On the Ground: Troops Provide Health, Business Opportunities to Iraqis

American Forces Press Service

March 4, 2009 - U.S. forces in Iraq are contributing to the health and welfare of Iraqis through events such as medical outreaches and business and job fairs. Two soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team are proving that even small-scale efforts go a long way. Army Capt. Candi Darst and Army Spc. Nicholas Pieper, assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, have been using their medical skills to help coalition and Iraqi forces, as well as civilians, in southern Iraq's Maysan, Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces, since their unit arrived in Iraq last summer.

"While the contributions of the brigade physical therapist are not immediately noticeable, the effects are felt throughout the brigade through improved morale and welfare to the soldier," explained Darst, lead physical therapist. "It is an invaluable asset, and preserves the well-being of numerous soldiers."

Darst uses sports injury medical practices to heal many of the soldiers' and civilians' injuries. She travels at least once a month to provide care to the troops in remote locations.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Steven Bliss, a physical therapy technician working in Darst's coverage area, said she brings unprecedented support to the area. "I have spent time on what seems like a hundred outposts over here, and have not experienced the level of support given by Captain Darst," he said.

While Darst is out on missions, Pieper remains on base, keeping patients on their way to recovery until the senior therapist returns. He assists the military health care providers with the proper orthopedic bracing and exercise care.

Recently, Darst had the opportunity to support "Operation Future Steps," a medical partnership with Iraqi physicians to help to identify necessary equipment for physically disabled children. No licensed Iraqi physical therapists are available in the region.

"We hope that through more collaborative partnerships," Darst said, "Iraqi medics and physicians will place more of an emphasis on this type of care."

Besides health care, U.S. forces also help to bring prosperity to Iraq. The 41st Fires Brigade's civil affairs team hosted an "opportunity fair" in Iraq's Wasit province Feb. 27 and 28. The event promoted business relationships, agriculture training programs, and showcased modern farming equipment and products.

"All of the agricultural representatives and companies that participated in the fair were very satisfied, because it gave them the opportunity to make contacts with [possible partners]," said Salam Scander, Wasit's director general of agriculture. "The government of Iraq's participation in the loans without interest to the farmers was a lot of help for them to buy supplies and equipment, so they can then plant their lands. All of these things will help the people."

Forty-three booths were filled with representatives, mostly from agricultural companies marketing various agricultural equipment and products, as well as five banks that offered no-fee loans with low interest rates for major purchases and nongovernmental organizations providing programs to individuals and businesses in the community.

There also were booths for Iraqi government and Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team programs to provide training to farmers to increase their productivity.

"Most of the participants ... are grateful for the participation and role of the PRT to empower the economic sector in Wasit," said Hazim Yassen, who worked with the Wasit PRT to coordinate the opportunity fair. "When the farmers come here and see all these products, they learn how to make an agreement or a joint venture with the participating companies to open up their capabilities and the implementation of these products in their crops and on their farms."

The fair was a greater success than initially imagined, Army Staff Sgt. Thomas Starling of the 41st Fires Brigade civil affairs team said.

"This event was unique, because it gave the people access to modern products and they could walk to the next booth and find a means to afford the products through credit and loans offered through the banks," Starling said. "It shows the steps to a modern society, giving these companies from different sectors the opportunity to create partnerships."

Some of the companies from Ramadi province were interested in conducting a similar fair in Fallujah, Yassen said. "This fair can also serve as a model for other provinces," he added.

Even as U.S. forces are improving life for Iraqis, they are seeing improvements in how they live while deployed there. Coalition forces now can shop for American goods in Basra with the March 2 opening of a new 5,000-square-foot Army and Air Force Exchange Service store.

The $1.7 million exchange, located on the Basra Contingency Operations Base, was welcomed by more than 100 servicemembers after months of anticipation.

"This is a great day for soldiers who have been anxiously looking forward to its arrival," Army Col. David Clark of 10th Mountain Division said prior to cutting the ceremonial ribbon. The new facility will offer clothing, electronics, food and other goods to troops in the area.

"It means a lot, having better access to food and supplies," Air Force Staff Sgt. Lester Cape, a member of the 557th RED HORSE Squadron, an engineer unit.

The new store is the cornerstone to an extended food court and morale area that will include a Pizza Hut, Burger King and Green Beans coffee house. Two Subway sandwich shops will remain in place.

(Compiled from Multinational Division Center news releases. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson of the 41st Fires Brigade and Army Capt. Kimberley Jennings of the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team contributed to this report.)

CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- March 4, 2009

[Scripps Research Institute] scientists engineer vaccination that provides instant immunity [immune response] to cancer [and shows promise for biotoxin immunity]
“A team of scientists at the Scripps Research Institute has found a way to use specially programmed chemicals to elicit an immediate immune response in laboratory animals against two types of cancer. The experiments, thus far performed only in mice, appear to overcome a major drawback of vaccinations—the lag time of days, or even weeks, that it normally takes for immunity to build against a pathogen. This new method of vaccination could potentially be used to provide instantaneous protection against diseases caused by viruses and bacteria, cancers, and even virulent toxins.” (Bioresearch Online; 04Mar09; Source: Scripps Institute) http://www.bioresearchonline.com/article.mvc/Scientists-Engineer-New-Type-Of-Vaccination-0001?

Achaogen [Inc.] inks $26 million plague-drug contract
Achaogen Inc. will seek drugs to fight bubonic plague and other infections that might be used in terror attacks under a new contract with the National Institutes of Health. The San Francisco drug company signed the deal, worth up to $26.6 million over five years, with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. It will focus on bacteria like Yersinia pestis, which causes bubonic plague and Francisella tularensis, which causes tularemia or ‘rabbit fever.’ Both are rare diseases in the United States, but could be modified by terrorists.
Tularemia has been studied as a biological weapon by the United States, Soviet Union and Japan in the past.” (San Francisco Business Times;
03Mar09)
http://eastbay.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/03/02/daily37.html

Stamford [CT] recruits volunteers for emergency corps
“The city [of Stamford, CT] Department of Health and Social Services plans to fight worst-case scenarios with an all-volunteer Medical Reserve Corps to assist the community during public health emergencies. […] The department in December received a $10,000 state grant to market, mobilize and train a unit of medical and nonmedical volunteers for emergency mass immunization or medicine distribution clinics, said Anne Fountain, the city's public health emergency response coordinator. Corps volunteers could respond to anthrax, small pox and pandemic flu outbreaks, for example.” (Advocate; 02Mar09; Devon Lash)
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalkadvocate/news/ci_11820467

The Healthcare Waste and Emergency Preparedness Coalition announces its official formation
“The Healthcare Waste and Emergency Preparedness Coalition (CleanMedWaste.org) has been formed to raise awareness and provide education about […] healthcare facility operational sustainability during a crisis and the proper methods of discarding hazardous medical waste […] during emergencies, transportation breakdowns, and patient surges. […] Under a wide-spread community problem, the volume of hazardous materials would dramatically increase when a large population suddenly contracted a contagious disease (via a pandemic or bioterrorism) […].” (PR Newswire; 03Mar09)
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-03-2009/0004982445&EDATE

UW [University of Waterloo, Canada] professors awarded new and renewed Canada research chairs worth $8.5 million [for biological research]
“A University of Waterloo professor [Dongqing Li] will investigate how to develop tiny devices for biomedical diagnostics […]. The federal program gives eight researchers $8.5 million in total over five to seven years. That figure includes support for research infrastructure, such as laboratories and equipment, from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). […] The research explores micro-fluidic and nano-fluidic phenomena and processes […] [and how] to develop these phenomena into new technology in lab-on-a-chip miniaturized devices. His work will result in new hand-held diagnostic tools for applications in biomedical clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, food safety and anti-bioterrorism.” (Exchange Magazine; 04Mar09)
http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morningpost/2009/week10/Wednesday/030409.htm

Little-known U.S. agency [the National Nuclear Security Administration] hunts down radioactive castoffs
“The four-man government disposal team arrived […] to take away the small canister of plutonium […] [which] had been owned by a Silicon Valley company for nearly 30 years and was stored safely in a 10-foot hole in the ground. But in the wrong hands, federal officials say, the highly radioactive isotope could pose a serious threat to public safety and conceivably provide terrorists with material for a dirty bomb. The crew from the little-known National Nuclear Security Administration […] [was] satisfied that they had eliminated a threat to national safety. […] Between 2,500 and 3,000 radiological sources are registered each year as unwanted. Last year, the agency […] [had] a backlog of 8,800 known items.” (Los Angeles Times; 03Mar09; Richard Paddock) http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-plutonium3-2009mar03,0,678423.story

Government of Canada invests over $35 million for science and technology projects to enhance Canada's safety and security
“The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced that the Government of Canada is investing more than $35 million for 24 new research projects to […] strengthen Canada's ability to deal with potential chemical, biological, radiological-nuclear and explosives threats. […] These research projects are funded under the Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear, and Explosives Research & Technology Initiative (CRTI) managed by Defence Research and Development Canada, an agency of the Department of National Defence.” (MSNBC; 03Mar09) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29491224/

South Korea awards ICx Technologies a mass spectrometry contract with an estimated value of up to $40 million
“ICx Technologies, a developer of advanced sensor technologies for homeland security, force protection and commercial applications, announced today that [it] has been awarded a multi-year contract […] for the development of a chemical and biological mass spectrometer (CBMS) for use in military reconnaissance vehicles […]. The CBMS system will be capable of detecting both chemical and biological warfare agents […]. ICx will partner with Seoul-based Hankuk Communication Company, through Tradeways Ltd. based in Annapolis, Md. […]. Hankuk Communication Company is a leading provider of chem/bio equipment to the South Korean military […].” (Market Watch; 04Mar09; Source: ICx Technologies)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/south-korea-awards-icx-technologies/story.aspx?guid=%7BEC8B1ABB-0E7B-4F2B-9283-5060C301DBCF%7D&dist=msr_1

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

Face of Defense: Lieutenant Realizes Dream of Becoming U.S. Citizen

By Army Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 4, 2009 - A flood of memories and emotion rushed through the mind of the executive officer for the 1st Cavalry Division's Headquarters Service Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, as she reflected on the sacrifices it took to achieve her dream of becoming an American citizen. Along with 250 other servicemembers -- soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines -- Army 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes recited the Oath of U.S. Citizenship to become a naturalized citizen during a Multinational Corps Iraq naturalization ceremony yesterday at al-Faw Palace here.

Amid a sea of servicemembers who represented many different countries and cultures, Barnes -- a native of Pohnpei, an island of the Federated States of Micronesia -- received a U.S. flag and her certificate of citizenship at the ceremony.

"I was overwhelmed and felt a surge of pride," the lieutenant said. "When I was presented the flag, a million things were floating through my head -- so many memories about growing up and getting to where I am today. I couldn't believe this moment was actually here.

"I was trying hard not to cry, and wished my family could have been here to see this," she continued. "I could finally say, 'I'm fighting for MY country.'"

Though her husband -- a soldier stationed back at Fort Hood, Texas -- and her 4-year-old son, Darren, and 2-year-old daughter, Olivia, could not take part in the ceremony, Barnes said they were there in spirit and that she leaned on support from her unit.

"I am surrounded by people here who I call family," she said. "Everyone has been very supportive, and almost my entire unit was there for the ceremony."

Her husband was able to congratulate her over the phone. "He's very proud and wishes he could have been here for the ceremony," Barnes said.

The significance of getting her citizenship in Iraq is not lost on Barnes.

"I'm going to give 20 years of service to the U.S. Army, and I would give my life so my kids can be citizens of a free country," she said. "This reinforces the reasons I'm here in Iraq in the first place."

Still, she said, she realizes she was only a small part of the ceremony. "Every soldier who received their citizenship today took steps long before this to get their citizenship, and we all served our nation even before we could call it home."

Many years prior to her service in the Army, the seeds of Barnes seeking the American dream were planted during her difficult early years as a child on Pohnpei.

"Life in Micronesia was hard. We went to school, but not every day, and we always wore hand-me-down clothes, but half the time we didn't have shoes," Barnes said. "We always had to share, and food came in very small portions."

With no running water, her family bathed in a creek, she added. "We had to live off the land, growing vegetables, and there was no money most of the time," she said. Along with this, Barnes walked three miles to school over rough terrain where there were no paved roads.

With all the hardships of living on the island, Barnes said, her family saw something special in the United States, and wanted to be part of it.

"My grandfather was always a great admirer of the U.S., and always spoke very highly of it," Barnes said. "He'd be really proud of me if he were still alive."

Even before she was a U.S. citizen, Barnes said, the U.S. national anthem always sent a chill up her spine.

In 1988, when she was 13, Barnes and her family left Pohnpei for Kaneohe, Hawaii, where she spent her teenage years and first tasted the American dream -- a dream that promised more freedom and better opportunities for her family. Through the years as an immigrant in Hawaii, Barnes said, she overcame prejudice and unfair, false and negative stereotypes.

"A lot of people don't understand that it's not money [immigrants] are seeking, but rather the opportunity to better themselves," she said. "The majority of immigrants [who come to the United States] are hard-working people, willing to make sacrifices for the freedoms they don't have in their own country."

Barnes, who now has 15 years of military service, said she worked hard throughout high school and then entered the Army at the age of 19 as a private.

"I worked my way up, and I did a lot of the jobs no one else wanted to do," she said. "I didn't have a plush job, and just had to keep soldiering on."

By the time Barnes reached 13 years of service in the Army, she had achieved the rank of sergeant first class, completed a bachelor's degree and turned in a packet to become an officer. In 2007, Barnes received her commission as a second lieutenant in the Army's chemical branch.

Army Lt. Col. Matthew Karres, her battalion commander, said Barnes exudes the spirit of an American patriot and is someone who definitely deserves U.S. citizenship, especially when looking at all her hard work and sacrifices she made over the years.

"As a second-generation American who is a grandson of immigrants, I think this is awesome," said Karres, reflecting on Barnes receiving her citizenship. "We're all really proud of her. She's also getting promoted this month, so March is a big month for her."

Along with having pride in being an American citizen, Barnes said, she also will never forget her Pohnpeian culture and will pass that down to her children. And with both her children being native-born U.S. citizens, she added, she also will remind them of the sacrifices immigrants and others have made for them to have their freedom -- a freedom that many people living in other countries around the world might never experience.

"I'll definitely tell them to never take the country they live in for granted, and to be proud of and loyal to the [United States]."

(Army Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp serves in the Multinational Division Baghdad public affairs office.)

Videos Capture U.S. Missions, Afghan Life

American Forces Press Service

March 4, 2009 - Fred Baker III, an American Forces Press Service reporter, is traveling in eastern Afghanistan, an area of rugged beauty beset by insurgent violence and poverty. In his latest videos, Baker features one of Paktia province's few hospitals, where workers struggle to meet even basic needs, towns where local men grapple for work and handouts from the provincial reconstruction team, and U.S. troops as they strike a delicate balance between ridding the area of insurgency and winning the trust of residents.

Baker's videos, along with his stories and journal entries, are posted on the DefenseLINK Special Report "On Location in Afghanistan" at http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0209_afghanistan/.

Troops Earn U.S. Citizenship in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

March 4, 2009 - During the 13th U.S. naturalization ceremony conducted for servicemembers in Iraq, 251 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from 65 different countries became American citizens in the rotunda of the Al Faw Palace here yesterday.
The youngest participant was 19, and the oldest was 45.

The servicemembers, from places such as Micronesia, Vietnam and Columbia, were welcomed into the American fold on foreign soil, where they're defending the principles of their new home country.

"American citizenship means that we each commit ourselves to our community, to our state and to our country," Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, told the new citizens. "It means that we participate in improving the quality of our society. It means exercising rights, respecting other's rights and defending our own rights."

Although the new citizens already have been living in the United States and serving in its military, there is still a great deal to gain by becoming an American, the general said. "We identify ourselves as 'American,'" he said, "but what does it mean to carry the title 'American'?"

"It's a blessing," said Army Spc. Rosemarie Narvaez, of the 1st Cavalry Division's 27th
Brigade Support Battalion, originally from the
Philippines. "I get the right to vote, which is something I've looked forward to doing."

"I'm glad I call America home," said Army Spc. Daley Bornsztejnof 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, who is Australian by birth. "It's great to be part of something bigger than yourself."

The new Americans all overcame obstacles before beginning their quest for citizenship. From civil wars to famine to leaving loved ones behind, each of the newly naturalized servicemembers had to fight to get where they are today.

"[Citizenship] means something different for each person," Austin said. For these men and women, it depends on their individual journeys to this point. It depends on what they endured along the way."

One new citizen, Army Spc. Regis Uwizeye from Rwanda, came to America as a refugee from civil wars that claimed both of his parents. But other countries he fled to, such as Congo and Kenya, were involved in civil war or civil unrest of their own. He applied for a program to bring refugees to America and was selected. Since then, America has offered him a safe haven.

"In America, I can sleep at night, and I know the government won't change overnight because of a military coup," said Uwizeye, who is with the 1st Cavalry Division's 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment.

The safety and future America represents give Uwizeye and other new citizens a strong sense of allegiance to their new homeland and a sense of responsibility to represent it properly.

"We have to stand up to the challenge of being the strongest country in the world," Uwizeye said.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

Army Casualty

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

Spc. Simone A. Robinson, 21, of Dixmoor, Ill., died March 1 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her security post on Jan. 17 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

She was assigned to the 634th Brigade Support Battalion of the Illinois Army National Guard, Crestwood, Ill.

For further information on this Soldier, contact Major Brad Leighton at 217-761-3569.

Afghan President's Call for Early Elections Tied to Legitimate Concern, Gates Says

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's sudden call to move up the country's elections from late summer to early spring may be in response to a concern regarding the legitimacy of his office after his term ends, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. "I think it's a legitimate concern ... on the part of President Karzai," Gates said at a Pentagon news conference. "And I think the international community, as well as the different elements in the Afghan government and parliament, are trying to figure out the right way forward here."

Karzai released a decree Feb. 28 directing the election commission to set a date that adheres to the constitution, which calls for a vote 30 to 60 days before May 22.

Despite outcries from Afghan political opponents that Karzai is trying to leverage an advantage for re-election, Gates said he understands that Karzai may be concerned about the appearance and legitimacy of his office after May 22, the day his five-year term as president officially ends.

"I think that President Karzai is trying to deal with the reality that the Afghan constitution says that his term of office is over on May 22," Gates said. "He is very concerned about, if he remains as president after that time, a concern about the appearance, at least the appearance, if not the reality of illegitimacy in that office."

However, Gates said he believes fair, free and secure elections will be difficult to arrange before the Aug. 20 date that was set by the country's election commission.

Gates didn't specify how the void between the end of Karzai's term and the scheduled elections would be filled, but he disregarded the notion that Afghanistan will be without a legitimate government.

"I believe that there will be a government in Afghanistan after May 22 that has legitimacy and has support for that legitimacy from different elements of the country and government," he said.

Gates Cites Goals, Measuring Success as Key in Afghanistan

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - Determining a timetable for withdrawing U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan right now is "impossible," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. "We would all like to have a situation in which our mission in Afghanistan has been completed and we can bring our troops home," Gates told reporters during a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin at the Pentagon. "I do not see that happening any time in the near future. And I think it's impossible to put a date on when you might firmly say all the troops are coming out."

The road to sovereignty in Afghanistan requires short-term goals with a means to measure success for the way forward, Gates said.

"I think that the objectives that we have and milestones, in terms of measuring achievement of those objectives, is really a principal focus of the strategy review that is under way on the American side, and where we have been consulting with our partners," Gates said. "And I think we will have a much better idea of the way forward, at least as far as the United States is concerned, when that review is complete."

In a lunch meeting today between the two defense leaders, both agreed that setting milestones to define clear goals will allow Afghans to view their progress and manage their own country.

One dynamic, which Gates repeatedly has called for and termed an important factor for such success there, is additional civilian support, such as that provided by provincial reconstruction teams. He often encourages NATO and coalition partners to consider dispatching more civilian experts to Afghanistan, he said.

"This is an area where we have very limited additional capacity in the United States," Gates said, recalling a recent NATO defense leaders meeting in Krakow, Poland. "And so my focus at Krakow for all of our partners was really more on what could be done in terms of civilian capacity, whether to help governance or police training or economic development and so on."

Though it does not operate any PRTs in Afghanistan, France maintains one of the larger footprints of NATO forces there, with more than 3,000 troops. Those numbers include an additional 1,000 combat troops and another 300 trainers for Afghan forces that France has sent to Afghanistan over the past 18 months.

"There's no other European country that made such an effort over the course of the past 18 months," Morin said through a translator, "and so we feel that we have already done part of our job, if you will. As far as increasing civilian means, it is an avenue that the European Union should explore."

Morin said the French efforts are "perfectly in line with the thinking of the American administration" and that although French forces do not expect to be in Afghanistan "forever," they will stay as long as they're needed.

About 38,000 American troops are currently serving in Afghanistan with an additional 17,000 ordered by President Barack Obama last month scheduled to arrive there this spring. Another 19,000 NATO troops representing 41 different nations also are there.

U.S., Britain Share Common Goals in Afghanistan, Obama Says

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - As the United States conducts a comprehensive review of its Afghanistan strategy, President Barack Obama said today he's confident Great Britain will remain its strongest partner in putting that strategy into effect. "Both Great Britain and the United States share a deep interest in ensuring that neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan are safe havens for terrorist activity," the president said during a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Brown is the first European leader to visit the White House since Obama took office.

While the session focused largely on the global economic crisis, Obama and Brown also discussed Iran's nuclear program, global warming and the war in Afghanistan.

Obama conceded that "the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated," and that al-Qaida safe havens remain in Pakistan's frontier regions.

The United States is conducting a comprehensive review of its policies with respect to Afghanistan, Pakistan and its coordination with NATO and other partners in the International Security Assistance Force, he told reporters.

Obama said he expects to announce the findings, including "the direction that the United States would like to go," before a NATO summit that follows next month's G-20 summit in London.

"What I'm confident in is that our strongest partner in that effort once again will be the United Kingdom and the prime minister sitting next to me," he said.

Obama thanked the people of Great Britain for the sacrifices their troops have made in Afghanistan and praised the two countries' longstanding alliance and friendship.

'Christmas in May' Awaits Deployed Troops

By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - Troops serving overseas will get a little bit of "Christmas in May," thanks to a troop-support group that is collecting gifts and snacks to be mailed to them on Armed Forces Day, May 16. "This is a way to thank the troops on their special day," Julieann Najar, founder of "A Soldier's Wish List," said. "There are those who seem to 'fall between the cracks' and are in combat zones in between the holidays and do not receive our December Christmas packages. We want to let these men and women know they are also important and not forgotten."

Najar's goal for the "Christmas in May" campaign is to send 2,000 gifts that will be wrapped in Christmas paper and bows to troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Kosovo, South Korea, Qatar, Africa, Italy and Japan.

"Having a son who was wounded in Iraq, and knowing how important it was to get items he missed from home to him, makes it even more important to continue to do the same for all of our 'adopted sons and daughters,'" Najar said.

DVDs, CDs, drink mix packets, beef jerky and snack sausages, candy, magazines, twin sheet sets and white socks are just a few of the gifts A Soldier's Wish List volunteers have started and will continue to collect for the troops. The group plans to have a huge wrapping and mailing party May 16 in St. Louis.

The group will use donated gift certificates to purchase special-request items in individual servicemembers' names, Najar said. "In the past, through our December Christmas mailing, we have sent microwaves and other special-request items," she added. "As we are about wishes, we have the troops that we have adopted tell us what [they miss] from home, and we try to provide it."

A Soldier's Wish List sends care packages throughout the year to troops serving overseas. The group conducts fundraisers, sells merchandise and collects donations to finance its efforts. The group also has adopted troops and matched civilians wanting to adopt with other troops. To date, A Soldier's Wish List has had more than 60,000 troops sign up for adoption and has lined up more than 30,000 adopters.

"Our group's goal is to fulfill the wishes of our troops to the best of our abilities," Najar said. "This is our small way of letting our brave troops know that we care about them and appreciate their sacrifices."

Face of Defense: Soldier Teaches Other Soldiers

By Army Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - Students may remember noteworthy teachers for the rest of their lives. But one soldier here said he wants to influence his students not so he can be remembered, but rather to positively affect them. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Meeks, 41st Fires Brigade targeting officer, teaches off-duty criminal justice and military science courses.

"I do it mostly for the soldiers, because I know how hard it is to get a degree while you're deployed," the Baltimore native said. "If you're going to spend so much time away from home, come out with something positive."

Meeks teaches for Central Texas College, a two-year college based in Killeen, Texas. The classes are designed for soldiers who can't take correspondence or distance-learning courses.

Meeks offers a one-semester-hour class set up as a seminar, usually taking three to four days for 16 hours total. He also offers three-semester-hour courses that usually take about a month for the 40 hours of work. Classes are offered in the 10th Mountain Division conference room. "I work around the soldiers' schedule and my work schedule," he said.

Meeks started teaching by responding to a flyer he saw in Kuwait. He submitted his application and was approved to teach for the college.

"I always wanted to teach classes anyway, so this was my chance," he said.

Meeks has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and is about halfway through his work toward a master's degree. He also has four years of experience as a deputy sheriff.

A seminar class called "Introduction to Gangs" is now under way, and a three-credit-hour class called "Crime in America" begins March 16.

Meeks said most of his students are criminal justice majors, but some want the college credit for promotion points. One semester hour is worth five promotion points to a soldier, he explained.

(Army Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw serves in Multinational Division Center.)

On the Ground: U.S. Forces Help Iraqis Establish Rule of Law

American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - U.S. forces in Iraq are contributing to a new system of law and order there, equipping police stations with the latest investigatory equipment and building courthouses. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently dedicated a state-of-the-art crime lab at the police station in Basra. The Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team just broke ground for a new provincial courthouse, and criminal investigators in Tikrit received new kits to process forensic evidence.

Basra law enforcement professionals welcomed the opening of a newly renovated forensics laboratory, thanks to a $263,000 Corps of Engineers project. The five-month project improves investigators' ability to effectively analyze crime scene evidence and solve crimes, officials said.

"The completed project provides Basra a great facility to conduct criminal forensics," said Arthur Davey, project engineer with the USACE's Gulf Region Division. "The evidence they collect at a crime scene -- such as DNA, fingerprints, fiber and ballistics -- can now be processed in a clean, efficient workplace with improved equipment and fixtures safeguarding the integrity of their findings."

Robert Vanoer, the USACE Basra area engineer, said this project represents an important step toward developing a strong rule of law in Basra and throughout Iraq. The Gulf Region Division has completed more than 300 other projects related to security and justice, including border posts, point of entry facilities, fire stations, courthouses and correctional facilities.

In other projects, officials from the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 41st Fires Brigade attended a ceremony in the province's capital of Hayy to mark the start of construction on a new $330,000 courthouse there.

The construction comes at time of great change in the Iraqi judicial process, as outlined at a recent "Rule of Law" conference in Baghdad. The conference highlighted Iraq's progress in establishing the new Interior Ministry court system as Iraq moves from a confessionary-based legal system to one based on evidence and enforcing the rule of law. Under the confessionary system, defendants can be convicted on their own confession, without any evidence presented.

The ministry's internal security forces court system, established in July, focuses on crimes committed by police officers. Its use will increase the public's trust in the police by ensuring that no one is above the law, officials said.

Maj. Gen. Saad al-Hindawi, the Iraqi Interior Ministry's chief counsel and legal advisor, told the audience at the rule-of-law conference that establishment of procedural law and a penal code for the internal security forces was last year's most important legislation. The two laws established a court system for the ministry, which now has regional courts in Irbil, Mosul, Baghdad, Hilla and Basra. The courts began operations in late July after extensive training for all judges.

Hindawi said that 1,047 cases were referred to the internal security forces court system. Another 6,000 cases were referred to the civilian court system, 4,200 of which were for corruption, he said.

"Eleven short months ago, we were fighting the insurgency on these very streets," Army Col. Richard Francey, 41st Fires Brigade commander, said. "Today, the placing of the first stone and the building of a new courthouse represents the rule of law and the protection of human rights."

Meanwhile, crime scene investigators in Salahuddin province received 16 forensic-evidence processing kits Feb. 25 to enhance their crime scene evaluations throughout the region. The kits were presented by the 733rd Military Police Battalion and other Multinational Division North personnel at the Joint Expeditionary Forensic Facility on Contingency Operating Base Speicher.

The investigation kits are part of a provincewide initiative to establish a unified and capable Iraqi police force.

"The contents in the investigation kits are the same materials you could find in a patrol car back in the United States -- different-sized paper, plastic bags to collect evidence, digital cameras to document a crime scene, pens and pencils for diagram purposes, fingerprint powder and brushes, and crime scene tape to mark off a crime scene -- the basic elements for the Iraqi police to perform their job," said Special Agent Dave Elkins, 733rd Military Police Battalion, who works at the lab.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers news releases. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson of Multinational Division Central and A. Al Bahrani of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division's Gulf Region South district contributed to this report.)

Team Provides Medical Care to Afghan Students, Villagers

By Air Force Capt. Dustin Hart
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - The provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province conducted a medical assistance mission at the Hope of Mother School and Clinic in the province's Surkh Rod district Feb. 24. "The mission gave us a real sense of accomplishment," Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kyle Baker, the Nangarhar PRT's senior medic, said. "It was great to render aid to people who truly needed it, especially having the positive interaction with the children at the school. It was a mission the entire team felt was a positive, rewarding experience."

Along with Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Lackey and their Afghan counterpart, Baker helped to treat a variety of ailments ranging from minor sore throats and upper respiratory infections to more serious issues such as malaria.

In addition to the treatments, the team provided older patients with preventive health care lessons and gave selected leftover medicine to the clinic for future use by a local physician.

"The mission allowed us to use a lot of our career training," said Baker, who is deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "Both Josh and I have experience in pediatrics, and it really helped today."

The mission served as a positive experience for all involved, said Mina Wali, Hope of Mother director.

"The PRT's help today is a great encouragement to the students and their parents," she said. "By providing health care and health education, the PRT gave these people something much more valuable than money. This will also help encourage the parents to keep their children in school."

While this type of operation is rewarding for both the patients and PRT, the medical team's main mission is to assess, mentor and promote the current Nangarhar medical system. This includes working with existing clinics and hospitals to understand their needs and advise them on more efficient ways of conducting business.

"[Nangarhar medical officials] have a good plan of what they want from their medical system," Baker said. "They just need help executing this plan, and that is where our experience and exposure to new technologies can help."

For example, the medic said, the team often encounters energy issues when assessing district clinics. Instead of purchasing fuel generators to run the lights and medical equipment, the team recommends new, energy-efficient ideas such as solar panels.

Occasionally, Baker said, a situation like the Hope of Mother mission allows the medics to mentor their Afghan counterparts and treat patients simultaneously.

"It lets us give the Afghan doctors a taste of what to do, but also allows us to give a community a taste of good health care," Baker said. "That is exactly what we were able to give them today."

(Air Force Capt. Dustin Hart serves with the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team.)

Soldiers Stay Active, Use Army Programs to Fight Stress

By Army Spc. Kevin Holden
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - Deployment is never easy, especially a 15-month deployment in which soldiers face the possibility of missing the same holiday twice away from their loved ones. This has been the reality for soldiers from the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, who have served in Multinational Division Baghdad since April in the brigade's third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since 2003.

Almost 11 months into their deployment, "Iron Brigade" soldiers continue their work in Iraq despite the hardships of being away from family, friends, loved ones and the comforts of home.

"Deployment to a combat zone, working seven days a week for 15 months, can be a [tiring] assignment [for] anyone, no matter what their job is," said Army Spc. Mathew Fischer, a soldier from the 47th Forward Support Battalion based on Camp Striker, near Baghdad. Fischer is a special electronics device repairer, a job that consists of repairing night-vision systems, computers and global positioning equipment. His job requires him to work long hours.

"I received my first assignment orders in the Army for Baumholder, Germany, at the end of advanced individual training, and have been keeping in touch with family and friends using the Internet and telephones since I arrived in Germany," he said. "Continuing to communicate with family using the Internet has been a great way for me to relieve stress while being deployed in Iraq."

However, unlike Fischer, many combat support soldiers are not able to perform their assigned jobs while deployed. Many Iron Brigade soldiers who were once fuelers, cooks or mechanics now find themselves serving as gunners on supply convoys or in other new jobs to meet mission requirements.

For many soldiers, this often leads them to positions that require them to quickly adapt to a new job and learn different skills.

"Going to ranges and learning to use an M-240B machine gun to qualify from the turret of [a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle] was challenging," said Army Spc. James Ott, a mechanic from the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery. "The only weapons I fired prior to deployment were my M-4 rifle and an M-249 [squad assault weapon]. The most difficult thing is not getting complacent after multiple missions and staying focused."

Any deployment working in a stressful environment can affect an individual's work performance. To make it through, soldiers have come to terms on how to deal with deployment stress through different activities and programs, and finding what works for them.

"I release my soldiers to ... exercise in the gym and go running when job orders are completed," said Army Staff Sgt. Marcus Hooks, who serves with the maintenance support team of 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment. Hooks has served in the Army for 12 years as a track vehicle repairer, and has been on multiple deployments. He supervises his team and ensures the soldiers have enough time away from work without affecting unit needs.

"Giving my soldiers time away from the motor pool helps morale and keeps them physically fit," Hooks said. "As a mechanic, there are no regular duty hours, and our job depends on the workload."

Besides working out, another source available to soldiers dealing with stress is their unit chaplain. They can seek advice and receive assistance with personal issues outside their chain of command.

"Soldiers are grateful, and have a sense that someone is taking interest in their concerns and working to resolve their issues," said Army Chaplain (Capt.) Charles Lahmon, the chaplain for the brigade's 47th Forward Support Battalion. The chaplain also acts as a resource for leaders to seek advice on how to take care of soldiers who may not want to seek outside assistance.

"[Noncommissioned officers] have asked for guidance from me to help their soldiers with personal issues," Lahmon said.

The Army also provides medical officers and staff who specialize in mental health to help to diagnose soldiers with symptoms of depression and give medical treatment. Army Capt. Michelle Kline, a mental health officer with 47th FSB, provides initial counseling for soldiers seeking assistance.

"The medical staff provides an environment to deal with the stress of deployment for all soldiers," she said. "The medical care received is confidential and available for walk-in appointments."

The Iron Brigade leadership is taking a proactive approach to combat stress, using preventive measures and encouraging early intervention through a wide variety of available assistance.

"We make monthly visits to all command observation posts where our soldiers are located," Kline said. These regularly scheduled visits allow soldiers to receive mental health assistance regardless of the area of Iraq in which they serve.

"Part of our mission is to bring mental health to the soldiers in order to keep the mission going and also to provide the soldiers the support they need," Kline said. "In order to provide soldiers the best and most available care that we can, we go to them."

Leaders regularly remind soldiers that seeking medical assistance from a mental health care provider is not a career ender. Seeking help early is the best way to avoid long-term problems, Kline noted.

(Army Spc. Kevin Holden serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team public affairs office.)

U.S., Iraqi Forces Seize Weapons, Dismantle Bomb

American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - U.S. and Iraqi forces deterred several potentially deadly incidents in recent days by confiscating two large weapons caches and dismantling a homemade bomb, military officials reported. At least one cache was discovered with the help of an Iraqi civilian who led a combined Iraqi police and U.S. Army patrol Feb. 28 to a large cache west of Samarra.

The cache contained more than 200 mortar rounds and about 1,500 pounds of explosives, which were safely disposed of by explosive ordnance technicians.

A joint patrol of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers seized another cache yesterday during a patrol in the Mumbar Garhat district of Kirkuk province. The cache consisted of launchers, 120 mm shells, 60 mm mortars and firing systems, machine-gun rounds, improvised mortar tubes, blasting caps and several other supporting items. A joint U.S. and Iraqi army team safely disposed of the cache.

Also yesterday, Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered a homemade bomb while on patrol west of Baghdad. The troops immediately cordoned off the area to prevent injuries, and safely disposed of the bomb.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Coalition, Afghans Find Goodwill at Traditional Afghan Games

American Forces Press Service

March 3, 2009 - As U.S. forces and their NATO counterparts here were thinking recently about ways to win the trust and cooperation of local people in their fight against radical insurgents, village elders suggested a way to come together in common interest: a sporting event. Such was the start of the Feb. 20 "do-rah" games in the Deh Rawood district of Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. For some, it was the chance to see a familiar game played against other villagers. For others, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to watch a sport rarely seen by foreigners. For everyone involved, it was the opportunity to bring communities together in a way only a sports tournament can.

With security greatly improved in what had been one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan, some 1,500 people participated in or came out to watch the five-hour event, hosted by coalition civil affairs soldiers in partnership with Afghan soldiers and police.

"The genesis for the idea was rooted in multiple interviews with the elders in the Deh Rawood area," a civil affairs team leader said. "All the elders indicated that they thought it would be a great idea to have an athletic competition."

Everyone joined together to make the tribal elders' idea a reality. Civil affairs coordinated the setup of the games and provided funding for prizes and refreshments. Villagers created the field and Afghan forces provided security.

The request for participants went out across the district and people were excited to take part, Deh Rawood Police Chief Omar Kahn Ankalm said.

"Four teams from different villages took part in today's tournament," Ankalm said. "The people are having a good time. They are happy to be playing."

The villages of Lundyanah, Mian-do and Lublan, as well as people from the Deh Rawood bazaar, had teams that participated in the tournament. The games provided a means for the people to demonstrate their abilities as well as provide a reason to bring a village together, Ankalm said.

"Do-rah is a sport that is unique to the area, and I thought nothing would showcase the pride and competitive nature of the people more than a do-rah tournament," the civil affairs team leader said. "At first, the game was confusing. But after the rules were explained, the games were very interesting to watch."

The game is played inside of a large ring which acts as the out-of-bounds. In the center of the ring is a second ring, where the action happens.

"There are two groups playing -- one inside the middle ring and one outside the middle ring," Saed Asman Sadad, the district chief for Deh Rawood explained. "The goal is to hit the legs of the other team. If your group is hit too many times, you lose."

There are four people on each team. The team outside the middle ring tries to tag the legs of the other team with their "fotho," a large, Afghan body scarf, Sadad said. The other group tries to kick the fotho-wielding group below the waist when they step inside the middle ring. If they are successful, then the teams change positions. The fotho-wielding group remains in their position, regardless of how many times they score hits, until one of them gets kicked.

The game is refereed by two judges who determine if the kicks and whips count. They award points subjectively. The most aggressive team receives the most points. Judges stop the game once they feel one team has had enough.

"Enough" came after five hours when the Deh Rawood bazaar team took first place, the Mian-do team took second, and the Lundyanah team finished third. The three teams took home trophies, and the players from each of the teams took home medals.

With the successful turnout and enthusiasm, coalition and Afghan forces are considering more community events, the civil affairs team leader said. He also said the games would not have been as successful if it were not for the support of the government representatives in the district.

"A significant reason the event was so successful is because of the cooperation and enthusiasm that the district chief and [Afghan National Police] chief of police had for the event," the civil affairs team leader said. "They both addressed the crowd prior to the games. Due to their efforts and the effectiveness they have had in the area, the games went off without any problems."

(From a U.S. Forces Afghanistan News Release.)

CBR Weapons and WMD Terrorism News- March 2, 2009

Big job awaits Kan. Gov. [Kathleen] Sebelius as health chief
“As President Barack Obama's health secretary, Kathleen Sebelius immediately will face a host of difficult policy issues […]. If confirmed by the Senate, Sebelius will play a leading role in Obama's ambitious effort to overhaul the health care system. But critical problems await her at the [Health and Human Services] department, a vast bureaucracy that handles everything from Medicare to cancer research and to food safety. […] HHS [Health and Human Services] […] oversees Medicare benefits as well as Medicaid, [and is] also responsible for the nation's front-line scientific defenses against disease and bioterrorism […].” (Associated Press; 02Mar09; Ricardo Alonzo-Zaldivar)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h702UpSGq2AIfQKoN_karkJtZ5hQD96LAMEO1

Campaigners call for rehabilitation of lab monkeys in Nepal [instead of export to U.S.]
“Welfare Network Nepal and Stop Monkey Business Coalition have called for rehabilitation of over 300 caged monkeys kept at a Lele breeding center in Lalitpur in the capital [Kathmandu]. […] Early this week a parliamentary committee ordered the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to stop the process of export of rhesus monkeys for biomedical research. […] The Lele-based breeding center has sought permission for the immediate export of 25 monkeys to the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in Texas, US. The US center has a controversial high security lab where primates are used to test bioterrorism weapons such as anthrax [sic], smallpox, yellow fever, among others.” (Republica; 28Feb09) http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=2300

UGA [University of Georgia] receives $1.1 million to develop vaccine against biological agents
“The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded researchers at the University of Georgia a three-year $1.1 million grant to develop a vaccine to protect against the pathogens glanders and melioidosis. Both infectious diseases are considered to be potential biological warfare agents and have been identified by the Department of Health and Human Services as ‘top priorities for development of medical countermeasures.’ The researchers will work at UGA’s Animal Health Research Center and test whether vaccination can protect mice in an aerosol model of infection.” (Veterinary Practice News; 26Feb09)
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-breaking-news/2009/02/26/uga-receives-1-million-to-develop-vaccine-against-biological-agents.aspx

Overhauling homeland security
“President Barack Obama has been quick to distinguish his wartime policy from that of his predecessor. […] But on the issue of domestic security, Obama's vision has emerged more slowly. […] That may be changing. […] [T]he president's budget request seeks to increase DHS funding for transportation, cyber security, biological security, and improved coordination with state agencies […]. [A]uthorities are tracking emerging dangers overseas, from the proliferation of biological weapons (PDF) to fallout from the economic crisis. How far the expanding menu of threats will go to encourage agency reforms is unclear. […] [A]s many as 108 different congressional committees provide some level of oversight to DHS. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the overlaps can impede agency initiatives, especially when politicians engage in turf wars over funding.” (Council on Foreign Relations; 02Mar09; Greg Bruno) http://www.cfr.org/publication/18658/overhauling_homeland_security.html?breadcrumb=%2Fpublication%2Fpublication_list%3Ftype%3Ddaily_analysis

Mitchell [County, GA] plans anthrax [sic] exercise
“After an anthrax [sic] scare occurs on a baseball field in Camilla, officials expect to be overwhelmed at the Mitchell County Hospital and the county health department. Actually, that is just […] part of a full-scale exercise dubbed ‘Operation Anthrax [sic] 2009: Mitchell County Full Scale Exercise.’ […] The event is being sponsored by the Southwest Georgia Public Health District and uses guidelines established by Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. […] ‘We are testing our ability to reach 100 percent of the population within 48 hours of exposure. To meet that goal, we’ll need to have 273 people per hour go through each of our medication centers,’
said Sue Clifton, emergency preparedness training coordinator for the District Office of all Hazards Preparedness.” (Albany Herald; 02Mar09; Jennifer Maddox Parks) http://www.albanyherald.com/stories/20090302n1.htm

Hi-tech needs unveiled for [British armed] forces of the future
“Gadgets and gizmos that could equip our troops of the future have helped to launch the MOD's [Ministry of Defence] new Defence Technology Plan.The Defence Technology Plan is the first time the MOD has unveiled its long-term research needs. It underlines the importance of science and technology in providing cutting-edge kit for the battlefield. […] Also on show at the launch was the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's
(DSTL) Portable Integrated Battlespace Bio Detection Unit, which is capable of detecting the full biological warfare threat spectrum from a unit the size of a suitcase. […] The Defence Technology Plan has been published on http://www.science.mod.uk and is accessible to all.” (Egov Monitor; 27Feb09; Source: Ministry of Defence)
http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/23777

Operation Swift Solution reaches critical milestone
“Operation Swift Solution, the Army initiative to eliminate three deteriorating steel containers storing a mixture of GB nerve agent and its decontamination breakdown products, reached another critical milestone Thursday when two trucks holding the caustic wastewater, known as hydrolysate and generated during the neutralization process, were received at Veolia Environmental Services near Port Arthur, Texas. The United States received credit under the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty for chemical destruction when the hydrolysate was off-loaded at the Veolia site.” (Richmond Register; 28Feb09) http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/local_story_059215746.html

[Israel’s] Comptroller [Micha Lindenstraus] finds ‘severe flaws’ in development of anti-missile systems [and chemical attack preparedness]
“State Comptroller Micha Lindenstraus also noted defense establishment failures in addressing additional threats, mainly the possibility of a chemical attack on the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] and Israel's civilian population. […] As for the threat of chemical warfare, the comptroller's report called the Home Front Command's preparations for such a scenario ‘an ongoing fiasco,’ which has manifested itself in a steady drop in the number of usable gas masks since 2003. The report determines that the current state will not allow for maximum protection for Israel's citizens in case of a chemical attack.” (Israeli News; 02Mar09; Aviad Glickman) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3679998,00.html

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

On the Ground: Soldiers in Iraq Open Senior Center, Orphanage, Schools

American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - U.S. soldiers are making a difference in the lives of Iraqis, as evidenced recently by the opening of a senior center and orphanage, a new school and school renovations, and a refurbished joint security station. "We are making a difference -- you can see it in the smiles of the local residents who are diligently working every day to provide a brighter future for their children and grandchildren," said Army Lt. Col. Dwight Davies, officer in charge of the Diwaniyah-Najaf Resident Office for Gulf Region Division South. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its partners are building strong today to help Iraq move forward for tomorrow."

The new senior center and orphanage in the north and a new girl's school in the south are the latest of more than 4,400 projects, valued at $7 billion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed in Iraq. More than a quarter of those are schools, officials said.

Representatives of the USACE Gulf Region Division North district, the northern Iraq regional government and contract partners gathered in the 4,300-year-old city of Irbil on Feb. 12 to celebrate the completion of the Irbil Orphanage and Senior Center. The new building provides a home for some of the city's most vulnerable residents and stands on the site of an old, substandard orphanage built in 1967.

The new $3.7 million facility nearly doubles the capacity of the old orphanage, and can accommodate 250 boys and 250 girls in separate dormitories. About 100 destitute senior citizens, who have no alternative means of support, also will live at the new center. Assisted living is a new concept for the region, and planners consider it a logical combination to have homeless children share the facility with senior citizens.

"In the United States, we're starting to see day care centers on assisted living properties because seniors and kids get along well together," according to Gary York, the area engineer for the Gulf Region North district's Irbil office.

The new facility also has a unique look and modern functional design. At the heart is the multipurpose room, surrounded by six three-story resident halls. The buildings were designed so that the small children's playground is located in front of the seniors' home. Other conveniences for the senior center include a hydraulic elevator, extra-wide doors, kitchenettes in each apartment and handicap-accessible tubs and showers.

Amenities on the orphanage site include a playground, swimming pool, soccer field, guard house, administration building, garden lot, exterior water tanks and parking lot.

"Many responsible individuals and companies from the local area have made generous donations for equipment and furnishing. There is no greater service to your country and community than helping the underprivileged," York said.

In Diwaniyah province, south of Baghdad, USACE's Gulf Region Division South district celebrated the Feb. 26 opening of the Al Irshad Secondary School for Girls, a $1.2 million facility. The 12-classroom, multilevel school includes a laboratory, library, storage rooms and administrative buildings for 360 students. Iraqi contractor Al-Kahlaa Co. began the project in December 2007 and employed 50 local men during construction.

"In Iraq, in the United States, in every society that I know of, education is among the things people value most for their children. And so, we come here today to celebrate the opening of a new school," Michael Klecheski, Diwaniyah Provincial Reconstruction Team leader, said. "We celebrate a school with classrooms and hallways in which young women will be able to develop into productive members of the new Iraq that is growing around us all.

"Construction of this new school was itself a reflection of that new Iraq," Klecheski continued. "It took courage and determination to bring it to completion, especially on the part of those Iraqis who did the work, oversaw it, and brought us to this day. May this school always stand as a symbol of partnership between our countries."

Also in Diwaniyah province, soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division's 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Comanche Company, have completed renovating a joint security station they share with Iraqi soldiers and police.

"This place needed a lot of help to be up to U.S. and Iraqi standards," said Army Staff Sgt. Josiah Cecil, Comanche Company headquarters platoon sergeant and intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge. "There were feral cats running around and garbage lying everywhere."

Army 1st Sgt. Dwayne Uhlig of Comanche Company said his soldiers took out 30 truckloads of trash and debris when they arrived in September.

A quick survey of the roof found that it needed immediate improvements. Working quickly, Uhlig and his soldiers drew up a plan for weapons and bunker braces and began bunker fortifications, filling about 17,000 sandbags, weighing close to 200 metric tons, within two months of arrival.

"I'm really proud of what my soldiers have done in a short amount of time," the first sergeant said. "I gave them basic guidance and they ran with it, doing it right the first time. We take great pride in what they've done here."

In Kirkuk, soldiers with the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team oversaw the Feb. 15 completion of three new classrooms at Hegna Primary School to better accommodate younger students.

"This is a great opportunity for the children of Hegna to have greater access to a learning environment and will allow teachers to be able to focus more closely on the children by reducing the classroom sizes," said Army Capt. Justin Michel, commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.

The Iraqi government is determined to create better lives for its citizens by continuing to add on to this school and schools like it around the country, Michel said.

"Opening more classrooms creates opportunities for local teachers to use their skills to benefit the village's children," Michel said. "The continuing improvements to the infrastructure of Iraq are beginning to be more and more apparent in towns like Hegna."

(USACE writers Mike Scheck of Gulf Region Division North district and Alicia Embrey of Gulf Region Division South district contributed to this report, as well as Army Spc. Josh LeCappelain with the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.)

Human Terrain Teams Build Friendships, Future

By Army Cpl. John Zumer
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - Though coalition forces have been successful over the last seven years on the battlefields of Afghanistan, true and lasting success lies in understanding Afghans. Toward that goal, "human terrain teams" could become a large building block for victory, officials here said. The teams were developed in 2005 to provide field commanders with the relevant social and cultural understanding necessary to meet daily operational requirements.

The teams operate in the field, and corresponding human terrain analysis teams are attached to divisional staffs and largely analyze field data and other information.

"Much can be accomplished by approaching things as a social, rather than a security, problem," said Jim Emery, lead social scientist of a human terrain team attached to Task Force Warrior in Bagram, Afghanistan. The Department of the Army contracted social scientists, analysts and researchers to join military personnel in the teams' composition.

Five pilot teams were created at the program's beginning. Four went to Iraq, and the fifth was attached to Task Force Fury in Afghanistan's Khowst province in January 2007. Teams have embedded with Army and Marine units, and while normally attached at the brigade staff level, they also provide general support for subordinate units.

The embedded teams of social scientists, analysts and researchers gather and update institutional knowledge on Afghanistan, research background and historical documents and conduct research in the field. These efforts already have yielded many successes.
The teams have contributed to a reduction in violence in one Afghan province, according to Army Col. Scott A. Spellmon, brigade commander, Task Force Warrior. Problems in Kapisa province had been tied to the difficulty in understanding numerous local dynamics. The population was mixed with Pashtun and Tajik peoples, a fact which can be problematic, Spellmon said. Tensions in the air were reduced when team members talked with local elders.

Emery said he believes the success has yielded an even greater reward.

"One of the measurable qualities in Kapisa is that you have people coming forward now with information," he said.

The Afghan army is taking much more prominent roles, Emery said, noting that success largely is measured by the respect and cooperation of villagers.

"If you provide hope for the future, then you provide viable alternatives," he said.

The human terrain team process of defeating the enemy is neither quick nor trouble-free, however.

"Sometimes it takes six to eight months to build that trusting relationship," said Larry Rice, research manager of the human terrain analysis team attached to Combined Joint Task Force 101. "It is important to target key villages as if they were spokes on a wheel.

"Success can then emanate outwards if natural lines of communication are developed and maintained," he added.

Nonverbal cues that reinforce the verbal message are vital to success in forging relationships, Rice said. Body language of coalition forces can be interpreted differently by Afghans, he explained.

Spellmon said he wishes the human terrain team concept had arrived even sooner, considering the visible successes.

"I would have loved to have had this team in our train-up prior to coming to Afghanistan," he said. Information and guidance the teams provide at combat training centers on what deploying troops can expect provide a deeper understanding of the Afghan people, he added.

Despite the many successes, challenges remain. The size of Afghanistan limits the amount of time the few human terrain teams can spend in villages. Quality time spent in villages is the most pressing need, Emery said.

"Just going out on a postcard run and not really talking to people does us no good," he said.

Time spent on the ground in days, not minutes, is vital in building friendships, Rice said.

"Afghans don't like to be treated poorly and only be showered with provisions," Rice added, echoing a frequently heard complaint that some commanders gauge mission success by the amount of food and supplies distributed.

"Tribes don't always behave as co-ops in either Afghanistan or Iraq, and that has to be taken into account," Josh Foust, a senior analyst for the program, said. "Differences and the way they're handled matter."

Negative and inaccurate stereotypes of Muslims and Afghans on the part of coalition forces also need to be overcome.

"Friendship, hospitality, good manners, honor, loyalty, respect for elders, and love of children are core values of Afghan culture," Emery said. "It is important that our soldiers learn these and other positive characteristics of the Afghans in order to have a positive change in how they plan and carry out missions. The main goal in Afghanistan is security, stability and prosperity, but you have to establish good personal relationships first."

(Army Cpl. John Zumer serves with the 40th Public Affairs Detachment.)

Coalition Troops Care for Afghan People

American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - The hope for a healthier life is growing stronger in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province, thanks to the care of health care workers from around the world. Medical professionals from the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan, U.S. police mentoring team, Danish Provincial Reconstruction Team, the French military and Afghanistan are working together to operate clinics in the province's Deh Rawod district.

For basic medical treatment, patients are treated at a centralized clinic, which sees about 300 to 400 people a week, officials said. Some of the ailments treated include body aches, colds, flu, nausea, skin and muscle infections, gastrointestinal reflux disease and kidney infections.

For treatment of more serious injuries, such as broken bones, extensive burns and serious illnesses, a nearby clinic operated by the Dutch Provincial Reconstruction Team is consulted.

"Our clinic specializes in eyesight and life and limb saving. Since this past October, we've seen approximately 100 people a week," Sgt. 1st Class Frank Deboer, a medical nurse for the Dutch battle group, said.

Along with medical doctors, the Dutch PRT also has female medical staff members who work at both the Dutch and civil affairs clinics, Deboer said.

Having the females provide care at the clinics helps to bridge a cultural divide in Afghanistan. "The female nurses are able to provide health care for women in the surrounding areas," Deboer said. "It is really unique here. Women come here to be treated [unescorted]."

"I fully support our clinic's mission," Army Pfc. Chris Macomber, a medic with the U.S. police mentoring team, said. "Our being here greatly improves the quality of life for the Afghans in Deh Rawood."

Deboer recalled a girl with cerebral palsy who was in need of treatment.

"The girl was having trouble with her leg brace," Deboer said. "It was causing her great discomfort. We helped provide transportation for the girl's family to Kandahar, where she was able to have her brace modified and receive specialized shoes to fit her better."

Another example was a girl who was brought in and evaluated by medical personnel. She was taken to the Dutch PRT for an additional assessment and medically evacuated to a hospital in Tarin Kowt, officials said. The girl was diagnosed with tetanus and received the treatment she needed.

From basic ailments to serious illnesses and injuries, the international medical troops provide care to people who would not normally have access to proper medical assistance, officials said.

(From a U.S. Forces Afghanistan news release.)

Iraqis Get Electronic Countermeasure System

By Army Maj. Adrian Henegan and Army Capt. Daniel White
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - Iraqi army field engineer regiments are training here with an electronic countermeasure system designed to prevent remote triggering of roadside bombs. Produced by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the Symphony improvised explosive device jammer is a vehicle-mounted, programmable, radio-frequency system that interferes with radio signals.

Officials here worked with Lockheed Martin to install Symphony systems in 22 Iraqi up-armored Humvees and 11 Badger light armored vehicles. The vehicles then were staged for issue to Iraqi divisional engineering units.

Designated Iraq soldiers receive vehicle orientation and Symphony operator's training here, then return to their home stations. Iraqi army divisions now can conduct route-clearance patrols and perform battle drill "reduction" of IEDs to make the area safe and collect evidence.

This represents a significant increase in capability for the Iraqi army, officials said.

"This fielding represents a rapid development of a critical counter-insurgency warfighting capability for Iraq," said Army Brig. Gen. Steven Salazar, commander of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq's Joint Headquarters Army Advisory Training Team. "This effort is a result of a dedicated partnership between the Iraqi military and coalition forces, with the full support of the government of Iraq.

"To watch these route clearance units perform is no different than observing the actions of their partner U.S. engineer units in the execution of their mission," he continued. "This capability is a vital step towards ensuring the Iraqi military's self-sufficiency during the transition from coalition to Iraqi-led operations in support of the security agreement between the government of Iraq and the United States."

(Army Maj. Adrian Henegan and Army Capt. Daniel White serve with Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq's Joint Headquarters Army Advisory Training Team.)

Environmentally Engineered Landfill in Kirkuk is First for Iraq

By Mike Scheck
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is part of a joint, multinational effort to provide solutions for city officials here on what to do with the 900 tons of trash Kirkuk residents generate daily. For years, Kirkuk residents have been dumping their garbage into unregulated areas or merely unloading it in open fields outside the city. This unrestricted dumping has the potential to cause serious health, environmental and public safety concerns, officials said.

To solve the city's garbage problem, coalition forces initiated a sustained solid-waste management program for Kirkuk in 2005. To find an environmentally safe solution to the city's garbage collection and disposal dilemma, the soldiers worked with the city and provincial governments, the provincial reconstruction team, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Corps of Engineers' Gulf Region Division.

The central piece is the $8.8 million sanitary landfill project, which meets both the highest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and European Union Landfill Directive standards. The site represents the first environmentally engineered and constructed landfill in Iraq.

The landfill project, built using Commander's Emergency Response Program funds, was completed by the Irbil-based Zana Group in February 2008. The 48-acre site is 10 miles south of Kirkuk and has an expected lifespan of 10 to 12 years, engineers said.

To increase the capacity of landfill sites and to conform to current EPA standards, solid waste must now be processed through a transfer waste station where garbage is compacted. The Kirkuk landfill soon will have two solid waste transfer stations to provide added capacity and to compact the trash before it's transferred to the landfill. The Gulf Region North district's Kirkuk Area Office is the contract manager for the construction of the solid waste transfer sites. The Dalo Construction Co. of Kirkuk completed the first transfer station, located south of the city, in December 2007. The second solid waste site, located just north of the city, is scheduled for completion in June. Each station has the capacity to handle 300 tons of waste per day. At full capacity, eight tractor trailers transfer the 18 40-ton capacity transfer trailers to the landfill site continuously throughout the day.

"The first waste transfer station is being fully utilized, and the Iraqis are implementing some of their own ideas at the waste transfer station," Army Lt. Col. J.B. Chadwick, officer in charge of the Kirkuk Area Office, said. "For example, they are removing large pieces of metal from the trash for potential recycling. The site of the second waste transfer station was selected due to its proximity to the Kirkuk Ring Road project, which will allow quick and easy access to the site from the city of Kirkuk and from the waste transfer station to the landfill."

The price tag for each solid waste site is $2.5 million, with funding for the projects coming from several agencies, including the United Nations Office of Project Services. The Development Group Iraq Trust Fund is paying for the city's garbage trucks. The South Korean government donated the collection vehicles and loaders used at the sites.

The solid waste sites and landfill will employ more than 700 local workers, adding well-paying jobs and a much-needed boost to the city's local economy.

The major concern by the solid waste project partners was how to sustain such a massive operation after the subject-matter experts leave Iraq. To keep Kirkuk's solid waste plan in place for the long term, the agencies instituted training in all aspects of the operation. U.S. Air Force technicians conduct vehicle and maintenance training with employees, and the Research Triangle Institute International instructs local managers on landfill operations, maintenance and site management training.

(Mike Scheck works in Gulf Region North for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division.)

Officials Announce Upcoming Iraq, Afghanistan Deployments

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - Defense Department officials today announced replacement units scheduled for 12-month deployments later this year to Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 9,000 soldiers from an Army division headquarters and two Army brigade combat teams have been identified to deploy as part of the Defense Department's regularly scheduled rotation of forces to those combat theaters, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

The 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters from Fort Bragg, N.C., and the 4th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team from Fort Carson, Colo., will begin deploying to Afghanistan in late spring. They are replacing the 101st Airborne Division Headquarters and the division's 4th Brigade Combat Team from Fort Campbell, Ky., Whitman said.

The 2nd Infantry Division's 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Lewis, Wash., is heading to Iraq in the fall, and will fill in for the division's 3rd Stryker BCT, he added.

Whitman said all of the rotating units have had at least 12 months at their home stations since their last combat deployment. He added that these rotational forces don't change anything in regard to President Barack Obama's recent decisions to shift troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"These units have been identified for some time now to go in as replacement units," he said. "This isn't part of the additional capabilities that we're applying. These are rotational forces and do not alter or change any announcements made last week. ... We're still at the same [troop] levels in Iraq and Afghanistan."

About 146,000 U.S. troops serve in Iraq. By August 2010, that number should be between 35,000 to 50,000, according to Obama's Feb. 27 announcement of a drawdown of American combat forces there.

In Afghanistan, about 38,000 U.S. troops and about 19,000 others from 42 different countries make up NATO's International Security Assistance Force. The U.S. military footprint there will increase by 17,000 as early as this spring. The president approved those additional forces Feb. 17, stating that responsible drawdown forces in Iraq will provide the flexibility to shift forces to Afghanistan.

Reporter's Notebook: Eatin' Good in Afghanistan

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

March 2, 2009 - I've eaten more lobster since I arrived here than I have in the past decade in the states. Don't tell my wife. She thinks I'm suffering.

One of the few Army-run chow halls I have come across in my travels is located here. The base was too small when it opened to justify a contractor's service, so the Army took over the operations.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Vashon Rogers, who runs the consolidated facility nicknamed "Olive Gardez," said as many as 800 people -- including soldiers, civilians and local Afghans who work here -- eat at the facility for any given meal.

Rogers' staff is a mix of airmen and soldiers provided from units on the base and local Afghan employees. They serve more than 30 dozen eggs for breakfast every morning, washed down with 300 cups of coffee, and they go through 40 gallons of ice cream a day.

Every night has a theme, with Monday being Italian, Tuesday Mexican, and so on.

Saturday night is seafood night.

The lobsters and crab legs are shipped from the United States and driven down on a refrigerated truck from Bagram.

On seafood night, the crew serves up 400 of the tasty tails, 130 pounds of Alaskan King crab legs, and 135 pounds each of shrimp and scallops.

Don't expect cold beers or fancy bibs, but Rogers' crew heaps the tails and legs on troops' plates as they go through the line. They'll also throw on a steak if you want it.

Because of the growth of the forward operating base, another dining facility, contractor-run, has now opened. Rogers and his crew will be relieved of their duties this month, when this chow hall is taken over by contractors.

Rogers has served food in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and said the troops here appreciate the fact that fellow servicemembers are serving up their food.

"We put a little more love and flavoring in our food," he said.

Gates: Plans on Track for New Transition Force Role in Iraq

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

March 1, 2009 - The U.S. military will conduct "a very different mission" in Iraq after combat troops withdraw in August 2010, with troops slated to remain there through 2011 serving primarily as trainers and advisors, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today on CNBC's "Meet the Press." Gates said the residual force in Iraq – currently estimated at 35,000 to 50,000 – will have a limited counterinsurgency mission but will focus primarily on training Iraqi security forces. Gone will be combat brigades, replaced by "advisory and assistance brigades" that Gates said will build on current successes in building Iraqi security capability.

"Iraqi forces already are standing up in a significant way," Gates said. "They organized the security for the provincial elections last month and did a very good job." U.S. forces supported these efforts through planning and logistics help, but the Iraqis maintained the lead.

Gates conceded that Army Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and many other ground commanders would have preferred to keep more combat troops in Iraq longer. Some in the Defense Department "argued strongly" for a 19-month exit strategy, versus the 16-month plan President Barack Obama approved.

"So having a somewhat larger transition force mitigates the risk of having the combat units go out sooner," Gates said.

The secretary called the move from a combat force to a transition force a step toward fulfilling the terms of the exit strategy established in the status or forces agreement with Iraq. "In the absence of any new agreement with the Iraqis, we have to be at zero by the end of 2011," Gates said. "So that 50,000 or 35,000 is a way station on the way to zero."

Any extension of the U.S. presence in Iraq is "completely hypothetical" at this point and would come only through a completely new agreement negotiated with the Obama administration at the Iraqis' initiation, Gates said.

Obama has acknowledged that as commander in chief, he "always retains the flexibility and the authority to change or adjust a plan if he thinks it is in the national security of the United States," Gates said.

"The fact is, I don't think any of us believe that will be necessary. I would characterize the likelihood of significant adjustments to this plan as 'fairly remote,'" he said. "We have a signed agreement with the Iraqis that says we have to be out of there by the end of 2011, and that is what we are all planning on."

Gates conceded that the problems over the security situation in Mosul, Arab-Kurd tensions and the need for a law to structure Iraq's oil industry continue to loom.

"There is no question, we have had a significant military success," he said. "There has been real progress on the political side, but there is clearly unfinished business in that arena as well."

Significant progress made during the past six to 12 months is expected to continue, he said, meaning that the risk faced by the residual force in Iraq after August 2010 is likely to be "substantially less" than in the past.

But Gates said it's too soon to characterize the success of the overall mission in Iraq. That, he said, will depend on where Iraq stands when the United States ultimately leaves.

"If Iraq is basically stable, if the level of violence remains at the relatively low levels that it is now, if they have had national elections, if they are an ally of the United States, I would call that a substantial success," Gates said.

Secretary Addresses Pakistan, Afghanistan, Other Key Issues

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

March 1, 2009 - As the United States reviews its strategy in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he's gratified by Pakistan's growing recognition of the importance of eliminating extremist safe havens along its border. Speaking on CNBC's "Meet the Press," Gates called the situation on the Pakistani side of the volatile border region "worrisome." He noted that the region has become a haven for Taliban, al-Qaida and other extremist groups that work together to support common goals.

"As long as they have a safe haven to operate there, it is going to be a problem for us in Afghanistan," Gates said. "The key here is our being able to cooperate with and enable the Pakistanis to be able to deal with this problem on their own sovereign territory."

Gates said his talks with Pakistani leaders during the past week, part of the Obama administration's review of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, left him convinced that Pakistan recognizes the importance of fixing the problem.

"They clearly now understand that what is going on in that border area is as big a risk to the stability of Pakistan as it is a problem for us in Afghanistan," he said.

Gates said the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, along with military and civil support provided by other partner nations, is helping provide stability. This, he said, is preventing terrorists from reclaiming former safe havens in Afghanistan that could be used to plot against the United States and other countries.

As the United States reviews its Afghanistan strategy, President Barack Obama is promoting broad dialogue and seeking input from not only Afghanistan and Pakistan, but also Europeans and other allies. "We're bringing in an awful lot of people to get different points of view," Gates said.

Gates said the review, which he hopes will be completed in a few weeks, will help establish a way forward. He said it also will help determine whether more than the 17,000 additional troops already authorized will be sent to Afghanistan.

The secretary addressed a variety of other defense-related issues during today's Meet the Press broadcast.

On Iran:

The U.S. focus on Iraq -- now or in the past -- hasn't distracted the past or current administration from "the growing problem with Iran and its nuclear program," Gates said.

"I think there has been a continuing focus on, 'How do you get the Iranians to walk away from a nuclear weapons program?' Gates said. "They are not close to a stockpile. They are not close to a weapon at this time. And so it is a question of whether you can increase the level of the sanctions and the cost to the Iranians of pursuing that program."

At the same time, Gates said it's necessary to "show them an open door if they want to engage with the Europeans or with us" if they abandon the program.

The global economic crisis and the drop in oil prices that's left Iran cash-strapped could actually help the effort, he said. "Our chances of being successful seems to be a lot better at $35 or $40 dollar [a barrel] oil than they were at $140 oil, because there are economic costs to this program," Gates said.

On Mexico:

The United States could help the Mexican government in its crackdown on drug cartels, Gates said.

The secretary heralded President Felipe Calderón's initiatives and said the United States could ultimately be in a position to help. Among assets the U.S. military might contribute, he said, are training, reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities and other resources.

"It clearly is a serious problem," Gates said.

On the global economic crisis:

The economic crisis poses a serious threat to international stability and international cooperation, Gates said.

"Terrorism is a much more limited and defined threat," he said. "They are both real. [But] the economic threat clearly affects many, many more people and countries."

On Russia:

Russia represents "a real challenge" as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin asserts Russian's role as an international player by blocking initiatives it doesn't support, Gates said.

But "there is a chance to reset the relationship, because there are a number of areas where we have common interests," including arms control, he said, reiterating Vice President Joe Biden's recent comments at a security conference in Munich, Germany.

"So we will be looking for opportunities to see if we can make some progress with the Russians," Gates said. "But it has been tough."

On serving as defense secretary:

Gates remained mum on how long he intends to serve as Obama's defense secretary, saying he has no specific date in mind to leave his post.

The decision, he said, is "clearly up to the president."

But asked if he would remain on the job through the end of Obama's four-year term, Gates responded: "That would be a challenge."

Coalition Forces Kill Militants in Afghanistan, Seize Caches

American Forces Press Service

March 1, 2009 - Coalition forces engaged several militants this morning, killing four, while conducting operations in the Maywand district of Afghanistan about 50 miles northwest of Kandahar, U.S. Forces Afghanistan announced. Intelligence sources tipped off coalition troops that enemy combatants were using the district's water irrigation system to hide weapons and munitions. When the assault force arrived at the targeted series of irrigation holes, armed enemies engaged them. The coalition forces responded with small-arms fire and called in close-air support, killing four militants, officials said.

An initial search of the area revealed several AK-47 assault rifles, machine guns and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

In other activity, coalition forces killed one militant and detained six other suspects during operations in Kandahar province yesterday.

Coalition forces searched several compounds in Khakrez district, during which they found and detained militants suspected of involvement in an improvised explosive device network, officials said.

When the forces arrived at the location to be searched, they called for all non-combatants to exit the buildings. After searching the compounds and questioning those present, the troops detained five suspects.

Coalition forces also tracked several militants who fled the scene, killing one who displayed hostile intentions. They detained a second suspect.

During a search of the compound, the troops found an AK-47 assault rifle and a chest rack. The coalition forces protected 20 women and 39 children during the operation.

Also yesterday, Afghan National Police assisted by coalition forces detained eight militants and prevented an IED attack in Ghazni province, officials said.

The combined forces were conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol when they saw the suspects placing an IED on the road. The police convoy followed the suspects to a compound in Ghazni City, where the police searched the compound and found a cache of IED-making materials, including two remote-control devices, wire and pressure plate materials. They also discovered two AK-47 rifles.

The Afghan National Police took eight militants into custody. Combined forces safely removed the IED from the road before it could inflict any injuries.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)

Combined Forces Discover Weapons, IEDs in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

March 1, 2009 - Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered a munitions cache during a patrol northwest of Baghdad yesterday, officials announced. Iraqi soldiers from the 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, working with soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, discovered 12 60 mm mortars, one 122 mm high-explosive artillery round, one rocket-motor propellant stick, three TNT booster charges, one electric blasting cap and a bag of plastic explosives.

A coalition forces explosive ordnance disposal team called to the site conducted a controlled detonation of the cache.

In other recent news in Iraq, Iraqi security forces, partnered with Multinational Division Baghdad troops, found two IEDs while responding to a car fire in southern Baghdad's Rashid district.

The combined force responded to the Feb. 26 explosion in the Jaza'ir community near central Baghdad. Police officers conducting a combined patrol with paratroopers arrived to assist with site security.

The driver of the vehicle died of his wounds. After assessing the situation, the combined patrol determined the driver had been transporting an IED that prematurely detonated, causing the fire.

Earlier that day, members of the Zubaida Sons of Iraq, working with paratroopers of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, discovered an IED while conducting combined operations in the Zubaida neighborhood in Baghdad's Rashid district. A combined forces EOD team safely disposed of the bomb.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Mullen Supports President's Iraq Decision

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

March 1, 2009 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the president's decision to redeploy American troops from Iraq is the responsible one. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told CNN this morning that Obama's decision allows combat troops to remain in place through the national elections at the end of the year. "This will allow us to conserve the gains that we have made in the past few years," the chairman said.

The plan calls for all American combat units to be out of Iraq by the end of August 2010, with a residual force of between 30,000 and 55,000 still in the country. Under the current status of forces agreement signed last year, all American forces must be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.

"I'm very comfortable with the decision and strongly support the decision," Mullen said. "The president listened to all of us who were involved with this ... and in that listening we had a very thorough review, discussion, debate and it was the cumulative discussion that got us to the point where we made a recommendation for a 19-month withdrawal plan, and the president accepted that."

Mullen said he has been impressed with the president's willingness to listen to defense and military leaders. He stressed that after Aug. 31, 2010, the U.S. mission in Iraq changes and becomes one of advising, supporting and training Iraqi security forces. There will still be a residual anti-terrorism mission, but even that will be done in conjunction with Iraqi security forces.

There will be a force protection mission for U.S. forces in the country, and Mullen did not minimize the danger that American forces in Iraq will face after the Aug. 31 deadline. "Some kind of combat action is possible there," Mullen said.

The commander on the ground in Afghanistan has growing security concerns and leaders need to address that as quickly as possible, Mullen said. The United States is sending 17,000 troops into the country soon. The president directed a strategic review for Afghanistan and any decision for more troops will depend on the outcome of that review, Mullen said.

"I'm on a pretty tight timeline right now to get security forces there in order to provide protection for the (Afghan) elections," Mullen said. Moving the elections from August to May presents some challenges for security forces. Mullen said the need in Afghanistan is for better governance at the national, provincial and district levels.