Saturday, October 13, 2007

Combat Camera: Ready for Anything

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
Colorado Springs, Colo., native Spc. Steve Bedia, left, and North Haledon, N.J., native Spc. John Jensen of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, carefully keep eyes on a vehicle approaching their position while out on patrol in eastern Baghdad’s Sha’ab neighborhood, Sept. 30. Photographer: Sgt. Michael Pryor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
Fresno, Calif., native Pvt. Mark Espinosa of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, scans rooftops for signs of suspicious activity while out on patrol in eastern Baghdad’s Sha’ab neighborhood, Sept. 30. Photographer: Sgt. Michael Pryor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
Spartanburg, S.C., native Spc. Raymond Prince of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, uses a parked car as cover while pulling security while out on patrol with his platoon in eastern Baghdad’s Sha’ab neighborhood, Sept. 30. Photographer: Sgt. Michael Pryor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Friday, October 12, 2007

Combat Camera: First MV-22 Osprey Combat Deployment

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A Marine aircrewman peers from an U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 Marine Aircraft Group 29, as it prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepares for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, takes off from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, takes off from the flight deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Craig Strawser (RELEASED)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
GULF OF AQABA (Oct. 4, 2007) - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263, Marine Aircraft Group 29, prepare for flight on the deck of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is on surge deployment to the Middle East carrying the Osprey to its first combat deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary L. Borden (RELEASED)

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags:
, , , , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

More Evidence Shows Iran Directly Supports Iraq Insurgents

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 2007 (AFPS) -- Coalition forces are finding more evidence that Iran is directly supporting insurgents in Iraq, a U.S. military officer said today.

"We know that they do have official involvement," Air Force Col. Donald Bacon explained during a conference call from Baghdad. "When you actually have captured Quds Force operatives and leaders in country and you know that they're involved in it, ... there is no doubt that there's official involvement."
Bacon is chief of strategy and plans for Multinational Forces Iraq. He spoke with online journalists and "bloggers" shortly after the command announced the detention of Mahmud Farhadi, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force officer accused of providing weapons to Iraqi criminal elements.

"We would like to see Iran live up to their commitments that they have stated publicly ... to help seek a secure and stable Iraq," Bacon said. "When we find a Quds force operative that is instrumental to the shipment of these weapons and funding and training of these extremists, we have no choice but to fulfill our responsibilities."
Farhadi heads the so-called "Zafr Command," which trains and smuggles Iranian insurgents and weapons across the border into north-central Iraq, Bacon explained.

"The area they oversee in Iraq is an area that we have found a lot of explosively formed penetrators. Those come from Iran," Bacon said. "We've also had a lot of indirect-fire attacks involving weapons that come from Iran, missiles, in particular, and 240 mm rockets."
Bacon also announced that a cache of 120 mm mortar rounds was discovered Sept. 30 in Baghdad.

"We know from our experts that they were of Iranian origin," Bacon said. "You wouldn't think so because it has English markings on there, but that's the way they market them. And you can actually look at the Iranian Web site and actually look at the weapons that they market on their Web site, and they have the same kind of markings."
These and other recently discovered stashed weapons belong to "rogue elements" associated with Shiia extremists, the colonel explained. "We're finding these things all the time," he said.

Bacon noted some success stories in deterring foreigners from assisting insurgents, including a particularly effective campaign involving a would-be Saudi suicide bomber who was badly burned in his unsuccessful attempt in Iraq.

"So he got captured. We gave him medical care," Bacon explained. "Over time he's been sent back to Saudi Arabia where he is now fairly visible on TV talking about: 'Hey, this is wrong. I made a mistake.'"
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags:
, , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Coalition Air Strike in Iraq Kills Terrorists, Civilians

News in Balance

News in Balance:

This is an update from yesterday's story.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2007 (AFPS) -- A coalition air strike yesterday that killed terrorists also claimed the lives of a large number of innocent victims, military officials said.

During an operation to pursue senior al Qaeda leaders in the Lake Thar Thar region, troops encountered small-arms fire from the target building. Responding in self-defense, coalition aircraft engaged the enemies inside the building.

After the air strike, ground forces discovered that 15 terrorists, six women and nine children had been killed. Troops determined that two suspects, one woman and three children also were wounded. Ground forces also detained one suspected terrorist after the strike.

Coalition force medical experts administered treatment to those injured, who were later taken to a nearby military facility for further aid.

A Multinational Force Iraq statement issued today said coalition forces are investigating the incident, which is a standard practice with all incidents involving civilian injuries or deaths.

"We are working closely with local Iraqi officials and tribal leaders to ascertain and provide a full accounting of events. We are further committed to ensuring the needs of those affected are thoroughly respected and provided for," the statement said.

Army Maj. Brad Leighton, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, lamented the civilian victims.

"We regret that civilians are hurt or killed while coalition forces search to rid Iraq of terrorism," he said. "These terrorists chose to deliberately place innocent Iraqi women and children in danger by their actions and presence."
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Combat Camera: Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, prepare to leave a Joint Service Center in east Baghdad, Iraq, for Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah on the morning of Oct. 4. Photographer: Spc. Nicholas Hernandez, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
A company of Iraqi police stand in formation for a briefing before taking their posts in east Baghdad, Iraq, on the morning of Oct. 4. Photographer: Spc. Nicholas Hernandez, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army soldiers conduct a .50 caliber weapon familiarization range outside of Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah on Oct. 4. Photographer: Spc. Nicholas Hernandez, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army soldiers conduct a .50 caliber weapon familiarization range outside of Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah on Oct. 4. Photographer: Spc. Nicholas Hernandez, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
A U.S. Army soldier prepares for his turn on a .50 caliber during a weapon familiarization range outside of Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah on Oct. 4. Photographer: Spc. Nicholas Hernandez, Joint Combat Camera Center

More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Navy SEAL to Receive Medal of Honor

News in balance
U.S. Navy SEAL, Lt. Michael P. Murphy

News in Balance:

While the mainstream media slobbers over Friday's news of former VP Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize award for efforts to inflict upon the world his dubious views on the questionable politics of man-made climate change, scant attention has been paid to Thursday's news about a true hero who sacrificed everything for his country.

Announced Thursday, Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue on Long Island, will be the first Medal of Honor recipient for combat in Afghanistan.

In late June 2005, Murphy led a four-man reconnaissance mission east of Asadabad trying to find a key Taliban leader in advance of a mission to capture or destroy the local militia leadership. Taliban sympathizers alerted fighters to the SEALs' positions, and the four men were quickly outnumbered and came under fire, the Navy said.

Even after being wounded, Murphy crawled into the open to make a radio call for help and still continued to fight, the Navy said. The call ultimately allowed the rescue of one wounded SEAL and the recoveries of the bodies of Murphy and two others killed in the firefight.

President Bush will present the Medal of Honor to Murphy's parents at the White House on Oct. 22.

Here is the official story.

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The White House announced Oct. 11 that the family of U.S. Navy SEAL, Lt. Michael P. Murphy will be presented the U.S. Navy Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously, during a ceremony at the White House Oct. 22.

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

Murphy’s father, Daniel, will accept the award on behalf of his son. Murphy will receive the award for his extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage while leading a four-man, special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan June 27 to 28, 2005.

“We are thrilled by the President’s announcement today, especially because there is now a public recognition of what we knew all along about Michael’s loyalty, devotion and sacrifice to his friends, family, country, and especially his SEAL teammates,” the Murphy family said in a statement. “The honor is not just about Michael, it is about his teammates and those who lost their lives that same day.”
Murphy was the officer-in-charge of the SEAL element, which was tasked with locating a high- level Taliban militia leader to provide intelligence for a follow-on mission to capture or destroy the local leadership and disrupt enemy activity. However local Taliban sympathizers discovered the SEAL unit and immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters. The element was besieged on a mountaintop by scores of enemy fighters. The firefight that ensued pushed the element farther into enemy territory and left all four SEALs wounded.

The SEALs fought the enemy fearlessly despite being at a tactical disadvantage and outnumbered more than four to one. Understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his men, Murphy, already wounded, deliberately and unhesitatingly moved from cover into the open where he took and returned fire while transmitting a call for help for his beleaguered teammates. Shot through the back while radioing for help, Murphy completed his transmission while returning fire. The call ultimately led to the rescue of one severely wounded team member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, and the recovery of the remains of Murphy and Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.

Eight more SEALs and eight Army “Nightstalker” special operations personnel comprising the initial reinforcement also lost their lives when their helicopter was shot down before they could engage the enemy. The entire battle, the culmination of Operation Redwing, resulted in the worst single day loss of life for Naval Special Warfare personnel since World War II.
The sole surviving SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, wrote a book about the battle after he departed the Navy this summer. In his book Luttrell credited all three of his teammates for their heroism, including Murphy’s sacrificial act that eventually led to his rescue.

Murphy will be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon during a ceremony scheduled Oct. 23. His name will be engraved beside the names of some 3,400 other service members who have also been awarded the nation’s highest honor.

Awarded by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 as personal award of valor for members of the Navy. Soon thereafter another version was created for the Army and ultimately the Medal of Honor was presented to more than 1,500 Civil War veterans. Later the Air Force created its own unique Medal of Honor design. Marines and Coast Guardsmen are awarded the Navy’s version of the Medal of Honor.

(Story by By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michelle L. Kapica, Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs.)

Related media sources: CNN Politics, LA Times, The Washington Post, AP.

Tags: , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels:

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Combat Camera Video: Operation Ice Storm II Nets 10, Destroys Two Boobytrapped Houses

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO
Video: Operation Ice Storm II
B-roll of U.S. Soldiers destroying two buildings after raiding them, apprehending high value insurgents and identifying possible house-borne improvised explosive devices within the buildings. Scenes include gun tape footage of the buildings being destroyed by Hellfire missiles and Excalibur 155mm rounds. Produced by Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq; Oct. 12 2007 -- Two booby-trapped houses were destroyed and 10 suspected insurgents were detained during an operation in Adwaniyah Oct. 9.

Once the area was cleared of civilians, the homes were destroyed with two Hellfire missiles and two Excalibur rounds fired from attack helicopters.

Scenes show all four rounds impacting both houses.

(Report by 1st Lt. Kalen Smith, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. Multi-National Division - Center PAO.)


More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Missile Defense Tops Agenda

News in balance
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks on in Moscow, Oct. 12, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison

News in Balance:

News outlets report, in a tense start to talks on a range of thorny issues, President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned U.S. officials to back off a plan to install missile defenses in eastern Europe or risk harming relations with Moscow.

Here is the official version of the story.

MOSCOW, Oct. 12, 2007 (AFPS) -- U.S. plans to base missile defense radar and interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic and Russia’s opposition to those plans were at the heart of talks between U.S. and Russian leaders here this morning.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Anatoliy Eduardovich Serdyukov and Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov at Putin’s residence outside of Moscow.

According to pool reports, Putin did not meet with Gates and Rice until 40 minutes after their arrival. Prior to the meeting, U.S. reporters asked Lavrov if there would be any big breakthroughs during the talks. The foreign minister replied: “Breaks, definitely. Through or down -- I don’t know.”

In his opening remarks, Putin said, “I hope today’s talks on many issues will be fruitful, but I hope that in the process of such complex and multifaceted talks you will not be forcing forward your relations with the Eastern European countries.”

In a tone described by pool reporters as “mocking,” Putin mentioned the possibility of a future missile defense system.

"Of course we can sometime in the future decide that some anti-missile defense system should be established somewhere on the moon," Putin said, according to an English translation. "But before we reach such arrangements, we will lose the opportunity for fixing some particular arrangements between us."
Putin threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile treaty. He said the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty limiting Russian and U.S. short- and medium-range missiles was outmoded because other countries are acquiring such weapons.
"If we are unable to make such a goal of making this treaty universal, then it will be difficult for us to keep within the framework of such a treaty, especially when other countries do have such weapons systems," Putin said.

Gates told the Russians that the Pentagon was ready to intensify a dialogue on military relations.

“We have an ambitious agenda of security issues that concern both of us, including as you suggest, development of missile systems by others in the neighborhood, I would say in particular Iran,” he said.

Rice responded to Putin’s remarks by saying that the United States will try to find ways to cooperate. “Even though we have our differences, we have a great deal in common because that which unites us in trying to deal with the threats of terrorism, of proliferation are much greater than the issues that divide us,” she said.

During a briefing on her way to Moscow, Rice said the goal of the missile defense system is to bring about security for European allies and the United States.

“We've been very clear that we need the Czech and Polish sites,” she said. “But I think we ought to look at all the possible elements of what the President (Bush) and President Putin called a kind of regional architecture for missile defense. And there is considerable interest in both Azerbaijan and some of the possibilities in Russia itself. So I think we ought to look at all the possible elements.”
(Story by By Linda D. Kozaryn.)

Bio: Condoleezza Rice
Bio: Robert M. Gates

Related media sources: CNN World, The Associated Press, Yahoo News - Reuters, The Washington Post.

Tags: , , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Air Force Hunter-Killer UAV Now Patrolling Afghan Skies

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO
Video: Reaper
B-roll of the new U.S. military unmanned aerial vehicle called the Reaper. Produced by Master Sgt. Ron Przysucha.

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 -- The Air Force announced today that the service's new hunter-killer unmanned aerial vehicle is now flying operational missions in Afghanistan. The MQ-9 Reaper has completed 12 missions since its inaugural flight there Sept. 25, averaging about one sortie per day. Capable of striking enemy targets with on-board weapons, the Reaper has conducted close air support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Operational use of Reaper's advanced capabilities marks a tremendous step forward in the evolution of unmanned aerial systems. Air Force quality assurance evaluators gave a "thumbs up" to the aircraft's debut performance and have been pleased with its operation ever since.

"The Reaper is a significant evolution in capability for the Air Force," said Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley. "We've taken these aircraft from performing mainly as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms to carrying out true hunter-killer missions."
The Reaper is larger and more heavily-armed than the MQ-1 Predator and in addition to its traditional ISR capabilities, is designed to attack time-sensitive targets with persistence and precision, and destroy or disable those targets. To date, Reaper operators have not been called upon to drop their weapons on enemy positions.

Like the MQ-1 Predator, the Reaper is launched, recovered and maintained at deployed locations, while being remotely operated by pilots and sensor operators at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. That's where the resemblance ends. The MQ-9 has nearly nine times the range, can fly twice as high and carries more munitions.

"It's a tremendous increase in our capability that will allow us to keep UAVs over the airspace of Afghanistan and Iraq in the future for a very long time," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces, who noted the Reaper was a perfect complement to the Air Force's existing manned airborne platforms. "This is just another evolutionary step where technology is helping commanders on the battlefield to integrate great effects from the air into the ground commander's scheme of maneuver."
General North added that he expects the Reaper to bring a significant impact to military operations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

"The enemy knows we track them and they know that if and when they commit acts against their people and government, we will take action against them. The Reaper is an incredible weapon in our quiver."
-- Lt. Gen. Gary North, Commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces
The Reaper has yet to be required to deliver munitions against enemy targets. Approved by Air Combat Command in 2004, the Air Force currently has nine Reapers in its inventory.

Video: Lt. Gen. North
The Gen. talks to a military reporter about the new U.S. military unmanned aerial vehicle called the Reaper.

(Compiled from American Forces Network Afghanistan multimedia news articles and a U.S. Air Force Press Release.)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Global Tags:
, , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Coalition Air Strike Kills 13 Insurgents; Car Bombs Kill, Injure Iraqis

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 (AFPS) -- Coalition forces killed 13 insurgents during an air strike near the Iraqi capital yesterday. Meanwhile, two car-bomb attacks in northern Iraq killed six and wounded 38, military officials said.

A coalition air strike killed 13 west of Baghdad yesterday, including three al Qaeda members responsible for assassinating a local imam, military officials said.

Forces identified the slain terrorists as Abu Rami, Ammar Fadhil Kadhim and Fadil Salman, also known as Abu Raad. Intelligence reports indicated that Raad led an assassination team yesterday in emplacing four improvised explosive devices in and around the home of Abu Bilal, an imam known for preaching anti-al Qaeda messages in the local mosque.

The team detonated one IED, awakening neighbors sleeping on the roof of the adjacent building. The assassins then fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the neighbors' house before entering Bilal's.

Inside the imam's house, the terrorists executed Bilal and wounded his wife. Also inside the house was Bilal's nephew, who managed to kill two of the attackers as they attempted to flee.

Following Bilal's assassination, coalition forces identified the attackers as they gathered in a field nearby. Coalition aircraft engaged and killed the armed men. As ground troops secured the area, they discovered three more armed men. Supporting aircraft killed the three terrorists, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest.

Local citizens feared the three terrorists identified by coalition forces, according to military officials. Kadhim was a senior al Qaeda figure in the Abu Ghraib district responsible for killing women and children. Troops found numerous weapons and a suicide belt among the group of dead terrorists following the air strike, military officials said.

"Cowardly acts against religious leaders and citizens such as this continue to demonstrate that al Qaeda in Iraq will not allow people to live in peace," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "Iraqi and coalition forces will make every effort to end al Qaeda's campaign to terrorize Iraq citizens."
Elsewhere in Iraq yesterday, suspected al Qaeda terrorists detonated two car bombs, killing six people and wounding 38.

A car-bomb attack in Ninevah province killed two Iraqi civilians and two Iraqi soldiers. Sixteen citizens and five Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the blast; three buildings and six vehicles sustained damage. Iraqi police responded to the attack, securing the area while ambulances treated and transported casualties to a nearby hospital.

A second car bomb detonated east of Tikrit, killing an Iraqi policeman and an Iraqi civilian. The explosion wounded 22 people, military officials said. All casualties were transported to the Tikrit teaching hospital by 4th Iraqi Army Division soldiers.

"These senseless acts of brutality during Ramadan show complete disrespect for the faiths and traditions of the Iraqi people," said Army Col. Gary Patton, chief of staff for Multinational Division North. "The brave men of the Iraqi security forces will not allow al Qaeda to intimidate them even with these disgraceful acts of violence."
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags:
, , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Combat Camera: Security on Dismounted Patrol in Baghdad

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Adam Freeman, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, provides security on a dismounted patrol in the Hateen neighborhood, Oct. 2, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodier, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army Spc. Adam Siegel, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, provides security on a dismounted patrol in the Hateen neighborhood, Oct. 2, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodier, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army Sgt. Rob Cervantes, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, provides security on a dismounted patrol in the Hateen neighborhood, Oct. 2, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodier, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army Sgt. Rob Cervantes, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, provides security on a dismounted patrol in the Hateen neighborhood, Oct. 2, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodier, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman, Geneva Stone (left), 1st Combat Camera Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, SC, videographer and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class, Ricky Jackson, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division cross an intersection on a dismounted patrol in the Hateen neighborhood, Oct. 2, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodier, Joint Combat Camera Center

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
As the sun falls and Iraqi citizens prepare for Ramadan, U.S. Army soldiers, with Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, continue their patrol on the streets in the Hateen neighborhood, Oct. 2, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq. Photographer: Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodier, Joint Combat Camera Center

More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Coalition Operations in Iraq Kill 14 Terrorists, Net 12

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2007 (AFPS) -- Coalition troops in Iraq killed 14 terrorists and captured 12 others during a series of operations in the central part of the country today and yesterday.

  • Coalition forces killed 13 terrorists west of Baghdad while targeting associates of al Qaeda in Iraq linked to a local car-bombing network. A group of targeted individuals had gathered in a field near a recent attack. Coalition aircraft engaged the armed men, killing 10 terrorists. As coalition ground forces secured the area, they discovered three more armed men. Another coalition air strike was called in, killing the three terrorists, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest.

  • Coalition forces west of Balad destroyed two buildings linked to al Qaeda in Iraq operations.

  • Information obtained from an anti-terrorist operation in Baqouba yesterday led coalition troops to a nearby location today. When coalition forces called for the target building's occupants to come out, an armed man challenged the coalition troops and was killed. Nine suspects were detained. A cache of weapons, ammunition, grenades and military-style assault vests were found on site and destroyed.

In operations yesterday:

  • Coalition ground forces killed one terrorist and detained three suspects in Baqouba while targeting an alleged associate of al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. "We're continuously pursuing al Qaeda in Iraq's leadership, finding the places they hide and operate, and disrupting their ability to attack innocent Iraqis," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.

  • U.S. soldiers destroyed two booby-trapped houses and captured 10 suspected insurgents in Adwaniyah. While looking for insurgents responsible for emplacing improvised explosive devices, the soldiers found two empty houses wired with explosives. After the area was vacated, the houses were destroyed with Hellfire missiles.

  • Terrorists killed more than a dozen people and wounded scores of others in Beiji as the result of two suicide car-bomb attacks. The separate attacks targeted the homes of the Beiji police chief and a local citizens group leader. The police chief and the citizens group leader escaped harm, but the attacks claimed 14 lives and injured 42 others.

"This cowardly act was a sign of desperation by terrorists, in an attempt to disrupt security forces and concerned local citizens who have joined together to combat terrorism throughout Salahuddin and other areas of northern Iraq," said Army Col. Bryan Owens, commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

"These attacks on the local community show these terrorists have a complete disregard for human life and lack of respect for Iraqi lives and property," Owens said. "Iraqi security forces and concerned local citizens will continue to hunt these extremists to prevent senseless attacks on the people of Salahuddin province."
In an operation a day earlier, Iraqi soldiers captured four suspected insurgents during a patrol in the New Baghdad district of the Iraqi capital Oct. 8. When soldiers searched a vehicle that contained suspicious-acting passengers, they found a rifle and three videos depicting attacks on coalition forces. The four people that were in the vehicle are being held for additional questioning.

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Global Tags:
, , , , , , , , ,

Blogstore: THE TENSION EXCHANGE
Shop Today's Deals at Amazon.com and Save!
Buy.com's Deal of the Day! A Different Product Every Day.
Broadband Essentials from RealNetworks: Maximize Your PC.

Labels: , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button