Saturday, July 28, 2007

Coalition Forces Consolidate Anbar Gains

News in balance

News in Balance:

Iraqi, Coalition Forces Consolidating Anbar Gains
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, July 27, 2007 -- Iraqi and coalition forces are consolidating gains they have made in Iraq’s Anbar province, the coalition’s ground commander in the region said today.

“A gunshot heard right now in the city of Ramadi is a rare thing,” Marine Brig. Gen. Mark Gurganus said during a phone interview.
Ramadi was the site of pitched fighting between Sunni insurgents and coalition forces. Al Qaeda in Iraq directed the fighting, and thousands of innocent Iraqis paid the price. Today, Ramadi is safe enough to bring the U.S. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff into downtown for a walkabout. Marine Gen. Peter Pace visited the region last week.

This week, there were 96 “incidents” in all of Anbar province. Coalition officials define an incident as any report of contact with the enemy, a car-bomb attack, a cache find, etc. Last year at this time, there were well over 400 incidents a week in the province. And the trend continues downward, Gurganus said.

Most of the contact with the enemy occurs in the eastern portion of the province, where Multinational Force West’s area of responsibility abuts that of Multinational Division Baghdad.

Al Qaeda is entrenched in the region around Karma. That allows the terror group to get operatives into Ramadi, Fallujah, Baghdad and the northern part of the country, Gurganus said.

Coalition forces divide the province into three areas. The western part of the province is called Area of Operations Denver. Marine Regimental Combat Team 2 commands the area and is supported by an Army battalion. In a major desert operation, Marines and soldiers are looking for insurgents attempting to establish training camps and trying to exploit the system of wadis, deep waterways that are dry except during the rainy season, to insinuate their way back into the cities, Gurganus said.

Area of Operations Topeka centers on the provincial capital of Ramadi. U.S. and Iraqi army forces are turning areas there over to Iraqi police for security responsibility, but U.S. forces will continue to work to build Iraqi security capacity in the region, the general said.

Area of Operations Raleigh in the east is the one area where there is still fighting going on, Gurganus said. He noted that Multinational Force West and Multinational Division Baghdad are working together to close the “seam” between the commands at Karma. Sixty-nine of the 96 incidents in the province this week were in and around Karma. Marine Regimental Combat Team 6 is augmented by an Army battalion in this region.

Iraqi army forces in the province have made tremendous gains, Gurganus said. The 1st Iraqi Division is under command of the Iraqi Ground Forces Command. The 7th Iraqi Division in the west remains under coalition command but will soon be at full strength, Gurganus said.

“We are still partnered with them, and this will continue even when they are completely under Iraqi control,” he said. “[This is] because our goal out here is not necessarily the building of numbers, but of capacity within these forces.”
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Combat Camera: Five Star Iris Entertains Troops in Ramadi

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Five Star Iris, an Atlanta rock and roll band, entertains the crowd gathered at the Moral Welfare and Recreation facility at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, July 11. Photographer: Spc. Ricardo Branch, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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Alex Winfield, Five Star Iris lead singer sings a song from the band's first album, Five Star Iris, in the Moral Welfare and Recreation facility Jat Camp Ramadi July 11. Photographer: Spc. Ricardo Branch, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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Rob Schaefer, Five Star Iris bass guitarist jams to the delight of the crowd in the Moral Welfare and Recreation facility at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, July 11. Photographer: Spc. Ricardo Branch, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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Dan Fishman, Five Star Iris drummer entertains the crowd at the Moral Welfare and Recreation facility at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, July 11. Photographer: Spc. Ricardo Branch, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

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1st Brigade Combat Team Soldiers enjoy the music of Five Star Iris at the Moral Welfare and Recreation facility at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, July 11. Photographer: Spc. Ricardo Branch, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Five Star Iris Entertains Troops in Ramadi
07.16.2007
Spc. Ricardo M. Branch
1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs


CAMP RAMADI, Iraq -- Troops and civilians alike gathered in the Morale Welfare and Recreation facility for a special concert July 11 at Camp Ramadi.

Five Star Iris, an Atlanta, Ga., rock and roll music band, made a special trip to Iraq as part of a four-day MWR concert for military service members operating in the Middle East.

“This was our chance to show our support the best way we could,” said Alex Winfield, Five Star Iris lead singer. “This is our third military tour, and it’s our first time in Iraq. It’s been an unforgettable experience.”

The band was approached by MWR officials during one of their performances in Texas and asked if they’d like to perform overseas for the military.

“A few months ago, we were approached by an MWR promoter and asked if we’d go to Southwest Asia and of course we said yes,” Winfield said. “Then they asked if we’d be willing to go to Iraq. We said definitely.”

The current tour was something the members really wanted to do for the troops and themselves as Americans.

“Not many bands can say they’ve been in Iraq,” Winfield said. “The people here have been really welcoming and appreciative of us traveling here for them.”

Although it’s only three shows in Iraq, the band enjoys the time to travel across the country and see what the troops endure and what life’s like for the men and women of the armed forces.

“We all have a different takes about our experiences here,” said Dan Fishman, Five Star Iris drummer.

He said that everyone has a responsibility to each other as human beings to do what we can to help in any way they can.

“It’s a huge sacrifice,” Fishman said. “It’s not easy to come and serve here, so if we can do something to help out and break the monotony … this was something we needed to do.”

Before even arriving overseas to entertain the troops, the band was receiving emails from their fan base to make the performance a special one for the military.

“We’d have fans telling us that coming here was something we needed to do,” Winfield said. “They were telling us to make this concert a memorable one. We didn’t know what to expect coming here so we were a bit nervous. This was one of our only concerts where you saw weapons in the crowd.”

The troops attending the show loved the chance to break away from their daily routines and enjoy a concert in a combat zone.

“It gets dull here,” said Pfc. Gary Murdock, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team paralegal. “This concert helped relieve some stress.”

He added, “It was a good concert. The band was enthusiastic about being here and created a very fun and uplifting environment for us. Iraq is a very stressful place and having events like this is a great way for service members to have an outlet and escape the reality of what’s going on around them.

When asked what they all thought of their time at Camp Ramadi, the band had one reply, “Awesome. The crowd was really enthusiastic, and appreciative of us. It’s always great to make new fans wherever we go.”
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Combat Camera Video: Gun Tape Footage

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Video: Apaches Engage Insurgent Mortars
B-roll of Apache crews engaging an insurgent mortar team following an attack on two coalition forces' bases. Scenes include insurgents firing mortar cannons, the insurgents driving away and Apaches engaging the insurgents. Produced by 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.

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Video: Bridge Explosion Gun Tape Footage
B-roll of AH-64 helicopters engaging anti-Iraqi forces in a white four-door sedan and under a bridge. Scenes include U.S. Soldiers engaging the sedan, insurgents fleeing the car and a bridge being destroyed. Produced by Task Force Marne Public Affairs.

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Video: F-16 Guntape Footage
B-roll of Air Force F-16s bombing a tanker trailer filled with explosives. Scenes include aerial footage of the tanker being targeted and two bombs exploding on the targeted site.

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Combat Camera: HSC 22 "Sea Knights"

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NORFOLK, Va. (July 24, 2007) - Five MH-60S Seahawks, from the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, perform formations over Chambers field at Naval Station Norfolk. HSC-22 can perform vertical replenishments, search and rescue, and anti-surface warfare as part of a mobile detachment for expeditionary strike groups. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals (RELEASED)

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NORFOLK, Va. (July 24, 2007) - Five MH-60S Seahawks, from the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, perform formations over Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk. HSC-22 can perform vertical replenishments, search and rescue, and anti-surface warfare as part of a mobile detachment for expeditionary strike groups. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals (RELEASED)

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NORFOLK, Va. (July 24, 2007) - Sailors from the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 prepare to board five MH-60S Seahawks moments before take off at Chambers Field. HSC-22 can perform vertical replenishments, search and rescue, and anti-surface warfare as part of a mobile detachment for expeditionary strike groups. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mandy Hunsucker (RELEASED)

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NORFOLK, Va. (July 24, 2007) - Sailors from the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 prepare to board five MH-60S Seahawks moments before take off at Chambers Field. HSC-22 can perform vertical replenishments, search and rescue, and anti-surface warfare as part of a mobile detachment for expeditionary strike groups. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mandy Hunsucker (RELEASED)

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NORFOLK, Va. (July 24, 2007) - Five MH-60S Seahawks, from the "Sea Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, perform formations over Chambers Field at Naval Station Norfolk. HSC-22 can perform vertical replenishments, search and rescue, and anti-surface warfare as part of a mobile detachment for expeditionary strike groups. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals (RELEASED)

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Friday, July 27, 2007

Improved Security May Mean Fewer Troops

News in balance

News in Balance:

COL Stephen Twitty
COL Stephen Twitty, Commander of the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, speaks with reporters at the Pentagon via satellite, providing an update on ongoing security operations in
Iraq. Link: Iraq Briefing 27 July 2007. Transcript.

Improved Ninewah Security May Mean Fewer U.S. Troops in Future
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, July 27, 2007 -- Insurgent attacks in Iraq’s Ninewah province have dropped significantly, and if the trend continues, fewer U.S. troops will be needed in the region, an Army commander in the area said today.

A sign of the improved security situation in the province is the fact that the province -- which includes Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city -- will transfer to Iraqi provincial control sometime next month, said Army Col. Stephen Twitty, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division’s 4th Brigade, during a briefing with Pentagon reporters via telephone.

The Ninewah provincial government has made great strides and can stand on its own with minimal help, Twitty said. “We have a very mature provincial government here,” he said.

The coalition provincial reconstruction team in Mosul and the brigade staff will continue to coach and mentor the provincial government. “In nine months I have seen this government mature, so they will be able to operate pretty much independently and run the provincial government pretty much independently,” Twitty said.

On the security side, the two Iraqi divisions in the province are already under the command of Iraqi Ground Forces Command. “We still continue to see a need for the (provincial reconstruction team) to be here and will probably see a need for some type of coalition forces up here,” Twitty said. “That may or may not be a robust force like I have, and it's going to be based on the security situation here.”

He said the security situation is showing great promise. When his brigade moved into the area in December, there were between 15 and 18 attacks per day. Today, that number is down to between seven and nine. “But we must not call victory yet, and we must continue to look at the situation up here,” he said.

He said he will look at the possibility of reducing coalition forces in the province.

About 19,000 Iraqi police and 20,000 Iraqi army soldiers are in Nineveh and are taking on the job of fighting and defeating terrorism, Twitty said. He described an example of Iraqis shouldering the burden that occurred May 16, when terrorists launched a car-bomb offensive. “The Iraqi security forces stood their ground and destroyed the majority of the (car bombs) … so they could not reach their final destination, decisively defeating the attack,” he said.

Iraqi security forces have “the will, the personnel and most of the equipment to fight,” but still face challenges, the colonel acknowledged. Logistics, medical support, aviation support, and engineer expertise and equipment are shortfalls. “These are the areas that the Iraqi security forces must develop and that the Iraqi government must provide for their forces,” Twitty said.

The Iraqi forces will continue to grow; Iraqi government plans call for another 3,000 policemen and standing up three new Iraqi army battalions to augment the current forces, Twitty said. “These additional forces will solidify the current effort in the province,” he said.

The terrorists have reacted to the success with confusion. “The insurgents have been plagued with infighting amongst several groups of the Islamic State of Iraq, and it continues to attempt to influence operations here in Nineveh,” Twitty said. “This infighting caused decreased effectiveness of insurgent attacks in June. This month, insurgent forces received little to no financial and logistics support due to the strong Iraqi police, Iraqi army and coalition force presence and operations. These operations have resulted in the seizure of 11 caches and the capture of several insurgent leaders.”

The improved security has allowed coalition and Iraqi officials to concentrate on infrastructure improvements and strengthening the local government.
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Combat Camera: On Board USS John C. Stennis, 27 July 2007

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2007) - Flight deck personnel prepare aircraft for flight operations on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Davis Anderson (RELEASED)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 25, 2007) - An S-3B Viking, from the "Top Cats" of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31, spreads its wings prior to launching off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Hyde (RELEASED)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 25, 2007) - An EA-6B Prowler, attached to the "Yellow Jackets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, is directed onto the catapult as it prepares to launch off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Hyde (RELEASED)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 25, 2007) - An EA-6B Prowler, attached to the "Yellow Jackets" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, is directed onto the catapult as it prepares to launch off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Hyde (RELEASED)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 26, 2007) - Military Sealift Command fast-combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) delivers stores to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) during a replenishment at sea. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Davis Anderson (RELEASED)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 16, 2007) - Flight deck Sailors ready the barricade during flight deck drills aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Flight deck barricade drills are performed to prepare Sailors in case of an emergency landing. Stennis, as part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jon Hyde (RELEASED)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 23, 2007) - Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Lawrence Imamura, assigned to operations department's security division, stands high-value-transit watch on the fantail aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). High-value-transit watches are stood to add security to the ship while transiting congested ports or straits passages. Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Crystal Habbershon (RELEASED)

An Important Message Regarding Homecoming from JCS FRG and Ombudsman Team:

"We understand that everyone is extremely excited and that excitement is growing with each passing day.

We want to remind everyone that for the safety of the Sailors and ship we ask that you DO NOT give out information about ship’s movement or homecoming via any means of communication, including but not limited to email, phone, text, instant message, Myspace (including countdowns), etc…

THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR SAILOR.

There are various ways you can give out needed information to loved ones without giving specifics. Especially when obtaining tickets for flights etc… Examples are to use code. You can say stuff that both individuals know. Examples are 7 days before Aunt Jane’s Birthday. 2 Months after Mom’s birth month. 12 Days after the date of our Wedding. Etc…"
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Combat Camera Video: Gun Tape Footage

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Video: UAV Kinetic Strike Gun Tape Footage
B-roll of a house being bombed during an unmanned aerial vehicle kinetic strike. Scenes include aerial footage of the house exploding.

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Video: F-16 Strike Gun Tape Footage
B-roll of a 500 lb. global-positioning-system-guided bomb dropping on the house of an insurgent suspected of manufacturing improvised explosive devices for use against coalition forces. Scenes include aerial gun tape footage of the house exploding.

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Video: Insurgent Training Camp Demolished
B-roll of aerial footage of an insurgent training camp being destroyed by nine 500 pound bombs dropped from U.S. Air Force F-16s. Scenes include an aerial view of the camp being destroyed in an area northwest of Jurf as Sakhr, Iraq. Produced by Task Force Marne Public Affairs.

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More Than 50 Insurgents Killed in Fierce Fighting in Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

More Than 50 Insurgents Killed in Fierce Fighting Near Qal’eh-ye Gaz
07.26.2007
Combined Joint Task Force-82


BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- An element of 1st Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps, combat-advised by coalition forces, killed more than 50 enemy fighters during a combat patrol on the western side of the Helmand River in Helmand province during a battle that lasted more than 12 hours and finished early this morning.

Taliban insurgents engaged the ANA-led patrol 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) north of Qal’eh-ye Gaz, a village in Helmand province. During the course of the battle, the insurgents attacked from 16 separate compounds using heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and small-arms weapons. The Afghan national security forces and coalition forces immediately returned fire and called in close air support to destroy the enemy fighters within the compounds.

Coalition air support dropped two bombs on the compounds with the greatest concentration of insurgents. Both compounds produced significant secondary explosions immediately suggesting a large quantity of explosive material was present in each. Insurgents routinely hide explosive material used to make IEDs in compounds within populated areas.

Throughout the evening, the insurgents arrived using a wadi system from Musa Qala to reinforce the established enemy positions. The combined force maneuvered to defendable positions and directed close air support aircraft to continue obliterating the identified Taliban militia positions. No more bombs were dropped during the engagement.

As the battle concluded, more than 50 insurgents were confirmed killed with an unknown number wounded. Sixteen Taliban compounds, three enemy motorcycles and five enemy trucks were destroyed as well.

Intelligence suggests a heavy concentration of Taliban insurgent fighters in the Musa Qala area. They are using Musa Qala as a base of support and it is believed that they will stay and defend the area rather than use their normal hit-and-run tactics. Since Sunday, more than 160 insurgents have been killed in the vicinity of Musa Qala.

The combined force suffered just one casualty, a broken hand by a coalition Soldier. There were no Afghan civilian injures reported.

“The enemies of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan continue to deliberately put innocent Afghans into harm's way by attacking ANA and coalition forces in populated areas,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson. “We are taking every possible precaution to avoid harming non-combatants. Our aircraft engaged legitimate enemy targets during this engagement to minimize the potential of Afghan casualties. Further, with the lack of any combined force injuries inflicted by the Taliban, this engagement is another humiliating defeat for the enemies of Afghanistan.”
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Thursday, July 26, 2007

Combat Camera: Mayport Bids Kennedy a Final Farewell

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Susan Cornell (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Susan Cornell (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Susan Cornell (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)

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MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)

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Generals Chart Security Progress in Baghdad

LTG Ray Odierno/Staff LtGen Aboud Ganbar
LTG Ray Odierno, Commanding General Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Staff LtGen Aboud Ganbar, Commander of Baghdad operations, Fardh al-Qanoon, provide an update on current operations. Link:
Iraq Briefing 26 July 2007

Dispatches from the Front:

U.S., Iraqi Generals Chart Security Progress in Baghdad
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, July 26, 2007 -- Security progress in Iraq is undeniable, Iraqi and American leaders in Baghdad said today.

Iraqi army Lt. Gen. Abood Qanbar, commander of the Baghdad Operations Center, said sectarian violence is decreasing and his country will not slip in civil war.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, attributed the success to three factors.

The first is that the surge of coalition forces has had an impact on the situation in the capital. The surge is denying sanctuary to al Qaeda in Iraq and Shiia extremists.

“The important element to long-term effectiveness is holding these gains,” Odierno said during a news conference. “The Iraqi security forces and coalition forces have made a commitment to ensure we hold these gains.”
The second factor is Iraqi forces’ growth in strength and capacity, the general said. “With such professional growth comes the confidence of the population,” Odierno said. “Security provided by competent Iraqi security forces allows the people to go about their business of restoring economic, political and social growth of the nation.”

Third is reconciliation efforts that tribal leaders and sheikhs have been engaged in. “Ultimately, reconciled groups come to understand that the political process is the best way to achieve their objectives peacefully and under the rule of law instead of through violence and fear,” he said.

Abood said the number of bodies discovered by authorities has decreased by 90 percent. He added that improvised explosive devices are down 40 percent, and car bombs are down 15 percent. “Life is normal in many areas of Baghdad,” Abood said through a translator. “We have noticed more stores opening after a long suspension. Work in the government offices is now organized.”

The general said many projects are under way in Baghdad, and students were able to finish the school year with minimal interference of their exams.

With the return of more peaceful life, the number of Iraqis using medical facilities has jumped by 300 percent, Abood said.

“Iraqi people in some hot areas rejected the terrorist groups after they felt that the Iraqi forces can protect them,” he said. “People are cooperating with the Iraqi security forces.”
He said terrorists are not pleased with the unity the Iraqi people have shown. “We know that terror has no religion,” he said. “It is the enemy of all the nations and all humanity.”

Abood is under no illusions. Even with the progress in Baghdad, a lot of work remains, he said. “We have to face sectarianism, and all the people must support the operations,” he said.

Odierno congratulated the Iraqi soccer team for its victory over South Korea in the Asian Games. “As hard-working men from many different and diverse backgrounds, they represent what is best about this nation,” the general said. “I wish them the best of luck against Saudi Arabia, and I hope they can take home the Asian Cup for the first time in history this Sunday.”

Following the soccer team’s victory, extremists launched an attack on Iraqis celebrating the win. “These cruel acts of terrorism like this have gone on far too long,” Odierno said. “Together we can put a stop to this, and we can throw these heartless zealots out of this country for good.”

Operations Fahrd al Qanoon and Phantom Thunder are supporting the Iraqi government’s plan to secure the Iraqi population, Odierno said. Forces are concentrating operations on ending terror inflicted on the population by al Qaeda and other illegal groups.

“Our combined forces have captured hundreds of weapons and ammunition caches, found and cleared well over 1,300 explosive devices and more than two dozen car bombs,” he said. “We have captured key al Qaeda and extremists Shiia leaders.”
Odierno also acknowledged the suffering of the Iraqi people and thanked them for their sacrifices. “It is my hope that we will be able to continue standing alongside you until the job is done,” he said.
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