Saturday, April 12, 2008

Combat Camera: Aboard USS Nimitz; April 12, 2008

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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 12, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) steams ahead of the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) during a combined training exercise. The Nimitz and Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Groups are conducting combined training exercises in the Western Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau (Released)

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HONG KONG (April 6, 2008) A night view of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong during a port visit by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is currently operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 1, 2008) Sailors unload cargo in the hangar bay aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command combat stores ship USNS Concord (T-AFS 5). Nimitz is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Eduardo Zaragoza (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 9, 2008) Sailors stand by to fight a simulated fire during a flight deck drill aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is currently operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet. Operating off the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed fleets with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Pol Sebastian Gocong. (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 2, 2008) Chocks are removed from an HH-60H Seahawk assigned to the "Indians" of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 6 during preparations for take off aboard the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is currently operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Orrin Batiste (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 11, 2008) The guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) approaches the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea. Nimitz is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Orrin Batiste (Released)

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HONG KONG (April 3, 2008) Sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) line up to go on liberty during a port visit to Hong Kong. Nimitz is currently operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (March 29, 2008) Marines assigned to the "Red Devils" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 clean an F/A-18A+ Hornet on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet and is conducting combined training exercises with the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Carrier Strike Group in the Western Pacific. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Eduardo Zaragoza (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (March 31, 2008) Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Paul Portillo, assigned to the "Black Ravens" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, performs a pre-flight inspection on an EA-6B Prowler aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Eduardo Zaragoza (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (March 31, 2008) Sailors move an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 onto an elevator to lift the aircraft to the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (March 31, 2008) Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class John Lambert checks to ensure that ammunition is properly loaded into a .50-cal. rifle on the fantail of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Joseph Pol Sebastian Gocong (Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (April 1, 2008) An AS-332 Super Puma helicopter transports supplies from the Military Sealift Command combat stores ship USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew J. Lanese (Released)

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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Robotic Vehicles Steer Into Research Agency's Spotlight at Pentagon

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“Red” Whittaker, leader of the Tartan Racing team, kneels next to front-mounted radar and laser sensors that this robot-driven Chevrolet Tahoe truck employs to “see” where it is going. The Tahoe was part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-sponsored autonomous vehicle exhibit in the Pentagon’s courtyard April 11, 2008. (Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore, Department of Defense.)

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The computer that “rides” in the back of the General Motors-donated Tahoe takes the place of human thinking to drive the truck, “Red” Whittaker, leader of the Tartan Racing team, said at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-sponsored autonomous vehicle exhibit in the Pentagon’s courtyard April 11, 2008. (Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore, Department of Defense.)

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Defense Department employees check out six robot-driven vehicles in the Pentagon’s center courtyard as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s autonomous vehicle exhibit April 11, 2008. (Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore, Department of Defense.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2008 (AFPS) -- Defense Department employees got a glimpse of the automobile of the future at a display of robot-driven vehicles in the Pentagon’s center courtyard yesterday.

The small four-door sedan, compact station wagon and four sport utility vehicles in the exhibit can navigate themselves without human drivers through a combination of servo-devices and radar- and laser-enabled sensors, said Anthony J. Tether, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

DARPA, now 50 years old, is a Defense Department agency that develops new technology for military use.

“Imagine if we had convoys being driven by robots,” Tether said. Military use of autonomous vehicles would nullify the human impact of roadside bombs used by terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan, he explained.

The vehicles on display at the Pentagon had vied for honors during a DARPA-sponsored competition called Urban Challenge that was held Nov. 3 on a closed course at the former George Air Force Base, in Victorville, Calif. A modified 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe entered by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh won first place, earning a $2 million cash award for its Tartan Racing design team.

A computer brain that “rides” in the back of the General Motors-donated Tahoe takes the place of human thinking to drive the truck, said “Red” Whittaker, leader of the Tartan Racing team.

The much-modified, gasoline-powered truck incorporates a mix of radar- and laser-operated sensors to “see” where it is going, Whittaker said. Its multiple sensors collect data “and then the computer blends those into a complete model of what is going on,” he explained.

“This robot with computers is very good at seeing what’s occurring now and what it projects will happen in the future,” Whittaker said.

The current leading markets for robot-operated vehicles include farming and surface-mining operations, Whittaker noted. Yet, the automotive market could be the “blockbuster” of all potential markets for autonomous vehicles, he said. The U.S. government has long studied the feasibility and potential benefits of so-called “automated highways” featuring vehicles that drive themselves, he noted.

Future use of such highways would likely reduce automobile accidents and provide more efficient traffic management, Whittaker predicted.

“The automotive industry believes in the vision of driving automation,” Whittaker pointed out. “And, that’s a big change from how things were a year ago.”

Maj. John A. Moberly of the Army Staff was impressed with the robot-driven vehicles on display.

“It is amazing technology that can save lives for us in the Army,” Moberly said. “There is still definitely work to do and obstacles to overcome, but it is very promising.”

(Story by Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service.)

Related: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

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Friday, April 11, 2008

Gates: Fewer Troops in Iraq in 2009

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2008 (AFPS) -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today he is confident there will be fewer U.S. troops in Iraq in 2009, but added that the drawdown process has gone somewhat more slowly than he thought it would last year.

This comes as Army Gen. David H. Petraeus returns to Iraq after a week of testimony and meetings in and around the nation’s capital to begin what Gates called a “major force realignment” there. Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen met with journalists at the Pentagon today.

All five surge brigades are expected to be out of Iraq by the end of July, leaving 15 combat brigades in the country.

By the time the surge drawdown is finished by the end of July, the United States will have rearranged its forces in Iraq, redrawn its battle lines, reduced its presence in some areas and shifted more responsibility to the Iraqi security forces, Gates said. Petraeus then will assess the results of the changes before any other troop reductions are planned.

“The only prudent course of action is to pause the drawdowns for a period of time … to assess what impact, if any, all this will have had,” Gates said. Petraeus asked for 45 days, but President Bush yesterday guaranteed the general “all the time he needs.”

Petraeus then will recommend whether to hold troop levels steady or recommend further drawdowns, Gates said. But, beyond Petraeus’ evaluation, other officials will continue to evaluate troop levels there, Gates said.

“I certainly hope … that conditions will allow us to remove more troops by year’s end,” the secretary said.

But only time will tell, he acknowledged.

“We are all realistic. The history of this conflict has demonstrated that we must always be prepared for the unpredictable, and that we must be extremely cautious with our every step,” Gates said. “We cannot get the end game wrong.”

Gates testified before Congress yesterday that he no longer thinks the United States will be able to get down to 10 combat brigades in Iraq by the end of this year.

“I think that the process has gone a little slower,” he said today.

The secretary said he came to that conclusion during his February visit to Baghdad, in which Petraeus detailed his planned adjustments. It was then that the general asked for a brief period of consolidation and evaluation after the five surge brigades redeployed, Gates said.

A 45-day pause in troop reductions would yield a mid-September decision point on further troop-level adjustments, Gates noted. “And at that point, it seems to me that trying to withdraw five brigade combat teams [to get down to 10 before the end of this year] would be a real challenge,” he said. Petraeus has persuaded him that “probably would be too quick,” the secretary added.

As he and other officials have said all along, Gates noted, troop-level decisions depend on what happens in Iraq.

“I think we’re going to have to wait and see whether the Iraqi security forces will have been able to take on new responsibilities, whether their new battalions are in the fight, [and] whether the political process has continued,” Gates said. “I think it really is based on the situation on the ground, and I think we’ll just have to take it a step at a time.”

Still, Gates expressed confidence that there will be fewer U.S. troops in Iraq next year.

“I am confident that we will have a lower number of troops in 2009. Again, I am not saying when in 2009, but I believe we will have a lower number troops in Iraq in 2009,” the secretary said.

Prime factors in considering further troop reductions are Iraqi provincial elections planned for this fall and whether Petraeus needs the troops there for election-related security.

“The role of democracy in Iraq remains an important part of our goal, and frankly, I think that there has been significant progress in that regard,” Gates said.

The Iraqi government has passed a provincial powers law, planned for provincial elections this fall and national elections next year, and there has been greater interaction among the councils, Gates said.

“This looks to me, particularly for a country that has never experienced this kind of governance before, as significant progress. So I think it remains not just a goal, but one that is quite viable,” he said.

When asked about the president’s commitment for more troops in Afghanistan in 2009, Gates said he believes it’s important that the United States commit to staying in the fight there.

Mullen noted that further troop reductions in Iraq will free up the force to provide more soldiers in Afghanistan. Should the Army not be able to further reduce its presence in Iraq, that could put a crunch on “dwell time” at home stations for troops returning from deployment, he acknowledged.

“The available forces in Iraq, should drawdowns continue, are the ones that offer potential to put more troops in Afghanistan and to build dwell time back here,” Mullen said. He said the United States has the forces to remain at post-surge levels in Iraq for “a significant period of time” if necessary. “[But] we would be unable to fill the requirements in Afghanistan,” he said.

U.S. Marines will fill a NATO requirement for up to 3,500 additional troops in Afghanistan through November. After that, there are no plans to send more U.S. troops yet, Mullen said.

The NATO International Security Assistance Force commander has asked for up to three more combat brigades -- as many as 15,000 troops -- for the mission there. During the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, last week, some NATO allies signaled they would send more forces. Still, officials did not get the kind of commitments they were expecting, Gates said.

Asked if Iran is playing a greater role in training and directing “special group” militias in Iraq, Gates replied that he doesn’t know if there has been an increase or whether “stirring the situation up has exposed more of what had been there, but was not evident.”

“I think that there is some sense of an increased level of a supply of weapons in support to these groups,” he said. “But whether it’s a dramatic increase, … I just don’t know.”

Gates and Mullen both were asked if Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose forces clashed with Iraqi forces recently, was considered an enemy of the United States. Both leaders said that as long as Sadr cooperates with the elected government of Iraq, he is not considered an enemy. Given Sadr’s powerful influence in Iraq, both said they would prefer to work with him.

“Certainly the ceasefire he asked for many months ago … has had a positive effect, and he seems certainly to have a following that has followed that and significantly impacted on the reduction of violence,” Mullen said. “But he clearly can have the opposite impact, as well.

“Sadr clearly is a very important and key player in all this. Exactly where he’s headed and what impact he’ll have long term … is out there still to be determined,” the admiral said.

Gates said anyone who is prepared to work within the political process in Iraq peacefully is not an enemy of the United States.

“We want him to work within the political process in Iraq. He has a large following, and I think that it’s important that he become a part of the process,” Gates said.

Gates also fielded questions about the Defense Department’s supplemental funds yet to be approved by Congress. The secretary said officials still are crunching the numbers on what the fiscal 2009 supplemental request will be. It should be ready to present to Congress within weeks, he said. Meanwhile, the department is waiting “patiently” for the remaining $102 billion in supplemental funds for fiscal 2008, he added.

“The fact is, we begin to run out of money to pay the Army in June,” Gates said. “It would interrupt contracts at the depots for repairing equipment. The implications are significant, and even the delay has consequences for [base realignment and closure] and for family housing, for procurement. … We really, really need that supplemental as quickly as possible.”

(Story by Fred W. Baker III, American Forces Press Service.)

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'Surge' Brigade Heads Back to Fort Riley

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

BAGHDAD, April 11, 2008 (AFPS) -- Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team are redeploying to Fort Riley, Kan., this month.

The brigade deployed in February 2007 to secure southern Baghdad’s Rashid district and to help improve the safety and quality of life for the 1.2 million people living there as part of the surge of five brigades into Iraq.

"I am proud of Task Force Dragon's soldiers and the amazing work they've done in 14 months here," Army Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, 4th Brigade commander, said. "We successfully reduced sectarian violence and attacks against coalition and Iraqi security forces by more than 60 percent across the board, strengthened bonds with our ISF brothers, as well as the district and neighborhood governments, and worked diligently to restore essential services.

"We also got to know the people of Rashid,” he continued, “many of whom helped us to end the cycle of violence by courageously providing information leading to the capture of hundreds of criminals who were not acting in the best interests of a secure and stable Iraq.”

Army Brig. Gen. Michael Ferriter, Multinational Corps Iraq’s deputy commanding general for operations, agreed that the brigade’s soldiers made a difference.

"The quality of life for the residents of the Rashid security district improved greatly as a result of the 4th Brigade Combat Team and its Iraqi security force partners," he said. "As the second of the five surge brigades to deploy, the brigade played an integral role in establishing the conditions for long-term security in Iraq."

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Kills Six Armed Criminals Near Baghdad

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An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle takes off in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Predator provides armed reconnaissance, airborne surveillance and target acquisition for Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Rob Valenca)

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2008 (AFPS) -- A Hellfire missile fired from a coalition unmanned aerial vehicle killed six heavily armed criminals in northeastern Baghdad yesterday, military officials reported.

Officials said coalition forces from Multinational Division Baghdad operating the UAV fired on a large group of criminals with rocket-propelled-grenade launchers and a mortar tube.

In other operations in Iraq yesterday:
  • Soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team found a weapons cache in Janabi. It contained a wide variety of ammunition and illumination rounds, propellant, fuses, a hand grenade, TNT and other bomb-making materials. The cache was turned over to an explosives team for detonation.

  • A Multinational Division Baghdad aerial weapons team saw three men at a potential rocket site in northeastern Baghdad. When the men caught site of the team, they fled the scene in a black sedan. But when a UAV showed the criminals returning to the site and confirmed the presence of rockets, the team returned and destroyed three rockets with a Hellfire missile. The criminals fled the scene. The presence of two additional rockets was confirmed at a different site a short time later. The team also destroyed those rockets with a Hellfire missile.

  • In a separate event, a UAV showed a rocket launch site and positively identified a vehicle used in the earlier attack in northeastern Baghdad. The UAV hit the sedan with a Hellfire missile.

  • Iraqi soldiers discovered more than 30 bodies in a mass grave at a house in Mahmudiyah on April 10. Initial reports indicate the remains had been buried for more than a year. The entire house has been declared a grave site, and the Iraqi army is excavating the area.

  • During operations in Iraq on April 9, soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team discovered a weapons cache in Baghdad’s Rashid district. The cache included multiple mortar rounds and bomb-making materials, rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade with launcher, a sniper rifle, blasting caps, and detonation cord.

Earlier this week in Iraq:
  • Iraqi security forces detained two suspected al-Qaida bomb-making-cell members and one insurgent cell leader in separate operations.

  • The Anbar Counterterrorism Directorate, advised by U.S. Special Forces soldiers, conducted an operation to capture members of an al-Qaida bomb-making cell operating out of the Albu Faraj area of Ramadi. The cell is accused of multiple attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, including a homemade-bomb attack March 25. The group also owned a homemade-bomb cache found by the Albu Faraj police March 30. Two cell members were detained during the operation.

  • In Mosul, 2nd Iraqi Army Division soldiers, also advised by U.S. Special Forces soldiers, captured the suspected leader of seven "battalions" of insurgents throughout Mosul. His cells are believed to be responsible for bombings and indirect-fire attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces, including two suicide-vest attacks against tactical control points in eastern Mosul on March 13.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Combat Camera: Troops Provide Security in Sadr City

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A soldier with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, patrol a street in the Sadr City district of Baghdad as Iraqi army soldiers from 11th IA Division, conduct a humanitarian-aid mission on April 5. Terrorist elements attacked innocent civilians, who gathered to receive food and water. The Iraqi security forces, with support from Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers, repulsed the criminal elements and regained security in the area. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Mark Matthews)

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A soldier with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, provides security on a street in the Sadr City District of Baghdad as Iraqi army soldiers from 11th IA Division, conduct a humanitarian-aid mission on April 5. Terrorist elements attacked innocent civilians, who gathered to receive food and water. The Iraqi security forces, with support from Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers, repulsed the criminal elements and regained security in the area. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Mark Matthews)

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A soldier with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, provides security on a street in the Sadr City district of Baghdad as Iraqi army soldiers from 11th IA Division, conduct a humanitarian-aid mission on April 5. Terrorist elements attacked innocent civilians, who gathered to receive food and water. The Iraqi security forces, with support from Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers, repulsed the criminal elements and regained security in the area. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Mark Matthews)

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A soldier with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, provides security on a street in the Sadr City district of Baghdad as Iraqi army soldiers from 11th IA Division, conduct a humanitarian-aid mission on April 5. Terrorist elements attacked innocent civilians, who gathered to receive food and water. The Iraqi security forces, with support from Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers, repulsed the criminal elements and regained security in the area. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Mark Matthews)

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A soldier with Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, provides security on a street in the Sadr City District of Baghdad as Iraqi army soldiers from 11th IA Division, conduct a humanitarian-aid mission on April 5. Terrorist elements attacked innocent civilians, who gathered to receive food and water. The Iraqi security forces, with support from Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers, repulsed the criminal elements and regained security in the area. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Mark Matthews)

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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Combat Camera: Troops Conduct Mosul Raid Through Rain and Shine

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Sgt. James Crawford III, an infantryman in 1st Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo., searches the rooftop of a business in the al-Sinaa neighborhood of Mosul, Iraq, April 1, during an Iraqi Army led raid. (Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

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Soldiers stand in the rubble ridden streets of the al-Sinaa neighborhood of Mosul, Iraq, in the rainy morning hours of April 1. Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment conducted an Iraqi Army led clearing operation to rid the neighborhood of car bomb factories and bomb making materials. (Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

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1st Lt. Donald Maloy, 1st Platoon leader, Co. D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo., communicates through his radio while a Bradley Armored Personnel Carrier provides cord-on security during a joint Iraqi Army and coalition forces clearing operation in the al-Sinaa neighborhood of Mosul, April 1. (Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

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Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment move to clear a complex in Mosul, Iraq, April 1, under heavy rainfall after a Bradley Armored Personnel Carrier providing security in the area breached the wall. Several bags of homemade explosives, bomb initiators and other suspicious items were found during the Iraqi Army led raid. (Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

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Infantry soldiers of 1st Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo., raid a building in Mosul, Iraq during the rainy morning hours of April 1. (Photographer: Spc. John Crosby, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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Less Violence in Iraq to Enable Surge Forces Exit

Focus on Defense
U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testifies with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates before the Senate Armed Service Committee, April 10, 2008, on progress made in the war on terror, the way forward in Iraq and the situation in Afghanistan. (Defense Dept. photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2008 (AFPS) -- Sharply decreased violence in Iraq has set the stage for the departure of the remaining surge forces by the end of July, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee here today.

Violence in Iraq “has declined dramatically since this time last year,” Gates told committee members. “In addition to the drop in U.S. casualties, we have seen a dramatic and encouraging decline in the loss of Iraqi civilians.”

Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were on Capitol Hill to update legislators on Iraq and Afghanistan military operations.

Iraqi deaths caused by ethnocentric conflict are down by about 90 percent, Gates reported, while overall civilian deaths have decreased by 70 percent compared to a year ago.

In addition, Iraqis increasingly are stepping up to assist U.S. and coalition troops in battling insurgents in their country, Gates said. About 100,000 extra Iraqi security forces fought alongside around 30,000 additional U.S. troops as part of last year’s surge operations, he noted.

Gates also said recent Iraqi military operations against insurgents and criminals in Basra and other areas of Iraq are heartening. The Iraqis were not capable of launching a military mission of that scale a year ago, he noted.

Half of Iraq’s 18 provinces now are under Iraqi control, Gates said. Anbar is anticipated to be the 19th province to come under Iraqi jurisdiction, which Gates cited as “a remarkable development” given the grim security situation in that province just 18 months ago.

“The Iraqi forces will shoulder more of the burden as we reduce our forces over time,” Gates said.

Iraq also is experiencing a growing economy, Gates said, noting growth in its gross domestic product is expected to exceed 7 percent this year. Iraq’s oil exports are above prewar levels, and the country will earn almost $40 billion in oil revenue in 2007, he said.

“These economic gains also mean that Iraqis should shoulder ever-greater responsibility for economic reconstruction and equipping their forces,” Gates said.

On the legislative front, Iraqi lawmakers recently passed measures related to pensions, de-Baathification reform and other matters that will help Iraq heal its ethnic and political divisions, Gates said.

“Clearly, these laws must be implemented in the spirit of reconciliation or at least accommodation,” Gates said, adding that such progressive legislative actions should not be ignored or dismissed.

Despite such progress, there are still reasons to be cautious regarding the situation in Iraq, Gates said. Al-Qaida in Iraq is a wounded but still-lethal force, he noted.

Al-Qaida in Iraq “is trying to regenerate itself and will continue to launch gruesome terrorist attacks,” Gates predicted.

Gates said he and other senior military and civilian defense leaders support President Bush’s decision to withdraw the surge forces from Iraq. About 140,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq after all surge forces are withdrawn by the end of July.

“At this point, it is difficult to know what impact, if any, this reduction will have on the security situation” in Iraq, Gates observed.

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, has recommended a 45-day period of evaluation after the return of the surge troops to assess the situation.

“I do not anticipate this period of review to be an extended one,” Gates said, “and I would emphasize that the hope, depending on conditions on the ground, is to reduce our presence further this fall.”

Gates, however, cautioned Iraq observers to be realistic, noting that the security situation there remains fragile and that gains achieved can be reversed.

The secretary acknowledged ongoing public debate and division about the way forward in Iraq. “This is not a surprise. The truth is, perhaps excepting World War II, all of our country’s wars have been divisive and controversial here at home,” Gates observed. “That is the glory of our democracy and gives the lie to the notion we are a warlike people.”

Gates said he became the senior defense civilian 18 months ago with the hope to craft a bipartisan path regarding U.S. Iraq policy that would sustain a steadily lower, but still adequate and necessary U.S. military commitment to that country.

“I continue to harbor this hope, … and I will continue to work for it,” Gates said. “But, I do fear the understandable frustration over years of war and dismay over the sacrifices already made may result in decisions that are gratifying in the short term but very costly to our country and the American people in the long term.”

Mullen told committee members that he and the Joint Chiefs fully support Petraeus’ recommendations to withdraw the surge brigades from Iraq and to be provided time to evaluate and assess the situation before making any further force-structure decisions.

“That seemed prudent to me,” Mullen said. “It’s not a blank check; it’s not an open-ended commitment of troops.

“It’s merely recognition of the fact that war is unpredictable,” the four-star admiral emphasized.

There is no attached timetable to possible additional U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, because flexibility is necessary to ensure that the right decisions are made at the right time, Mullen explained.

“It is the speed and uncertainty of this war, not just the enemy itself, that we are battling,” Mullen observed. This has always been the case in counterinsurgency operations, he said, which tend to be “tough, grueling, messy, and yes, even lengthy work.”

The surge of forces has helped improve security, but it never was intended to be the remedy for all challenges in Iraq, Mullen said.

Iraqi leaders were to use the breathing space provided by the surge to work toward political reconciliation and economic progress. “That such progress has been slower and of mixed success is, I believe, more a function of the difficulties of representative government in Iraq, than it is of the level of security enabled by military operations,” Mullen observed.

“Our troops can open many doors, but they cannot force Iraqi leaders through them,” he said.

As the last of the surge brigades return home, he said, the remaining U.S. troops will continue to help Iraq’s government achieve additional political and economic progress while assisting Iraqi security forces in defending their country.

“But, I see no reason why we cannot accomplish these goals, while also keeping open the option of an informed drawdown of forces throughout the remainder of the year,” Mullen told committee members. “Such options are critical, because while Iraq is rightly our most pressing priority right now, it is not the only one.”

(Story by Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service.)

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Petraeus: Ground Conditions to Dictate Iraq Troop Withdrawals

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WASHINGTON, April 10, 2008 (AFPS) -- After the last of the surge brigades leaves Iraq this summer, future troop withdrawals will be based on conditions on the ground and will be evaluated continuously, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said in a recent television interview.

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, appeared on ABC’s “Nightline” on April 8 after a full day of testimony to Congress about the situation in Iraq. He concluded his testimony yesterday.

In his testimony, Petraeus recommended that after the last of the surge brigades leaves Iraq, the United States take a 45-day period of consolidation and evaluation to determine when future troop reductions can take place.

The process of withdrawing troops is like “battlefield geometry,” in that commanders must position forces relative to the strength of the enemy and the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces in certain areas, Petraeus said. Assessment of conditions on the ground has been happening and will continue on a “segment by segment” basis, he said, with commanders looking at what areas of Iraq are ready to be taken over by Iraqi forces.

“That process is ongoing, and we’ll continue that process in the fall,” he said. “We’re keenly aware of the strain on the force, of the strain on our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and civilians, and their families, and also the strain on the budget -- the sheer cost in blood and treasure of this endeavor.”

Both Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker, who appeared on the show with the general and also testified before Congress, agreed that the United States will need to maintain a presence in Iraq for quite some time, because the Iraqi forces and government have a lot of progress to make.

“The overall development of Iraq into a stable, secure democratic state governed by the rule of law is going to be a multi-year project; there’s no question about it,” Crocker said. “That does not mean that over that period we are going to need to be in Iraq in anything like the numbers we are now or anything like the missions we have now, but total recovery for Iraq is going to be a very long-term affair.”

Iraqi forces will need U.S. support in some key areas, such as air support, for a long time because these capabilities take time to develop, Petraeus said. He noted that until now, the focus has been solely on the counterinsurgency effort, and now the focus is shifting to building internal capabilities.

There are now more than 500,000 members in the Iraqi security forces, Petraeus said, and the United States has been steadily handing over security responsibility to them. That process has not always gone smoothly, he admitted, but the Iraqis are steadily increasing their capabilities.

As the United States looks at transitioning responsibility to the Iraqi government and security forces, the goal for the country remains the same, Petraeus said: an Iraq that can secure itself, is at peace with its neighbors, has a representative government, and participates in the regional and global economy.

The situation in Iraq still will be hard and complicated, but the United States will be able to diminish its presence when Iraq can deal with security challenges on its own, even if the government or security forces aren’t completely at the level they need to be, Crocker said. The most important thing, he emphasized, is to ensure that Iraq does not spiral into violence again, which could have ramifications around the world.

“I understand how tired and frustrated Americans are of the experience in Iraq,” Crocker said. “We're out there. We live the frustration every day -- just how hard it is to get things right. But it's also important to understand what the consequences are if we decide we're tired.”

If America withdrew from Iraq prematurely, a resurgence of al-Qaida would be inevitable, and the insurgents would seek to plant their roots into Iraq again and use it as a base for attacks, Crocker said. The world would also see immense human suffering in Iraq, he said.

“If Americans haven't liked the first two reels of this film and don't want to watch it any more, decide we're not going to sustain this commitment, I can guarantee you the next three reels that will go on without us are going to be really, really ugly, and we'll pay for it in our most vital national interests,” Crocker

(Story by Army Sgt. Sara Moore, American Forces Press Service.)

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President Bush Announces Shorter Deployment Lengths

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
U.S. Army Pvt. Brandon Simpson-Goldsby scales the rooftops of homes during a three-day air assault mission to search for weapons caches and insurgents in Kirkuk, Iraq, April 3, 2008. Simpson-Goldsby is with the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet.

News in Balance:

NOTE: This is an update to an earlier story.

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2008 (AFPS) -- President Bush today directed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to shorten deployment lengths for U.S. soldiers in Iraq from 15 to 12 months, starting in August.

Bush said he made the decision to reduce the strain on the force and because security improvements in Iraq have allowed for the withdrawal of all five surge combat brigades by the end of July.

He also said that officials would ensure troops have at least a year at home between deployments. The change goes into affect Aug. 1 and will not affect those already deployed there.

“Our nation owes a special thanks to the soldiers and families who’ve supported this extended deployment. We owe a special thanks to all who served in the cause for freedom in Iraq,” Bush said.

He also directly addressed the troops, saying that the war in Iraq is not “endless,” and that as conditions there improve, more troops could return home.

“The day will come when Iraq is a capable partner of the United States. The day will come when Iraq is a stable democracy that helps fight our common enemies and promote our common interests in the Middle East,” Bush said. “And when that day arrives, you'll come home with pride in your success and the gratitude of your whole nation.”

Bush heard positive reports on conditions in Iraq from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker this week. He cited the success of the surge brigades as setting the conditions for the troop withdrawals.

Before the surge a little more than a year ago, al-Qaida was safe in bases across the country attacking coalition forces. Now, Bush said, they are on the defensive and forces are working to deliver a “crippling blow.”

“Fifteen months ago, Americans were worried about the prospect of failure in Iraq. Today, thanks to the surge, we’ve renewed and revived the prospect of success,” Bush said.

After the withdrawal of the remaining surge combat brigades this summer, Petraeus has asked for 45 days to assess conditions on the ground and reposition troops.

“I’ve told him he’ll have all the time he needs,” Bush said. But the president warned against calling it a “pause,” saying that description is misleading. “None of our operations in Iraq will be on hold,” he said.

Bush said all U.S. efforts in the country are aimed at a clear goal: a free Iraq that can protect its people, support itself economically, and take charge of its own political affairs.

During the course of transitioning the country to Iraqi control, Bush said, coalition forces will step up their offense, becoming more targeted in their operations as Iraqi security forces take over more of the general security concerns. Also, more provinces will be transferred to Iraqi control as the United States moves into an “over-watch” role.

Economically, Iraq is moving forward, Bush said. Its economy is growing, oil revenue is on the rise, and capital investment is expanding. This is changing the U.S. role, Bush said. Americans now are spending little on large-scale construction costs, and Iraqis are paying for most of the country’s army and police, he said.

Politically, the country has seen “bottom-up” progress, as provincial and tribal leaders are turning to local political structures and taking charge of their own affairs. Provincial elections are planned this year, with national elections planned for next year.

On the diplomatic front, Bush is putting a full-court press on Iraq’s neighbors to play a more supportive role in its stabilization and growth. The president has directed Crocker and Petraeus to stop in Saudi Arabia on their way back to Iraq. He also is sending senior diplomats for talks in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt.

Each country will be encouraged to reopen their embassies in Baghdad and increase their support for Iraq, Bush said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to the third Expanded Neighbors Conference in Kuwait City and the second International Compact with Iraq meeting in Stockholm.

“A stable, successful, independent Iraq is in the strategic interests of Arab nations, and all who want peace in the Middle East should support a stable, democratic Iraq. And we will urge all nations to increase their support this year,” Bush said.

Bush also issued a clear warning to Iran to stop funding and training militias fighting in Iraq.

“If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. If Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests and our troops and our Iraqi partners,” Bush said.

In the 15-minute speech, Bush defended the cost of the war and called on Congress to pass an emergency funding request that will be presented to the session soon.

The president called the war “a burden worth bearing” and said that national interests require success there.

“Iraq is the convergence point for two of the greatest threats to America in this new century: al-Qaida and Iran,” Bush said. “If we fail there, al-Qaida would claim a propaganda victory of colossal proportions, and they could gain safe havens in Iraq from which to attack the United States, our friends and our allies. Iran would work to fill the vacuum in Iraq, and our failure would embolden its radical leaders and fuel their ambitions to dominate the region.”

Success in Iraq deal a historic blow to the global terrorist movement and a severe setback for Iran, he said.

“It would demonstrate to a watching world that mainstream Arabs reject the ideology of al-Qaida and mainstream Shiia reject the ideology of Iran's radical regime,” Bush said. “It would give America a new partner with a growing economy. … And in all these ways, it would bring us closer to our most important goal -- making the American people safer here at home.”

(Story by Fred W. Baker III, American Forces Press Service.)

Related: Transcript

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Engaging China's Leaders May Clarify Military Intentions

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JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 10, 2008 (AFPS) -- China’s military expansion raises questions and concerns, so the best way to get a clear sense of what China is up to and why is to engage with its leaders, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command said here today.

Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating said in response to a reporter’s question that he asked about China’s activities during both trips he’s made there since taking command of PaCom last year.

“We have expressed to them our concern for their development of certain kinds of weapons: aerial-denial weapons and satellite technology and the growth of their submarine force, for example,” he said. “They counter by telling us they only want to protect those things that are theirs.”

That’s fair, Keating conceded, but it doesn’t fully explain the rationale behind China’s actions.

“We at Pacific Command seek not just transparency, but clearer intention, expressed by our Chinese colleagues,” he said. “And it is our firm desire and intention to continue the dialog with our Chinese colleagues so as to develop an even better understanding of their intention.”

Keating cited an apparent disconnect between what China says and what it is doing.

“They profess to seek a peaceful rise and harmonious integration,” he said, quoting Chinese leaders’ own words. “We are all for that. But they have to show us, in our view, how they intend to achieve that while developing these certain weapons. We think there is some contradiction in the stated goals vs. the practices we are observing.”

Ignoring China or the People’s Liberation Army isn’t the answer, he said. “We don’t want to fence them off. We don’t want to isolate them into a corner,” he said. “We are happy to try to work with them.”

Keating expressed hope that by engaging with China, including offering its leaders an opportunity to observe multilateral exercises, the United States and its partners might get the Chinese to open up.

“It is our clear purpose to draw them out, to engage with them, … so as to ensure they are aware of what it is we are about,” he said. Keating emphasized that “we” refers not just to the United States, but also to the entire Asia-Pacific region.

This engagement, he said, might give the Chinese the opportunity “to prove what they profess to believe” and help reduce concerns throughout the region about its military programs.

(Story by Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service.)

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