Saturday, December 20, 2008

US Airpower Summary; Dec. 20, 2008: A-10s Protect Coalition Convoys

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A-10 Thunderbolt IIIs, like the one pictured here, conduct ground support operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan on a routine basis. (U.S. Air Force photo.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 20, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped guided bomb unit-38s onto anti-Afghan forces that were firing rocket propelled grenades at a coalition ground forces convoy conducting operations in the vicinity of Bari Kowt. The missions were confirmed a success by the joint terminal attack controllers.

In the vicinity of Kajaki Dam, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a GBU-31 and a coalition aircraft dropped GBU-12s onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket propelled grenades at coalition forces from inside a compound. The JTACs declared the missions successful.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped a GBU-38 and GBU-31s onto anti-Afghan forces in the open that were attacking coalition ground forces convoy conducting search operations in the vicinity of Nangalam. The missions were reported a success by the JTACs.

In total, 39 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Six Air Force surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan

In Iraq, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon performed a show of force to deter enemy activities and sanitize the objective area for a for a coalition ground forces patrol in the vicinity of Baghdad. The JTAC confirmed the mission successful.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Twenty-nine Air Force and Navy surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, three Air Force and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130s and C-17s provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 130 airlift sorties were flown, more than 300 tons of cargo were delivered and nearly 3,000 passengers were transported. This included approximately 13,600 pounds of troop re-supply that was air-dropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On December 18, Air Force and coalition aerial refueling crews flew 48 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.4 million pounds of fuel to 258 receiving aircraft.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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Video: Christmas Message From Space


Link.

On the Home Front:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2008 -- U.S Army Lt. Col. Kimbrough, U.S. Navy Capt. Stefanyshyn-Piper, U.S. Navy Capt. Bowen, U.S. Air Force Col. Boe, U.S. Air Force Col. Fink and U.S. Navy Capt. Ferguson wish servicemembers world-wide 'Happy Holidays.'

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Head of Joint Chiefs Says Success in Afghanistan Requires Regional Strategy

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In this file photo, an F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, launches heat decoys during a close-air-support mission over Afghanistan, Dec. 15, 2008. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon.)

News in Balance:

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan, Dec. 20, 2008 -- The overarching strategy for success in Afghanistan must be regional in focus and include not just Afghanistan, but also Pakistan and India, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told a news conference here that leaders in all three countries must figure a way to decrease tensions among them. The chairman is visiting here for meetings with Afghan and U.S. leaders.

The regional strategy here is aimed at addressing long-term problems that increase instability in the region.

The Pakistani and Indian civilian leadership has done significant work to decrease tensions over Kashmir. “In that reduction of tensions, there was an outcome that allowed the Pakistani leadership … to focus on the west (border with Afghanistan) where they hadn’t in the past,” Mullen said.

The terror attack in Mumbai increased tension between the two nuclear-armed countries, he said. “In the near term, that might force the Pak leadership to lose interest in the west,” Mullen said.

Mullen noted the immediate impact of the attacks, in which “10 terrorists, well-trained, could hold 15 million people hostage for 72 hours and bring two countries with nuclear weapons closer to conflict.

“Thinking about what that means for the future and terrorism and how we’re prepared for that is something we’re going to have to work our way through,” he said. “I don’t have all the answers there.”

The Mumbai terrorists used a haven in Pakistan to train for the attack. “It was a tactical operation that could have huge strategic effects and it could bring two countries to the brink of nuclear war,” Mullen said. “That is something we all need to be mindful of.”

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan are an open sore in the fight against terrorism. The area – along the mountainous border with Afghanistan – provides havens for al-Qaida and other terror groups, Mullen said. “We need to keep pressure on them or we can’t succeed (in Afghanistan),” he said.

The chairman gave credit to the Pakistani military and the new Pakistani civilian officials for operations they’ve conducted in recent months. He praised the effort in Baijur, Pakistan, that has put pressure on the terrorists on that side of the border. The Pakistani operations in conjunction with coalition and Afghans operations inside Afghanistan have disrupted insurgents significantly, he said.

“We’re not where we need to be,” the chairman said. “We need to be coordinated and synchronized on both sides of that border.

“But the Pakistani military has been committed to that and has done that in recent months. It has had a positive impact against the insurgents across that border.”

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

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Charges Referred Against One Detainee, Dismissed Against Another

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FILE PHOTO - Commissions building courtroom at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Christopher Mobley.)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2008 -- Yesterday the Convening Authority, Office of Military Commissions, referred charges to trial by military commission against 'Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri of Saudi Arabia.

Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri is charged with participating in the planning and preparation for the attack on the USS Cole in the Port of Aden, Yemen, on Oct. 12, 2000. The attack killed 17 sailors, wounded 47 sailors, and severely damaged the ship. The Convening Authority directed that the charges be tried as a capital case, meaning that the accused may face the possibility of being sentenced to death, if convicted.

Charges are only allegations that an accused has committed offenses under the Military Commission Act. The accused remains innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Convening Authority also dismissed without prejudice the pending charges against another detainee, Abdul Ghani. Because the charges were dismissed without prejudice, the government has the option of charging Ghani at a later date.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department press release.)

Related: United States Department of Defense Military Commissions

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Friday, December 19, 2008

OEF Summary; Dec. 19, 2008: Troops Kill 3, Detain 5 in Khowst Province

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2008 -- Afghan National Police and coalition forces killed three armed militants and detained five others, including the man their operation targeted, during a Dec. 16 operation to disrupt the al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan’s Khowst province, military officials reported today.

The combined operation in the province’s Khowst district, southeast of the Afghan capital of Kabul, netted an al-Qaida liaison believed to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters into Afghanistan to conduct terrorist activities.

He is believed to have been in direct contact with al-Qaida leaders outside of Afghanistan, coordinating activities aimed at destabilizing the Afghan government and harming innocent civilians and coalition forces, officials said.

A militant armed with an AK-47 assault rifle was killed when he tried to engage the combined force. Three other militants, two armed with AK-47s and one with a shotgun, engaged the combined force as they searched the compound. The combined force returned fire, killing two men and wounding the third, a woman.

Medics provided immediate care to the wounded militant and evacuated her to a coalition hospital for further care, allowing her husband to accompany her. She is expected to recover, officials said.

A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47s, hand grenades, pistols, a shotgun and other military equipment.

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

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OIF Summary; Dec. 19, 2008: Troops in Iraq Nab Suspected Iranian Agent, Other Terrorism Suspects

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2008 -- Coalition forces apprehended a suspected Iranian intelligence agent and an alleged associate, as well as 10 other terrorism suspects, in operations in Iraq over the last two days, military officials reported.

Acting on intelligence information, coalition forces in Qastin, north of Baghdad, targeted an alleged commander of Iranian special operations in Iraq who also is believed to be involved in facilitating training of Iraqi militants at camps operated by Iran’s Republican Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

Coalition forces approached the wanted man’s residence, where he identified himself to forces. He then led forces to an associate at a nearby residence. Both men were apprehended without incident.

Officials said Quds Force is believed to provide direct support to multiple extremist groups in Iraq, and is responsible for weapons being smuggled into Iraq from Iran.

In other operations today:
  • Two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq recruiters were captured in Baghdad, and five other suspected terrorists were detained in a separate operation in the Iraqi capital targeting al-Qaida in Iraq leadership.

  • In Jalula, north of Baghdad, forces detained a suspect believed to be associated with a regional al-Qaida in Iraq courier.

In operations yesterday:
  • Forces in Dawr, north of Baghdad, captured a wanted man believed to be a local al-Qaida in Iraq financier with connections to local leaders of the terrorist organization.

  • Coalition and Iraqi forces captured an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq regional leader in Kirkuk. The suspected terrorist reportedly also is associated with al-Qaida in Iraq propaganda and recruitment efforts in the region. An additional suspect was detained for further questioning.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)

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US Airpower Summary; Dec. 19, 2008: F-16s Protect Coalition Forces

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An F-16 Fighting Falcon, like this one, performs close-air support and precision-guided munitions delivery for coalition forces patrolling in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John Nimmo Sr.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 19, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18A Hornet conducted a show of force expending flares and provided armed aerial overwatch for the coalition forces patrol that had taken fire in the vicinity of Musa Qal Eh. The mission was confirmed a success by an on-scene joint terminal attack controller.

In the vicinity of Lashkar Gah, Navy F/A-18C Hornets performed shows of force to deter enemy activities and provide armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy in the area. The JTACs declared the missions successful.

A coalition aircraft performed a show of force to deter enemy activities near Gereshk. The mission was reported a success by a JTAC.

In total, 56 close-air- support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Three Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, four Navy and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon performed a show of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy that had just completed a raid resulting in the capture of a high value individual in the vicinity of Baghdad. A JTAC confirmed the mission successful.

In the vicinity of Ba' Qubah, an F-16 conducted a show of force and provided armed aerial overwatch to coalition forces patrolling in the area. A JTAC confirmed the mission successful.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Twenty-eight Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally three Air Force and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 130 airlift sorties were flown, more than 500 tons of cargo were delivered and nearly 4,200 passengers were transported. This included approximately 34,500 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Dec. 17, Air Force and coalition tanker crews flew 48 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.5 million pounds of fuel to 274 receiving aircraft.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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Supercarrier Future USS George HW Bush Preps for Commissioning

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In this 2006 file photo, Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard workers flood the drydock where the future USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) was berthed. (Photo by Mr. John Whalen courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship Building.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2008 -- The future USS George H.W. Bush, (CVN-77), will transit from the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News shipyard to Norfolk Naval Station on Dec. 22.

This transit will enable the ship to begin preparation for its commissioning on Jan. 10, 2009. Following commissioning, USS George H.W. Bush will remain at Norfolk Naval Station to prepare for builder's and acceptance trials in early 2009.

"The ship and its crew have worked and trained hard and are on course for commissioning and delivery", said Capt. Frank Simei, program manager for in-service aircraft carriers.

"As the most powerful warship in the world USS George H.W. Bush will be a tremendous asset to our nation over its fifty years of planned service."

Congress authorized construction of the future USS George H.W. Bush in the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense Authorization Act. The ship was laid down on Sept. 6, 2003, and christened on Oct. 9, 2006 by Dorothy Bush Koch, daughter of the ship's namesake.

George H.W. Bush is the 10th and final ship of the Nimitz class and incorporates major improvements from her predecessors, including a bulbous bow, redesigned island, composite mast and three-wire arresting gear configuration.

The future USS George H.W. Bush is commanded by Capt. Kevin O'Flaherty.

(Report from a Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs news release.)

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Pentagon: Gates Requests Plan to Close Guantanamo

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has requested a proposal for shutting down the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a Pentagon official said today.

Gates wants to be prepared to provide a plan for closure if President-elect Barack Obama requests it, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.

“The president-elect has made it perfectly clear throughout the course of the campaign that he wishes to address this issue early on in his administration,” Morrell said. “So the secretary wants to be prepared to assist him in trying to figure out a solution to this thorny problem.”

Gates has stated that requirements for closing the facility include constructing legislation that provides statutory framework for housing detainees outside the confines of Guantanamo Bay, Morrell said.

“He has asked his team for a proposal on how to shut it down [and] what would be required specifically to close it and move the detainees from that facility, while at the same time ensuring that we protect the American people from some very dangerous characters,” he said.

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

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NORAD Preps for 50th Year Tracking Santa

Click to visit the NORAD Tracks Santa Ops Center
Click to visit the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Among North American Aerospace Command’s diverse and challenging missions, none is more gratifying -- or as downright fun -- as tracking Santa Claus each year for children around the world, the NORAD commander said this week.

“It is the most wonderful experience you can ever imagine to talk to children from literally all over the world who want to know where Santa is and ‘When is he going to be at my house?’” Air Force Gen. Victor E. “Gene” Renuart told local, state and federal leaders during a Dec. 16 symposium here on community resilience.

“Of course you always have to say, ‘After you are asleep,’” Renuart told the group, chuckling.

The “NORAD Tracks Santa” program dates back to 1955, when an errant Christmas Eve phone call reached what was then the Continental Air Defense Command operations center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The call came from a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper ad and wanted to know where Santa was.

The commander who answered the phone gave the child the information he wanted, starting an annual tradition that NORAD assumed when it formed in 1958. This year marks NORAD’s 50th anniversary of tracking Santa as he travels the world delivering gifts.

The program has grown significantly, particularly since it was first presented on the Internet in 1998. The Web site registered 10.6 million visitors last year from 212 countries and territories, NORAD officials said.

In addition, more than 1,000 volunteers who staffed the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center last Christmas Eve answered nearly 95,000 phone calls and received 140,000 e-mails from families around the world, they said.

This year, NORAD will begin tracking Santa’s journey Dec. 24 via live video feeds on the NORAD Tracks Santa Web site. The site also features fun holiday games and activities that change daily.

“This is not necessarily national defense,” Renuart said of the special holiday program, comparing it to NORAD’s 24/7 mission providing aerospace warning and defense. “But it is a mission we have taken great pride in over the years and that has connected us with communities around the world.”

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

Related Web Sites
NORAD Tracks Santa Web Site
North American Aerospace Defense Command

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OEF Summary; Dec. 18, 2008: Afghan Commandos Detain Insurgent Leader, 2 Others

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Afghan National Army commandos, assisted by coalition forces, detained an insurgent leader and two other militants in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, military officials reported.

The commandos, acting on credible information, conducted a raid on a compound in the Behsood district of Nangarhar province that served as a transit point for various insurgent groups. During a search, the commandos detained three militants -- Abdul Wahid, Raz Gul and a man known only as Haider. All three identified themselves during questioning.

Wahid is believed to be responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and facilitating insurgent activities throughout Nangarhar province. Gul and his brother, Haider, are suspected weapons smugglers and suppliers for insurgent fighters in Konar province.

The commandos encountered no resistance during the detention process, and no shots were fired. They safeguarded six women and 17 children during the operation.

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

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OIF Summary; Dec. 18, 2008: Troops Nab Suspects, Thwart al-Qaida in Iraq

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Coalition and Iraqi forces killed three enemy fighters and captured 24 suspected terrorists during operations in Iraq in the past three days, military officials reported.

In operations today:
  • Coalition forces in Baghdad captured a wanted man and two of his associates, all of whom are believed to support the terrorist group in Anbar province. The man identified himself to forces during the operation.

  • Southeast of Mosul, coalition forces captured a man wanted for bringing foreign terrorists into the country, and also detained two other suspects.

  • Two suspects were detained during an operation targeting an al-Qaida in Iraq military operative in Hammam al Alil, southeast of Mosul.

In operations yesterday:
  • Troops captured a wanted man and one of his associates in Tikrit, about a 100 miles north of Baghdad. The wanted man is believed to be a military cell leader in the Samarra area.

  • Coalition troops detained two suspects in al-Qaida in Iraq’s leadership in Baghdad, and two more suspected terrorists who are believed to provide administrative and logistical work for the group in Mosul.

  • Iraqi special forces killed three suspects and captured four others after coming under hostile fire northwest of Baghdad. The seven are believed to be responsible for previous attacks against coalition forces and Iraqi officials. The troops seized several weapons, homemade explosives, bulletproof vests and documents from the site.

  • Iraqi soldiers seized a large weapons cache north of Baghdad that included 133 57 mm rockets, a 120 mm mortar system, a 60 mm mortar system, two 120 mm rockets, a 107 mm rocket, two mortar sights, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, eight RPG rounds, two rifles, a flare gun, four machine guns, 12 AK-47 magazines, 24 hand grenades, 30 flare rounds, two bags of assorted ammunition and an assortment of homemade bomb components.

In other recent operations, coalition and Iraqi forces captured six suspected terrorists during two raids in Mosul yesterday and Dec. 16. One of the men is suspected of building homemade bombs in the area.

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

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Gates Urges Commanders to Open Direct Dialogue With Obama on Iraq

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates hopes commanders with a “vested interest” in the future role of U.S. forces in Iraq can share their views directly with the incoming president, a Pentagon official said today.

Washington and Baghdad have reached a deal stipulating that U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011. But as Defense Department leaders discuss the details and timeline of the force drawdown, Gates has urged direct dialogue with President-elect Barack Obama, Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.

“The focus will be on making sure there is direct communication between the commanders and the president-elect, so that he can make an informed decision about the way ahead,” Morrell said.

“The secretary, I believe, wishes to conduct a similar process to the one that he has conducted as these decisions have been made over the past couple of years,” he continued. “[A process] in which the president -- the commander in chief -- gets to hear from virtually every commander with a vested interest in this particular area of the world.”

These leaders include Gates, the Pentagon’s civilian chief; Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq; Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command; Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and the service’s joint chiefs, Morrell said.

“It means [they] will all get to speak -- if the secretary is able to do this -- directly with the president, so that President-elect Obama gets a wide variety of views, a number of varying perspectives … about what they believe to be the proper course,” he said.

Gates met with Odierno and Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, over the weekend in Balad, Iraq, to discuss future force strength and other topics.

“They had a lengthy and very good conversation about the proposed way ahead in Iraq in the coming year, including force levels during the coming year,” Morrell said of the Dec. 13 meeting. He noted that future force levels are dependent on events on the ground in Iraq next year, including elections at the provincial, district and national levels.

On the heels of his trip to the Middle East, Gates flew to Chicago to meet with Obama and his national security team. Attending the meeting was Mullen, who, at Gates’ request, briefed the group on “the current thinking about the way ahead in Iraq,” Morrell said.

“The secretary described that conversation, that discussion, as an excellent one,” Morrell said. “He said he feels as though the group has already exhibited excellent chemistry.”

Morrell noted that Washington and Baghdad at any time could renegotiate the agreement on the U.S. troop presence in Iraq, though there are no plans to do so. But he provided a glimpse into the secretary’s thinking if the timeline were extended beyond 2011.

“[Gates] could see where a force in the size of tens of thousands, as he said, would still be needed to help the Iraqi military continue to grow, continue in its training, and also provide the kind of support that it cannot provide for itself at this point, whether it be through logistics or aviation or intelligence or other means,” Morrell said.

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

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US Welcomes Chinese Plans to Fight Piracy

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 -- The United States would welcome China’s participation in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific said today at the Foreign Press Center here.

Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said Beijing’s plans to send warships to help fight piracy could help rekindle stalled military-to-military relations between the United States and China.

“I hope the Chinese do [send People’s Liberation Army navy ships to the region], and we will work closely with them,” Keating said.

“I think this could be a springboard for the resumption of dialog between the PLA forces and U.S. Pacific Command forces. So I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful,” he said.

China cancelled or postponed several planned military-to-military exchanges with the United States in early October, in response to announced U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. China’s actions reversed progress Pacom had been making in promoting closer collaboration between the two countries’ militaries.

A Chinese foreign ministry official announced this week at a U.N. Security Council meeting that China was considering sending naval ships for escort operations in the region “in the near future.”

China relies heavily on the Gulf of Aden, where more than 100 vessels have been attacked this year, for its oil imports and other maritime commerce. Six Chinese ships have been attacked, including a hijacked cargo ship that was rescued yesterday by the International Maritime Bureau’s antipiracy force.

The U.N. Security Council voted Dec. 16 to permit attacks on pirate bases on the ground. Earlier this month, the council passed a resolution that allows navies to operate within Somalia’s 12-mile territorial waters to pursue suspected pirates.

Pacom is communicating with various agencies and commands, including U.S. Central Command, which has responsibility for the Gulf of Aden, to determine ways to enhance cooperation and collaboration with China if it joins the anti-piracy effort. Keating said he plans to meet with Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the Centcom commander, in the next days to discuss this and other issues.

“We are working with the Chinese to ensure they are aware of the lanes of communication available to them” and to share pertinent intelligence in the event that they send ships, he said.

Keating called freedom of access to both the maritime and air domains critical to global supply chains. “And we concentrate on sustaining and maintaining that freedom of access,” he said.

Pacom’s strategy in the Pacific, he said, is based on three basic principles: partnership, presence and military readiness.

“We want everyone in our area of responsibility to know we are committed to security, stability and prosperity all over throughout our region, which covers over half the surface of the Earth,” Keating said.

“We are going to remain present and engaged throughout the area of responsibility,” he continued, “and we want to emphasize to our friends and allies that we will be there in the years ahead as we have been there for decades in the past.”

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

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US Airpower Summary; Dec. 18, 2008: C-130s Support Heavy Airlift

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A C-130 Hercules prepares for a nighttime departure sortie mission enroute to Iraq. C-130s are prime transporters of cargo, passengers and troop resupply and support heavy airlift missions throughout Southwest Asia. This C-130 is deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas and is assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at an undisclosed base in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a guided bomb unit-38 onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket-propelled grenades at coalition forces from a nearby enemy compound in the vicinity of Lashkar Gah. Furthermore, a Navy F/A-18C Hornet conducted a show of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition forces patrol that had taken fire in the same area. The missions were confirmed a success by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.

In the vicinity of Qalat, an F/A-18C performed a show of force to deter enemy activities in the area. A JTAC declared the mission successful.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs performed shows of force and provided armed aerial overwatch for coalition forces conducting cordon search of a village in the vicinity of Ghazni. The missions were reported a success by the JTACs.

Near Gardez, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted a show of force and provided armed aerial overwatch to coalition forces receiving direct fire in a town center. A JTAC confirmed the mission successful.

An F-15E provided armed aerial overwatch for a coalition convoy traveling through mountainous terrain in the vicinity of Khowst. The mission was reported a success by a JTAC.

In total, 61 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Four Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, two Navy aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

In Iraq, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon performed a show of force, dispensing flares to deter anti-coalition forces in the vicinity of Baghdad. A JTAC confirmed the mission successful.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Thirty-one Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, three Air Force and coalition aircraft performed tactical reconnaissance.

Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift, helping to sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.

Approximately 120 airlift sorties were flown, more than 320 tons of cargo were delivered and nearly 3,600 passengers were transported. This included approximately 7,200 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews flew as part of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq.

On Dec. 16, Air Force and coalition tanker crews flew 46 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.3 million pounds of fuel to 269 receiving aircraft.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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Supercarrier USS Carl Vinson Readies for Missions as Overhaul Nears Completion

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In this 2007 file photo, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the James River en route to a pier-side dock after completing an 18-month dry dock period at Northrop Grumman Newport News. Carl Vinson has been undergoing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. During RCOH Carl Vinson’s nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship’s services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepare for another 25 years or more of service. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Myriam Padilla.)

Focus on Defense:

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 18, 2008 -- Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Air Department worked Dec. 13-14, to completed a new milestone for the V-4 division and transfer 750,000 gallons of JP-5 aviation fuel back aboard the ship.

The transfer marks the first time since the beginning of Carl Vinson's 40-month refueling complex overhaul that JP-5 has been stored on board.

"It was a divisional effort by everyone in our chain of command and it couldn't have been done without them," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class (AW/SW) James Hendershot, V-4 division leading petty officer.

The division conducted dry runs months ahead of schedule, finding the most efficient way to bring the fuel aboard and to its designated area.

"The plan went flawlessly, we went over it until it was perfected," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)(AW/SW) Raymond J. Gray, V-4 squadron flight deck chief.

A robust fuel supply is vital to aircraft carrier operations. JP-5 is used to fuel various types of equipment aboard including aircraft, flight deck gear, and emergency generators.

With the fuel aboard, Carl Vinson is significantly closer to completing its overhaul process and becoming fully operational and combat ready.

"Without this fuel we can't launch aircraft, and if we can't launch aircraft, we can't fight," said Hendershot.

(Report by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Aaron Shelley, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs.)

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Celebrities, Volunteers Assemble 400,000 Care Packages for Deployed US Troops

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Actor and director Ben Affleck helps Operation Gratitude volunteers assemble care packages for deployed troops in the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, Calif. (Pentagon courtesy photo.)

On the Home Front:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Actor and director Ben Affleck and other celebrities joined more than 1,000 volunteers over the weekend to put together 400,000 care packages for deployed troops at the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, Calif.

Operation Gratitude, a California-based troop-support group, organized the event that also included actress and model Kathy Ireland and “Days of Our Lives” soap opera stars Deidre Hall, Jay Kenneth Johnson and Leanne Hunley.

"Every time we reach a milestone package, it is an acknowledgment of the immense generosity of the American people, and ultimately a tribute to our brave men and women in uniform who inspire each of us to be part of something greater than ourselves,” Carolyn Blashek, Operation Gratitude’s founder, said.

Community volunteers stuffed, taped, labeled and transported thousands of care packages, not stopping until Charlie Othold, director of operations, announced that the 400,000th package had hit the assembly line.

“This milestone package represents 20 million individual items, more than 2.8-million pounds and $40 million worth of product that Operation Gratitude has sent to troops deployed overseas since 2003,” Othold said.

During the event, Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith presented the organization with a check worth more than $11,000, and Ireland thanked the volunteers for their “extraordinary devotion and hard work.”

On Dec. 14, Blashek presented Affleck with an American flag flown over Multinational Corps Iraq headquarters in honor of his support of Operation Gratitude.

Affleck stressed the importance of thanking U.S. servicemembers, especially during the holidays, when they are far from home and loved ones.

(Report by Sharon Foster, American Forces Press Service.)

Related Web Site: Operation Gratitude

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US Marines Drawing Down in Iraq

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In this file photo, an Iraqi police officer talks to children as in Ramadi, Iraq, Dec. 4. Marines and IPs patrol to protect people in the area and to provide an opportunity for the IPs to practice techniques the Marines have taught them. (Photographer: Lance Cpl. Albert F. Hunt, Regimental Combat Team 1.)

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In this file photo, an Iraqi policeman checks a man's identification card in al Anbar province, Iraq, Feb. 2. Marines with Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and other coalition forces are making operational adjustments to drawdown forces allowing Iraqi security forces take control of security in their cities. (Photographer: Lance Cpl. Albert F. Hunt, Regimental Combat Team 1.)

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In this file photo, Iraqi soldiers with 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, practice marching for their graduation ceremony aboard the Iraqi training center in Al Anbar province, Iraq on February 15. The Iraqis are trained by U.S. Marine Military Transition Team, 2nd Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 1, to operate in the Northern part of Iraq. RCT-1 is deployed with Multi National Force-West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Al Anbar province of Iraq to develop Iraqi security forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic reforms, and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction. (Photographer: Lance Cpl. Albert F. Hunt, Regimental Combat Team 1.)

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In this file photo, Iraqi soldiers with 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, practice marching for their graduation ceremony aboard the Iraqi training center in Al Anbar province, Iraq, Feb. 15. The Iraqis are trained by U.S. Marine Military Transition Team, 2nd Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 1, to operate in the Northern part of Iraq. RCT-1 is deployed with Multi National Force-West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Al Anbar province of Iraq to develop Iraqi security forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic reforms, and continue the development of a market-based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction. (Photographer: Lance Cpl. Albert F. Hunt, Regimental Combat Team 1.)

Dispatches from the Front:

KARMAH, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2008 -- Marines with Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and other coalition forces are making operational adjustments.

In the wake of the decrease in violence tied to the improvements in the Iraqi security forces and governance, Marines have started pulling back.

In al Anbar province, Marines have already begun demilitarizing and realigning operating posts and increasing operational area with fewer Marines, as Iraqi security forces continue to step forward and gain control. Coalition forces were once sprawled throughout Anbar, maximizing their presence within communities by operating out of outposts throughout cities and towns.

Living amongst the population enabled Marines to deny insurgents freedom of movement; however, the proficiency and competency of local forces have allowed coalition forces to continue stepping back.

Camp Fallujah, a central U.S. base in the area, was pivotal in supporting the surrounding combat outposts. Yet with sweeping decreases in enemy activity, the camp, once one of the largest in Anbar province, has been demilitarized and is being turned over to the government of Iraq.

Marines operating in the greater Fallujah area, a onetime insurgent stronghold widely seen as vital to the province, have already transitioned to an over-watch position. The maturity of Iraqi security forces is evident as they have progressively begun conducting patrols independently, requesting coalition forces support as they feel necessary.

Marines, upon request by Iraqi security forces, supplement Iraqi patrols and search or detain suspected insurgents only with approved warrants and Iraqi security forces support.

Concurrent with the drawdown of U.S. Forces, Marines of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, recently inherited additional areas, over fifty percent larger than its original battle space where it was once necessary for two battalions to provide security. Coalition troops will further disburse and decrease as forces realign their presence and Iraqi security forces operate in increasingly independent roles.

“It’s definitely a sign that we, and the Iraqi security forces, are headed in the right direction,” said Capt. Michael Deredita, a 26-year-old assistant operations officer from Stafford, Va., with 1st Bn., 3rd Marines.

Once considered the deadliest area in al Anbar, Iraqi forces operating in Karmah have made the consolidation possible by substantial gains in proficiency and competence.

“On our level, this would be like us passing the baton to the Iraqi people right before the finish line,” Deredita explained.

Iraqi security forces in the expanded area and throughout the area of operations have even begun turning away Marines on patrols, thanking them for their support and informing them assistance is not necessary.

With Marines turned away from patrolling and Iraqi security forces leading operations, the provisions of the drawdown illustrate much of the operational shift Marines have already made on the ground.

“Due to the nature of the [area of operations], just by pure numbers [Marines] had already begun transitioning to an over-watch position,” said 1st Lt. Daniel Rhodes, the commander of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, from Chicago.

With less responsibility in the area Marines have also been able to shift even more focus on training the Iraqi army and police.

“Our big focus now is embedded reconstruction teams,” Rhodes said. “Once [Iraqi security forces] have their systems in place our withdrawal is imminent at that point.”

The Marines’ guidance and mentorship has shifted to organizational and logistics training, ensuring sustainability for local forces after they are gone.

“We suggest focus areas,” explained Rhodes, regarding the evolving role of Marines. “We facilitate city council meetings, share information, pretty much play the neutral party to keep things moving in the right direction. To be honest, our biggest problem is keeping the platoons, squads, gainfully employed.”

With the rise in Iraqi security forces competency and confidence, the vision of a sustainable peace and prosperity in Iraq is closer to becoming reality.

(Report by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis, Regimental Combat Team 1.)

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