 68,000 - including thousa

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Iraqi Forces Taking Lead in Fight Against Terror

Dec. 3, 2006 – Iraqi forces are getting more results as they move into the lead in many areas of the country. Many Iraqi units have embedded coalition trainers with them, and those units are killing or capturing more insurgents, more arms caches and shutting down more terror cells.

In Baqubah, the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division worked with U.S. soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division on coordinated offensive operations against anti-Iraqi forces today.

The Iraqi soldiers began operations targeting terror cells responsible for improvised explosive devices, sniper operations, kidnapping and murder.

"This is a great indicator of the commitment of Iraqi army officers and soldiers to protect and secure the people of the province," said Army Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team commander. "These operations are intelligence-driven and target specific terrorist cells that are attempting to destabilize the government and economic growth in the province. Some individual targets are also responsible for instigating the sectarian violence in the province."

The operation seeks to eliminate the terror cells, which will allow Iraqi police to enforce the rule of law.

"This military operation is designed to separate the terrorists from the honorable people of Baqubah, and better enable the Iraqi security forces to maintain a secure and stable environment," Sutherland said.

In the eastern portion of Baghdad, Iraqi and coalition soldiers captured 12 terror suspects and uncovered an arms cache Dec. 1.

Iraqi soldiers, supported by the 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, captured a weapons cache and detained 12 terrorist suspects Dec. 1 in Narwahan.

The U.S. soldiers are part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team based at Forward Operating Base Loyalty. In the cache they discovered 10 AK-47 assault rifles, two machine guns, two mortar tubes with 70 60 mm rounds, one illumination round, five cases of 12.7 mm ammunition and 61 explosive primers.

FOB Loyalty soldiers also helped Iraqi police conduct a Dec. 2 cordon-and-clear operation in Rusafa.

The joint operation, coined "Operation Armadillo," began in the early morning hours, searching for a cell of car-bombers.

The operation -- still going on -- has uncovered one car bomb and a small weapons cache containing assorted weapons.

Iraqi Special Forces soldiers, with coalition advisors, captured a member of a terrorist cell Dec. 2 in the Jihad district of Baghdad. Officials believe the man is responsible for improvised explosive device and car-bomb attacks against Iraqi security forces within Baghdad. The terrorist cell is also allegedly involved in weapons trafficking in the Baghdad area.

Iraqi forces detained five additional suspects during the raid and confiscated several assault rifles.

Soldiers from 7th Iraqi Army Division, with coalition advisors, captured a member of an insurgent cell Dec. 2 in Tameem, south of Ramadi, who is believed to be responsible for coordinating and conducting multiple small-arms and rocket attacks against Iraqi security forces.

The terrorist cell also allegedly is responsible for producing and placing improvised explosive devices that injure and kill Iraqi civilians. The cell is linked to al Qaeda in Iraq, officials said. Iraqi forces detained three additional suspects during the raid.

Units of the 5th Iraqi Army Division, with coalition advisors, captured a suspected insurgent leader during a raid Dec. 1 near Baqubah, targeting insurgents linked to al Qaeda in Iraq in Diyala province.

The detainee is suspected of leading and financing insurgents operating and conducting attacks against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi security forces and coalition forces in Baqubah and throughout Diyala province. While searching for more insurgents at the objective, Iraqi forces found an insurgent armed with an assault rifle.

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Eight Servicemembers Killed in Iraq; Previous Casualties Identified

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2006 – Eight U.S. servicemembers have died in fighting in Iraq since Dec. 1, military officials reported.

Two soldiers assigned to the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) were killed yesterday by an improvised explosive device while conducting a security patrol in Anbar province. Another soldier, assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Armored Division, died Dec. 1 from wounds suffered due to enemy action in the province. Two soldiers assigned to 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group and a Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died yesterday from wounds suffered due to enemy action while operating in Anbar province. A soldier died yesterday from injuries suffered when the convoy he was traveling in struck a roadside bomb near Taji, Iraq, and a soldier was killed today while conducting combat operations in Baghdad.

The servicemembers' are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The Air Force today changed the status of Maj. Troy L. Gilbert, the pilot of a U.S. Air Force F-16C that crashed Nov. 27, from "duty status whereabouts unknown" to "killed in action." Officials made a positive DNA identification of remains found at the crash site. Gilbert was flying in direct support of coalition ground combat operations when his plane crashed. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Gilbert was assigned to 309th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. and was deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Meanwhile the Defense Department has identified two soldiers who were killed in Iraq in recent days:

Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy W. Mulhair, 35, of Omaha, Neb., died Nov. 30 in Taji of injuries suffered when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle during reconnaissance operations. Mulhair was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Cpl. Jonerik Loney, 21, of Hartselle, Ala., died Nov. 28 in Hit, Iraq, of injuries suffered when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Loney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

Bush Talks About Maliki Meeting, Way Forward in Iraq

By Jim Garamone

Dec. 3, 2006 – His recent trip to the Middle East reaffirmed his conviction to help the unity government in Baghdad find a political solution to the situation in Iraq, President Bush said here yesterday. During his weekly radio address, Bush said the success of the unity government headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is crucial to the success of democracy in the region. He said he is impressed with the Iraqi leader's desire to make the difficult choices that will put his country on a better path.

Bush said he told Maliki that the United States "is ready to make changes to better support the unity government of Iraq."

The United States will be guided by several key principles, Bush said. "The success of Prime Minister Maliki's government is critical to success in Iraq," he said. "His unity government was chosen through free elections in which nearly 12 million Iraqis cast their ballots in support of democracy. Our goal in Iraq is to strengthen his democratic government and help Iraq's leaders build a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself -- and is an ally in the war on terror."

The Iraqi government's success hinges on the success of the Iraqi security forces, Bush noted. "The training of Iraqi security forces has been steady, yet we both agreed that we need to do more, and we need to do it faster," he said. "The prime minister wants to show the people who elected him that he's willing to make the hard decisions necessary to provide security.

"To do that, he needs larger and more capable Iraqi forces under his control, and he needs them quickly," Bush continued. "By helping Iraq's elected leaders get the Iraqi forces they need, we will help Iraq's democratic government become more effective in fighting the terrorists and other violent extremists, and in providing security and stability, particularly in Baghdad."

Iraq must build and sustain strong institutions that can survive the test of time and hardship, Bush said. "Our goal in Iraq is to help Prime Minister Maliki build a country that is united, where the rule of law prevails and the rights of minorities are respected," the president said. "The prime minister made clear that splitting his country into parts is not what the Iraqi people want, and that any partition of Iraq would lead to an increase in sectarian violence."

The Iraqi security forces can help bring stability, but in the long run security requires reconciliation, and Maliki is committed to reconciliation among all sects and ethnic groups in Iraq, Bush said.

Bush said he and Maliki discussed the U.S. review of strategy in Iraq. "As part of this review, I've asked our military leaders in the Pentagon and those on the ground in Iraq to provide their recommendations on the best way forward," the president said.

The president said he'll consider the results of those reviews along with the conclusions of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. That group, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, will release its conclusions this week. "I want to hear all advice before I make any decisions about adjustments to our strategy in Iraq," Bush said.

The president said he understands that many are concerned and unsettled by the continuing violence in Iraq. "The work ahead will not be easy, yet by helping Prime Minister Maliki strengthen Iraq's democratic institutions and promote national reconciliation, our military leaders and diplomats can help put Iraq on a solid path to liberty and democracy," Bush said. "The decisions we make in Iraq will be felt across the broader Middle East."

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Air Force Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Troy L. Gilbert, 34, of Litchfield Park, Ariz., died Nov. 27 when his F-16C fighter crashed 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq. Maj. Gilbert was assigned to the 309th Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and was previously carried as "Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown," awaiting positive DNA identification of remains from the crash site.

For more information related to this release contact Luke Air Force Base Public Affairs at (623) 856-5853.

Preventing Body Armor Failure

According to a National Institute for Justice (NIJ) report on soft body armor, “Age alone does not cause body armor’s ballistic resistance to deteriorate. The care and maintenance of a garment—or the lack thereof—have been shown to have a greater impact than age on the length of service life of a unit of body armor. Armor that is...................

read more | digg story

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy W. Mulhair, 35, of Omaha, Neb., died Nov. 30 in Taji, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during reconnaissance operations. Mulhair was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993.

CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News

December 1, 2006

New finding points way to foiling anthrax's tricks

“University of California, Berkeley, chemists have discovered a trick that anthrax bacteria use to make an end run around the body's defenses, but which may turn out to be their Achilles' heel. The UC Berkeley scientists, working with colleagues at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, uncovered the trick while studying how these deadly bacteria steal iron from their human hosts to grow and reproduce. Anthrax bacteria are known to produce two small molecules - bacillibactin and petrobactin - that snatch iron away from the human body's iron transporter molecules, called transferrin. These scavengers, or ‘siderophores,’ are essential to anthrax's ability to grow rapidly, especially after the spores are inhaled, though why the bacteria need two siderophores to do the job has been an enigma. The new study shows why anthrax bacteria require two siderophores working by two different mechanisms... [The] UC Berkeley team and the Seattle team are now exploring how their discovery could be used to diagnose or treat anthrax. The researchers published their findings Nov. 28 in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Their paper will appear in the Dec. 5 print edition.”
(Media-Newswire, 30Nov06)
http://media-newswire.com
/release_1039850.html

Hackensack [New Jersey] Med Center gets grant for mobile bioterror unit

“The Carolina Med1 rapid response unit, used by FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Agency], is designed for incidents in which there are mass casualties, but it’s the size of a tractor-trailer. That means it would not be able to maneuver through narrow city streets laden with debris or rush-hour traffic. This was one of the lessons learned last year from Hurricane Katrina, said Dr. Joseph Feldman, chair of the emergency department at Hackensack University Medical Center at a press conference Tuesday... [The conference was] called to announce a government grant to develop a new mobile hospital in case of bioterrorism and mass casualty incidents in urban areas. U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman and Sen. Frank Lautenberg presented a check for $3.2 million to the hospital to begin development of the new unit, which hospital officials said would be up and running in six to nine months.” (New Jersey Jewish Standard; 30Nov06; Joah
Lipowaky)
http://www.jstandard.com
/articles/1907/1/Hackensac
k-Med-Center-gets-grant-f
or-mobile-bioterror-unit

Study Warns of 'Grave and Growing' Threat of Biological Weapons

“The Center for Strategic and International Studies released Wednesday the findings of its survey addressing the future use of biological weapons.” Since mid-October, the center polled about 340 current executive branch officials and members of Congress, as well as former senior government officials and nongovernmental experts, on how they perceived the threat of bioweapons. Only about 50 of those polled responded to the survey. However, the center's Senior Fellow Amy Smithson who designed the survey, says that overall, biological weapons are seen as a grave and growing threat, even compared to chemical and nuclear weapons. "Biological weapons are the most insidious, the most serious threat because they're cheap, they come from nature and the release scenario can be as simple as the subway," he said... According to the study, the best way to address the threat is through international safety measures as opposed to efforts by individual states.” (Voice of America; 29Nov06; Sean Maroney) http://www.voanews.com/
english/2006-11-29-voa63.cfm

Green Cross International and Affiliates Organize Roundtable on Developing a Comprehensive Global Biosecurity Regime

“Over fifty experts, diplomats and representatives of international organizations participated in a day-long roundtable discussion on global biosecurity and biosafety issues – sometimes called “bio-risk management” – at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 8, 2006. Organized by Green Cross International and three of its national affiliates in the United States... the conference was hosted by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament Tim Caughley and keynoted by Ambassador Masood Khan, President of the BTWC (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention) Sixth Review Conference (RevCon). The general purpose of the conference was to raise key issues and recommendations regarding the prevention of, and response to, outbreaks of disease globally and to strengthen the existing international ban on biological weapons. This discussion took place less than two weeks before the opening of the BTWC RevCon in Geneva on November 20th (scheduled to run through December 8, 2006).” (Global Green USA Press Release; 29Nov06) http://www.commondreams.or
g/news2006/1129-09.htm

Anniston [Alabama] Rockets Could Catch Fire

“Some rockets set for disposal beginning Monday at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Alabama are likely to catch fire during the destruction process, The Anniston Star reported today... The facility since June has been incinerating M55 rockets carrying VX nerve agent. There are 17,500 of those rockets remaining, 5,000 of which belong to a type that has burst into flames occasionally while being cut into pieces at disposal sites in Pine Bluff, Ark., and Umatilla, Ore[gon]... The fires are believed to ignite when the cutting blade strikes a shell in which nitroglycerin from the rocket propellant system has leaked to the surface of the weapon the Star reported. All the fires have been minor, and none have escaped the explosive containment rooms in which the weapons are cut. While similar fires are expected at Anniston, they are not expected to pose a significant problem, said Army project site manager Tim Garrett. ‘We really don’t anticipate having any problems with rocket fires,’ he said.” (Global Security Newswire; 1Dec06; Ben Cunningham, The Anniston Star)
http://www.nti.org
/d_newswire/issues/
2006_12_1.html#1FCA66D3

OPCW Continues to Press Treaty Requirements

“States parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention next week are expected to continue pressing fellow member nations to meet their obligations under the treaty, rather than seeking penalties for those that have yet to do so...The 11th Session of the Conference of States Parties, scheduled for Dec. 5-8 in The Hague, marks the end of the one-year extension given to nations to fulfill the requirements of treaty Article 7. Article 7 requires nations to take seven distinct national implementation measures. These include developing domestic legislation and regulations banning actions prohibited by the pact, such as development, possession, use and proliferation of chemical weapons. Countries must also designate a national authority to track civilian chemical activity and to operate as a point of contact for the treaty’s oversight body and other member countries.” (Global Security Newswire; 1Dec06; Chris Schneidmiller) http://www.nti.org
/d_newswire/issues
/2006_12_1.html#3CADE39E

Spy case raises questions on UK radiation response

“If the poisoning of one man can pose such a serious test for the British government, how would it handle a full-scale radiological attack? A week after former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko was killed by the radioactive poison Polonium 210, some security analysts see major flaws in the emergency response system and question its ability to cope with a larger crisis. Among their chief concerns is the three weeks it took for doctors to establish that the dying Litvinenko had been poisoned by a nuclear substance. ‘The man was radioactive in a hospital for weeks and nobody knew it. That's terrifying,’ said Robert Ayers, a former U.S. intelligence officer now working for London's Chatham House think-tank. Independent nuclear expert John Large told Reuters: ‘It's taken us three to four weeks to literally get on the case. In terms of us being prepared for a radiological incident, this is a very bad portent.’” (Reuters; 1Dec06; Mark Trevelyan)
http://today.reuters.com
/news/articlenews.aspx?
type=topNews&storyid=
2006-12-50850Z_01_L01126951_R
TRUKOT_0_TEXT0.xml&src=120106
_1123_TOPSTORY_second_poisoning

China tightens export controls on nuclear technology

“China has tightened controls on exports of nuclear technology, announcing Friday revised regulations to prevent sensitive items from passing into the hands of governments at risk of colluding with terrorists... The revisions to earlier regulations issued in 2001 expressly state that the rules are for ‘preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons (and) safeguarding against nuclear terrorism.’ Among the items added to the new controls are uranium enrichment facilities, equipment to produce heavy water, which can used to generate fuel for nuclear weapons, and facilities and equipment that deal with radioactive materials. Chinese government agencies involved in approving transfers of nuclear equipment are now authorized to halt exports to foreign users or governments ‘in danger of nuclear proliferation or nuclear terrorism,’ the revisions said."
(International Herald Tribune; 01Dec06; AP)
http://www.iht.com
/articles/ap/2006/12
/01/asia/AS_GEN_China_Nuclear.php

S.[Sergei] Ivanov warns of growing threat of WMDs falling into terrorist hands

“The threat of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists and extremists is growing, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. ‘The circle of countries that can independently develop weapons of mass destruction is expanding, and therefore the likelihood that these weapons could in the end - at least potentially - fall into the hands of terrorists and extremists is increasing. We cannot ignore this danger,’ Ivanov said at a media forum of CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] and Baltic countries in Moscow on Friday. ‘We can oppose these calamities only through consolidation,’ Ivanov said. ‘Transnational threats require the building of transnational mechanisms for countering them,’ he said.” (Interfax; 1Dec06)
http://www.interfax.ru/e
/B/politics/28.html?menu
=1&id_issue=11632790

New Professional Journal Launched to Address Disaster and Emergency Medicine

“American Journal of Disaster Medicine, a new publication will start in 2006. This publication is an outgrowth of our Journal of Emergency Management and is designed to meet the formidable challenges faced by physicians and medical professionals in a post 9/11, Katrina world, according to publisher Richard A. DeVito, Jr... With publication of American Journal of Disaster Medicine, comes guidance in this new specialty from the country's foremost experts in areas most physicians and medical professionals have never seen ... a deadly cocktail of catastrophic medical events like blast wounds and post explosion injuries, biological weapons contamination and mass physical and psychological trauma.” (Medical News Today; 01Dec06; Prime National Publishing
Corporation)
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
/medicalnews.php?newsid=57869

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Iraqis to Command Four Northern Divisions by February, U.S. General Says

By Gerry J. Gilmore

Dec. 1, 2006 – Iraqi officers will soon command all four Iraqi army divisions operating in northern Iraq, a senior U.S. officer said today. "By February, all four Iraqi divisions in Multinational Division North will be under Iraqi ground-force command," U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon told Pentagon reporters during a satellite briefing.

Mixon is the commander of Multinational Division North as well as commander of the 25th Infantry Division. The two-star general's area of responsibility covers six Iraqi provinces in northern Iraq that include the cities of Kirkuk, Balad, Tikrit, Mosul and Samarra.

The general said his organization's primary focus is to train and partner with Iraqi soldiers and police to provide security for the 11 million Iraqi people residing within his area. That population, he said, includes an ethnic mix of Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Turkmen and Assyrians.

"We have one mission: that is security for Iraq's people," Mixon said.

As Iraqi security forces become more capable, U.S. and coalition forces will take a more indirect security role, while focusing on putting al Qaeda in Iraq out of business, Mixon said.

"We have a goal for this transition, and we are making advances every day," he said. One Iraqi army division in the area was already under Iraqi government control, while a second division was transferred to the government today.

"A third division will transfer by the end of January, and by February, all four Iraqi divisions in Multinational Division North will be under Iraqi ground-force command," Mixon said.

Mixon said thousands of courageous Iraqis have joined their country's security forces or participate in public service to build a strong and unified Iraq.

That effort faces challenges, Mixon said, noting terrorists and criminals are doing their utmost to derail the fledgling Iraqi government.

"In their efforts to expel coalition forces and prevent the establishment of a credible government in Iraq, anti-Iraqi forces continue to fight coalition forces, kill Iraqi police officers and soldiers, along with innocent Iraqi civilians, to include the brutal murders of women and children," Mixon said.

Two of the six provinces within his area of operations are relatively peaceful, Mixon said. However, the other four provinces continue to experience enemy suicide attacks, kidnappings, hijackings and other terrorist violence, including murder.

The enemy also has attacked health clinics, oil pipelines and power stations, actions that negatively affect Iraqis' quality of life, Mixon said.

Diyala province is the most volatile region within his area, Mixon said, noting al Qaeda activities there are centered on inciting sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiites. Tit-for-tat reprisals between the two groups have locked Diyala province into a cycle of violence, Mixon said.

"This set of challenges is varied and broad, and we clearly face a devious and heartless enemy," Mixon said.

Yet, the U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines serving in northern Iraq "are equally committed to our mission, as well as those majority Iraqi security forces in the day-to-day fight against this enemy," the general said.

He said the campaign to defeat the enemy in northern Iraq "is achieving positive gains," Mixon said, noting his Task Force Lightning troops continue to train up Iraqi security forces, as well confronting al Qaeda terrorists and criminals in the region.

"Our aim is to stand up professional Iraqi security forces that defend and respect the rights of all Iraqi people, regardless of their sect," Mixon said.

Additionally, U.S. and coalition mentors embedded in Iraqi security units, are providing valuable coaching that's helping Iraqi soldiers and police to become more effective and capable. "These efforts have yielded great progress," Mixon said.

In May, 20 of the 40 Iraqi army battalions operating in Multinational Division North were conducting anti-terrorist operations with minimal support from coalition forces. "Today," the general said, "that number is 35 battalions."

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Outdated Images of Detention Center, Mission Frustrate Guantanamo Troopers

By Sgt. Jim Greenhill, USA

Dec. 1, 2006 – A 28-year-old block guard here whose mission is to ensure the safe care and custody of enemy combatants said he wishes the world had an accurate picture of the place where he serves. This Navy master-at-arms, who is not being identified for security reasons, is an active-duty sailor whose prior deployments include stints in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, is part of a joint task force, 13 percent of which is currently drawn from the National Guard. All branches of the military and several government agencies are also represented.

He said he is frustrated that the world does not have an accurate understanding of his mission. "I wish they could spend a couple of days in my boots," he said. "I wish they could see how much we care for these individuals. We pay so much attention to these detainees. Our care for them is very extensive.

"If a guy's salad isn't right, I'll make a phone call to try and get him the correct salad," the guard said. "To hear that we mistreat them ... frustrates you sometimes, because you go out of your way so much to make sure these guys are taken care of as far as medicine, any dental care they need, any nutrition.

"I don't think people realize how hard we try to keep the detainees as safe and as well cared for as we do, because 'fair, firm and impartial' is exactly what we do here," he said.

Visitors to Joint Task Force Guantanamo hear those words repeatedly. "Fair, firm and impartial" has become a mantra from the top down, along with "safe care and custody" and "humane treatment."

Navy Rear Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of JTF-GTMO said misconceptions abound about the mission and conditions here. "There's always the misconception that we're somehow beating these detainees and doing heinous things to them, and that is simply not the case. We've had many outside, independent investigations (into allegations) of detainee abuse and misconduct, and there has not been a single instance - not one -- of torture or inhumane treatment that has ever been substantiated."

Servicemembers here said they are especially frustrated by repeatedly seeing television, movie and print images of detainees being held at Camp X-Ray, a considerably more austere temporary facility that was operated for only four months and has been closed for four years. Many international news stories still are illustrated with old photos of Camp X-Ray.

When the admiral's staff see a news report with images that include troops in dark woodland camouflage uniforms moving detainees in orange jump suits in a primitive facility, they know those images are out of date: No guards here have worn these phased-out uniforms for more than a year.

"There's the misperception that you see on television of Camp X-Ray, that's the guys outside in orange jumpsuits," Harris said. "Camp X-Ray was only open for four months in 2002, and then it was closed, and then we moved folks into Camp Delta."

JTF-GTMO has brought more than 1,000 members of the media through the detention facilities. The press tour includes a visit to the overgrown, broken-down Camp X-Ray.

Harris acknowledged that the footage from Camp X-Ray is "highly visually arresting."

"But," he added, "I'd like to not see that anymore. There are lots of misperceptions along those lines, most of them rooted in innuendo and rumor. There are misperceptions about how we do interrogations. Most of those arise out of bad television shows and worse movies. There's no place here for that kind of activity."

The difference between the world's perception and the reality on the ground can be so jarring that visitors find it hard to accept that their impression has been so completely inaccurate, and they continue to suspect that something must be missing. Navy Capt. Mark Leary, the naval base commander, said he recognizes that not every mind can be changed, but he enthusiastically embraces Harris's push for accuracy.

"It's important for you to come down and see the operation for yourself," he told foreign newspaper reporters recently. "We may not bring you around to believe as we do, but I think it's helpful that you see for yourself and make your own decision on what you see. We're doing an important mission down here. It's important for the United States. It's important for the world. You may disagree, but you'll make an informed decision after coming and actually seeing for yourself. That's the best that we can hope for."

While JTF-GTMO leaders say the detention facility operates under the most scrutiny and with the highest degree of transparency ever granted by anyone, anywhere in wartime, some things get less attention.

That 28-year-old block guard is one of many who has been hit with a "cocktail" of feces, semen, blood and urine thrown by a detainee. "It's humiliating," he said. "A guy throws feces on you, and you've got to turn right back around and walk down a block that might have 40 people on it. They're making their little comments, and you go home and you change and you come back to work. Take a shower. Go to medical, get your screening. Come back to work and deal with it the best you can."

During the 12-month period that ended in August, JTF-GTMO cataloged 3,232 incidents of detainee misconduct, including 432 assaults with bodily fluids, 227 physical assaults and 99 efforts to incite a disturbance or riot. "This is serious stuff," Harris said. "And yet the guard force and the intelligence people maintain a remarkable degree of restraint and equilibrium. The young Americans that work here are doing a spectacular job in a dangerous place."

Staff Sgt. Thomas Garcia of the Maryland Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 110th Field Artillery, imagined talking with a skeptical buddy back in the states. "I'd have to set him straight," Garcia said. "I would tell my friend that (abuse) didn't happen here. I was here, and we kept a professional attitude. I have never once since I've been down here ever heard of a detainee being abused, but I've seen the soldiers and sailors get abused. (Detainees) throw some of the most unmentionable cocktails. They urinate on (the guards). They spit. They call them names."

Garcia's duties include maintaining a 300-foot long building similar to a small aircraft hangar stacked high with detainee comfort items, including Korans, which only certain people are allowed to touch. "(Korans) are handled with kid gloves," Garcia said. Other items shipped in for detainees include prayer beads, caps and rugs, backgammon and chess sets, and soccer balls and basketballs.

While the old Camp X-Ray rots, American taxpayers have spent about $100 million on GTMO improvements, including state-of-the-art detention facilities identical to top-notch prisons in the United States.

Those facilities include Camp 5, an air-conditioned, state-of-the-art complex where some of the detainees already live, and Camp 6, a similar recently completed maximum-security building awaiting the arrival of its first detainees.

Detainees order books from a 5,000-volume library that is being increased to 20,000 books at the rate of 450 new items per month. Librarians take the books to the detainees on the blocks. Maggie, the chief librarian, said that books in the Harry Potter series translated into Arabic are among the most-requested items. Library items are in dozens of languages.

In a 20-bed hospital, 100 medical personnel are available to care for about 450 detainees. Specialists are flown in from the United States when needed.

On average, five attorneys visit detainees every day.

The detainees also are able to choose meals that cater to dietary, religious and cultural preferences.

During recreation time, detainees have access to exercise equipment and sports, such as soccer and basketball. They are allowed daily showers. In Camp 4, detainees who comply with camp rules and cooperate with interrogators live together in groups and receive increased recreation time and other privileges. They watched World Cup soccer games, and news from their 24 native countries is posted in the camps.

"I couldn't begin to tell you when we're going to close this place down, but until we do, we have an obligation to treat the detainees in a humane way and give them humane facilities and living conditions," Harris said.

In 2000, British authorities seized a terrorist training manual known as the Manchester Document, named for the city where it was found. It includes guidance for captured terrorists on how to provide misinformation to the public, such as suggesting that they have been tortured. Some detainees held here have apparently followed that guidance after being released. Harris said he hopes people are skeptical when former detainees make allegations.

"The first thing they need to know is that these people were released," he said. "We've released over 340 detainees. We're a country at war, and we have enemy combatants here, and yet we let them go. That's unusual in modern warfare, that a country at war would outright release enemy combatants captured on the battlefield, and yet we do that. They're out there walking around spewing forth all manner of lies and evil things and distortions, but the fact is that they're released."

Harris said he feels that communicating the reality of life at Guantanamo Bay is difficult but improving. "Americans are coming to realize that the troopers here are doing a great job, and it is a hard job," he said.

"We're getting better at communicating," he added. "But our opponents can lie and we can't, and so we have to fact check and make sure that we tell the truth."

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U.S. Military to Boost Trainers for Iraqi Army, Police, General Says

By Gerry J. Gilmore

Dec. 1, 2006 – The U.S. military is increasing the number of embedded trainers assisting Iraqi army and police units to become more proficient and independent, the senior U.S. military officer overseeing operations in northern Iraq said today. "We intend to enlarge the size of our mobile (Iraqi army) training teams and also our police training teams, and also the teams that we have working with the border security forces along the Syria and Iranian border," Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon said during a briefing via satellite with Pentagon reporters.

He said the Iraqi forces are allies. "We will stand by them throughout this transition period," Mixon said.

Mixon commands Multinational Division North and the 25th Infantry Division. The two-star general's area of responsibility covers six Iraqi provinces in northern Iraq that include the cities of Kirkuk, Balad, Tikrit, Mosul and Samarra. Mixon said his organization's main mission is to train and partner with Iraqi soldiers and police to provide security for the 11 million Iraqi people residing within his area.

As Iraqi forces assume a larger security role, Mixon said he sees a chance to reduce the amount of U.S. combat forces on the ground in northern Iraq. However, he cautioned, this likely won't occur overnight. He noted that U.S. forces spent about 10 years setting the stage in Bosnia-Herzegovina before local security elements could take over and be successful.

"We need to allow the Iraqis the same time to get their security forces on the ground, to get their government working, and then have a gradual withdrawal of American security forces, but continue to partner with them over the long term," Mixon said.

He said the Iraqi army and police units in northern Iraq continue to improve

"The Iraqi army and its brave soldiers have sacrificed immensely. But, through this sacrifice and their commitment to their country, they have become stronger and more capable of conducting operations on their own," Mixon said.

The Iraqi 3rd Division, which today officially took over security duties in western Nineveh province, conducted more than 400 military missions without U.S. or other coalition support during November, Mixon said. Those operations included foot patrols, reconnaissance and raids. The Iraqi soldiers successfully detained terrorists and foreign fighters and confiscated stockpiles of enemy munitions and weapons, he said.

Developing a capable and credible Iraqi police service is equally important to improving the security situation in northern Iraq, Mixon said. Police provide the security backbone for Iraqi society, protect Iraqi citizens each day and enforce the rule of law, he said.

"Because of this and the fact that the Iraqi army has made significant progress, Task Force Lightning has made training and partnering with Iraqi police a top priority," Mixon said.

He said "marked improvements" have been observed in Iraqi police operations in northern Iraq. More than 37,000 police will have been trained for service in northern Iraq by the end of December, he said.

Yet, Mixon said, the actions of Iraqi police are more important than their numbers. Not long ago, some Iraqi police in his area abandoned their posts when threatened by the enemy, he said. "Today, the police are much stronger and confident," Mixon said.

For example, Iraqi police didn't back down when dozens of al Qaeda operatives launched a series of attacks in Mosul in November. "The Iraqi police held their ground, gained the initiative and captured over 70 of these insurgents," Mixon said.

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Concept Perfected in Iraq, Afghanistan Used Along U.S. Border

By Donna Miles

Dec. 1, 2006 – The National Guard Bureau chief got a look this week at how the forward operating base concept used for U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world can work for domestic missions, too. Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum toured Forward Operating Base Border Wolf, a new support base within this border town's industrial park, during his week-long visit to California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to observe Operation Jump Start. The base provides housing and other support services for almost 200 Army and Air National Guard troops from around the country supporting the mission. They're among about 6,000 Guard members serving in support of the U.S. Border Patrol. The mission is expected to last for about two years as the Border Patrol recruits and trains more agents.

FOB Border Wolf offers the perfect answer to the quandary that confronted the National Guard when President Bush ordered Operation Jump Start in mid-May, explained Army Col. Richard Rael, commander of the joint task force assigned along the New Mexican border.

Deming, with fewer than 10,000 residents, didn't have the infrastructure to support a large-scale National Guard presence, especially one lasting two years. On the other hand, troops conducting a mission of this scale and length -- especially the bulk of the volunteers serving long-term "durational" tours here -- needed a reasonable level of support systems, Rael noted.

The perfect solution, he said, turned out to be what the military relies on heavily for overseas missions. By setting up a forward operating base that supports the Guard's operations, Guard troops have a place to sleep, eat, shower, watch TV, do laundry, visit a cyber cafe and even get in a workout -- all without a single permanent building being constructed.

The 10-acre FOB, expected to be completed within the next week or two, ultimately will accommodate up to 350 troops.

During his Nov. 29 visit here, Blum toured the FOB, walking through the living quarters and dining facility, checking out the morale, welfare and recreation facility, and stopping in at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service van on the property.

Meeting with some of the 186 troops now based here, Blum said he liked what he saw, but urged the Guardsmen to offer any suggestions that might improve it. "This is not a dog-and-pony show," Blum said of his visit with the troops. "I came here to thank you, but I also want you to tell us what's working and what's not working. I want some soldier input and some airman input into how to make this thing better.

"This is going to be your home for awhile," he said, "and you should have some say in how we set it up."

During his walk-through, one of the women in the group said she'd like to have a little more privacy in the open-bay sleeping area, where beds are separated only by dressers and portable closets. Blum immediately turned to Rael and directed him, "If you're not at capacity here with the females, let's thin this out a little and give them a little more room."

Blum compared the FOB here with others many of the Guardsmen have served in overseas. The FOBs in Iraq "weren't this good," and FOB Border Wolf "is much, much better" than those in Afghanistan, he told the troops.

He asked how many of the Guard volunteers had served at FOBs in Bosnia and Kosovo, then told them, "That's the kind of standard we want to get to."

In addition to offering an array of support services and creature comfort, FOB Border Wolf offers operational advantages as well, Blum told the group. "I like it pulling you together as a team," he said. "Second of all, it will save you hours of getting to work and back off of work every day."

But another important benefit, Blum said, is that the FOB will help maintain cordial relations between the Guard members and the local community that's simply not big enough to accommodate them. "It will make the people of Deming still like you when you leave here as much as they like you now," he said.

"Because if I push all of these troops that are projected to be in this Deming area into the infrastructure of Deming, they won't have any hotel rooms (or) motel rooms for truckers or people moving through here," Blum said. "They won't be able to handle the tourist season. We'll overwhelm their few little diners that they have.

"Besides," he quipped, "I don't have any quality control over that food or anything to say about it." He asked the troops if they were satisfied with the food they're served here and specifically asked the Georgia National Guard troops, the largest group based here, if the grits they're getting are making the mark. "We'll work on that," he promised after hearing their negative response.

The Deming community has welcomed the Guard members here and gone out of its way to make them feel welcomed, Rael said. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post hosted a Thanksgiving Day dinner, and many Deming residents invited Guardsmen into their homes for the holiday or sent meals to the FOB for troops who couldn't break away from duty.

"The community has opened its arms, and families have opened their homes," Rael said. "They see the big impact the Guard has brought here. ... They used to lock their doors, but now they appreciate that crime is down."

FOB Border Wolf is helping achieve three major goals that Army Brig. Gen. Kenny Montoya, adjutant general for New Mexico, said he'd like to see satisfied when the National Guard troops here complete Operation Jump Start.

"When they leave, I want to be sure they have good relations with the Border Patrol and with the people of Deming," Montoya said. "And I want the out-of-state Guard volunteers to be able to leave here feeling good about their service here and what they accomplished."

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Iraqi Army, Coalition Detain, Kill Insurgents; Iraqis Killed in Suicide Attack

Dec. 1, 2006 – In a string of operations across Iraq this week, Iraqi forces detained 28 suspects, coalition forces killed 17 insurgents and rescued three Iraqi hostages, and four Iraqis were killed in a suicide attack, military officials in Iraq reported. The 9th Iraqi Army Division, with coalition support, detained 28 suspected insurgents for questioning in an operation within the Iraqi capital today in Rusafa. U.S. attack helicopters were used in support of the mission to assist the ground elements with their mission. An assortment of small arms and munitions also were seized during the operation.

Elsewhere, coalition forces used air-delivered precision ordnance to kill three insurgents today in Ubaydi. Insurgents attacked coalition forces with small-arms fire and then attempted to flee in a vehicle. In response to the attack, coalition forces used precision ordnance to destroy the vehicle and the insurgents inside. Aside from the vehicle, there was no further damage.

In another operation, coalition air and ground forces combined to kill 14 insurgents and wound two at about 2 a.m. yesterday after the individuals engaged a coalition convoy with small-arms fire southwest of Samarra.

While the insurgents fled in trucks and motorcycles, Task Force Lightning attack helicopters tracked them for several miles and used two guided bombs to destroy one of the vehicles. Subsequently, helicopters and strike aircraft engaged the remaining vehicles, killing or wounding all of the insurgents.

Upon further investigation of the site, Task Force Lightning soldiers discovered more than 1,500 rounds of small-arms ammunition and various semi-automatic machine guns including six AK-47s, two heavy machineguns, two destroyed motorcycles with homemade machine gun mounts and one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher.

Separately, Iraqi police successfully engaged a suicide car bomber attempting to breach an entry-control point leading to a police station in the Dawasa neighborhood Nov. 29 at about 12:15 p.m.

The Iraqi police prevented the terrorist from breaching the entry control point, but the bomb exploded outside the checkpoint, killing four Mosul citizens and the suicide car bomber and injuring 29. The four citizens killed in the blast included two children and two adults. Those injured were transported to Mosul general hospital for treatment. One Iraqi police officer received treatment for superficial wounds and was released.

"Iraqi police in Ninewa province are vigilant to these types of attacks," said Army Maj. Adam Rocke, operations officer for 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. "The sad part is the innocent citizens who are killed or injured as a result of these cowardly acts, especially the children."

In another operation, three handcuffed hostages were rescued from insurgents by soldiers of the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, near Forward Operating Base Loyalty on Nov. 29. A fourth handcuffed hostage was found nearby, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

The three rescued hostages were discovered after the U.S. soldiers noticed an illegal checkpoint being manned by six individuals in military uniforms. One of the six manning the checkpoint had a fake Ministry of Interior identification. The six suspects caught running the illegal checkpoint were detained by U.S. forces for questioning

Elsewhere, soldiers from Multinational Division Baghdad uncovered a sizeable cache of munitions in a northwestern neighborhood of the Iraqi capital Nov. 29.

After receiving a tip, soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, conducted a combat patrol to search a house of a suspected mortar man. When the troops arrived at the residence, there was no one at the home. During the search of the house, they discovered a weapons cache. They found 16 82 mm mortar rounds, one 60 mm mortar round, one 82 mm mortar tube with a tripod, one 60 mm mortar tube with a base plate, 11 grenades, one machinegun with three full magazines, one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher sight, one set of body armor with plates, one set of body armor without plates, 42 mortar primers, 59 grenade fuses, two radios, and a bomb protective suit.

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Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Jonerik Loney, 21, of Hartselle, Ala., died Nov. 28 in Hit, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Loney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 011-49-611-705-4859.

Commissaries, Fisher House Offer Scholarships

The Defense Commissary Agency and the Fisher House Foundation have teamed up for the seventh year to offer educational scholarships to children of military families and retirees. The Scholarships for Military Children Program helps children of servicemembers pay for college by providing at least one $1,500 scholarship for each of

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Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Chris Kleinwachter, 29, of Wahpeton, N.D., died Nov. 30 in Ghazni, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle rolled over during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery, Grand Forks, N.D.

The incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the North Dakota National Guard public affairs office at (701) 333-2006.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Theodore M. West, 23, of Richmond, Ky., died Nov. 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. West was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993.