Saturday, January 10, 2009

US Airpower Summary; Jan. 10, 2009: F-15Es Perform Shows of Force

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An F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft returns to the fight after receiving fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during a mission over Afghanistan. The F-15E provides close-air support and armed aerial overwatch to deter enemy activities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 10, 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II performed a show of force and expended flares to prevent anti-Afghan forces from attacking a coalition convoy in the vicinity of Ghazni.

Near Musa Qala, coalition aircraft destroyed an enemy compound using guided bomb unit-12s, provided aerial overwatch for a coalition ground unit and executed shows of force in the area, expending flares to deter enemy counterattack.

Coalition aircraft performed shows of force expending flares and provided aerial observation in support of a ground operation near Tarin Kowt.

In the Bagram area an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle performed a show of force to deter enemy activity after coalition forces searched suspected enemy sites.

Coalition aircraft performed a show of force to deter anti-Afghan forces from placing improvised explosive devices along a convoy route.

On-scene joint terminal attack controllers assigned to coalition ground units verified the success of these missions.

In total, 50 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

Ten Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 43 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 126 airlift sorties were flown, more than 420 tons of cargo were delivered and nearly 3,200 passengers were transported. This included approximately 16,400 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in Afghanistan.

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

On Jan. 8, Air Force and coalition tanker crews flew 52 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.7 million pounds of fuel to 314 receiving aircraft.

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

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US Navy Commissions USS George HW Bush

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U.S. Navy Streaming Video of USS George H.W. Bush Commissioning Ceremony (Player opens in a new window.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2009 -- With traditional pomp and circumstance and its namesake on hand, the last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush, was commissioned in Norfolk, Va., today.

“So what do you give a guy who has been blessed and has just about everything he has ever needed?” President George W. Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush, joked during the ceremony. “Well, an aircraft carrier.”

The story of the USS George H.W. Bush, also known as CVN 77, begins well before its keel-laying in September 2003. It began in the early days of World War II, when the former President Bush was just 18 when he enlisted in the Navy as a seaman second class, his son said.

Just days before his 19th birthday, George H.W. Bush became the youngest Navy pilot when he received his wings and commission. The young pilot flew torpedo bombers off USS San Jacinto from August 1942 to September 1945. On Sept. 2, 1944, his plane was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. He went down in the ocean and was rescued by the Navy submarine USS Finback.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for courageous service in the Pacific theater.

Thirty-five years later, he was sworn in as the 41st president of the United States and served two terms.

“The ship is a fitting tribute to a generation of men with whom my dad was privileged to serve,” the president said. “She’s also a tribute to a new generation of American soldiers and sailors and Coast Guardsmen and women, airmen and Marines who have stepped forward to defend the United States of America.”

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates also declared USS George H.W. Bush a fitting tribute to the man who served his country for more than 40 years in several capacities.

“There is no one more worthy of having the last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier named in his honor than our 41st president, the last of the World War II generation to serve as commander-in-chief,” Gates said. “As commander-in-chief, President [George H.W.] Bush had a courage and toughness that impressed all those who worked for him.

“At the same time, he was, and is, a man of feeling, especially where men and women in uniform are concerned,” the secretary added.

Gates remembered the 41st president’s tribute to the 47 sailors who died when a 16-inch gun turret exploded aboard USS Iowa on April 19, 1989. The press accused Bush of just “going through the motions,” because he appeared to speed through his remarks.

In fact, Bush was so moved by the sailors’ sacrifice that he would not have made it through his remarks had he not sped through them, the secretary said.

“He once said that a peaceful, prosperous international order required ‘the leadership, the power, and yes, the conscience of the United States of America,’” Gates said. “This ship that bears his name, this ship that we commission today, embodies all three.”

For the ship’s namesake, the commissioning brought back memories made more than six decades ago when, as a young sailor, he participated in the commissioning of USS San Jacinto.

“Those who are sitting out there where I was 65 years ago, preparing to serve aboard your new ship, I wish I was sitting right out there with you, ready to start the adventures of my naval aviation career all over,” the former president said. “As you prepare to man this ship, I do know that you take with you the hopes and dreams of every American who cherishes freedom and peace.

“And you take with you the undying respect and admiration of the entire Bush family,” he added before helping set the ship’s first watch.

“I know you will find comfort and inspiration, particularly in the night sky,” the senior Bush continued. “For it is in the splendor of the stars that you will truly understand the majesty of creation and bear witness to the certain hand of God.”

The nuclear-powered USS George H.W. Bush is nearly twice as long as the first ship on which its namesake served. It’s nearly as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City, and will be home to about 6,000 sailors and Marines.

And as the elder Bush pointed out, it has “feature that a few of my granddaughters, in particular, would really like … there are a mind-boggling 1,400 telephones.”

USS George H.W. Bush is set to make history and today marked the first day of that illustrious journey, said Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter. “The impact of a new carrier is global," he said. “For no other ship represents to the world the power of the United States the way this does.”

(Report by Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service.)

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Pentagon: Biden in Pakistan, Afghanistan

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2009 -- Senator and Vice President-elect Joe Biden arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan today to meet with Afghan and U.S. military leaders and thank deployed U.S. troops serving there for their service.

Biden met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Army Gen. David D. McKeirnan, commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force during his visit, ISAF officials reported.

After meeting with McKiernan, Biden stopped to shake hands with U.S. troops stationed at ISAF headquarters and thank them for their service, officials said.

“Thank you, I mean it sincerely,” Biden told the troops. “It’s a big, big deal what you’re doing here. You’re making a big sacrifice in a [challenging] environment. Thank you for your service.”

Before departing, Biden shook hands one last time with McKiernan, telling him, “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Biden’s visit to Afghanistan followed a stop in Islamabad, Pakistan. There, he met briefly with President Asif Ali Zardari and other Pakistani leaders.

Two days earlier, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, U.S. Central Command commander, said in an address to the U.S. Institute of Peace that peace and stability in Afghanistan are incomplete without improving relations among the country and its neighbors.

The road to success in Afghanistan, Petraeus said, involves commitment and comprehensive coordination from Pakistan, India and possibly Russia and Iran to combat the spread of terror and extremism in central Asia.

“It’s not possible to solve the challenges internal to Afghanistan without addressing the challenges, especially in terms of security, with Afghanistan’s neighbors,” Petraeus said. “A regional approach is required.”

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

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Video: USS George HW Bush Commissioning Ceremony

Bush Praises US Military for Keeping America Safe Since 9/11

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2009 – President George W. Bush said this morning he’s had no higher honor during his eight years as president than serving as commander in chief to the “brave patriots” of the U.S. military.

The president dedicated his next-to-last weekly radio address to praising the “selflessness and courage” of U.S. military men and women he credits with helping ensure no terrorist attacks have threatened the country since Sept. 11, 2001.

Bush, who made his official farewell speech to the military earlier this week during a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., said he and first Lady Laura Bush “will take with us many inspiring memories of the valor that we have seen these brave Americans display time and again” when they leave the White House.

“We saw their valor on September the 11th, 2001, in service members rushing into smoke-filled corridors to save their colleagues at the Pentagon, and in planes patrolling the skies above New York City and Washington D.C.,” he said.

“We saw their valor in the days after that attack, when Americans crowded into recruiting centers across our country, raised their hands to serve, and pledged to defend our people and our freedom.

“We saw their valor in the forces who deployed to Afghanistan within weeks of 9/11, closed down the terrorist training camps, and drove the Taliban from power.

“We saw their valor in the fearless troops who stormed across the Iraqi desert –- and destroyed a regime that threatened America.

“We saw their valor in battle-tested warriors who signed up for a second, or third, or fourth tour -- and made the troop surge in Iraq that I announced two years ago today one of the great successes in American military history.”

As the U.S. military liberated more than 50 million people around the world, it also the United States safer by taking the fight to terrorists abroad, the president said. This, he said, helped ensure that Americans did not have to face them at home.

As a result, no terrorist attack has taken place on U.S. soil in the seven years since Sept. 11, 2001.

“This is no coincidence,” Bush said. He noted the vast effort that has made this possible, and the tireless work by the military, law enforcement officials, security analysts and homeland security agents, among others.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to all of these patriots,” he said. “Because of their devotion to service, many Americans live their lives without the fear and uncertainty that they felt in the days just after 9/11.”

Bush called this continued safety a blessing, but emphasized that it must never foster complacency. “America still faces sworn enemies intent on striking our nation and our people, and we must remain vigilant for as long as that threat remains,” he said.

The president praised the men in women in uniform who have remained vigilant. These Americans answer the call to defend freedom when it is under attack. They put their lives on the line to defend democracy and keep our country safe,” he said.

“And they inspire a nation with their selflessness and their courage. I am proud to have served as their commander-in-chief.”

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

Related: Transcript

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Friday, January 9, 2009

Combat Camera: Ransom Parachuted to Somali Pirates Aboard Sirius Star

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) The MV Sirius Star is observed at anchor by the U.S. Navy following an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) A small aircraft is observed by the U.S. Navy as it flies over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) A parachute dropped by a small aircraft is observed by the U.S. Navy as it drops over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) A parachute dropped by a small aircraft is observed by the U.S. Navy as it drops over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) A small aircraft is observed by the U.S. Navy as it flies over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) The MV Sirius Star is observed at anchor by the U.S. Navy following an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) The MV Sirius Star is observed at anchor by the U.S. Navy following an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) The MV Sirius Star is observed at anchor by the U.S. Navy following an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

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SOMALIA (Jan. 9, 2009) The MV Sirius Star is observed at anchor by the U.S. Navy following an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star. The U.S. 5th Fleet conducts maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Air Crewman 2nd Class David B. Hudson.)

Related Article: Ransom Paid, Somali Pirates Expected to Release Supertanker

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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OIF Summary; Jan. 9, 2009: Troops in Iraq Seize Weapons Stockpiles

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2009 -- Iraqi and U.S. soldiers, Iraqi police and “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members seized several weapons caches in Baghdad this week, military officials reported.

In operations yesterday:
  • Iraqi and U.S. soldiers, working on a tip, seized four 60 mm rockets and three warheads in Baghdad.

  • U.S. soldiers seized a 107 mm rocket, bomb-making materials and an assortment of small arms near Taji, north of Baghdad.

  • Iraqi security forces working with U.S. soldiers discovered a mortar round and roadside bomb in Baghdad's Rashid district.

  • Police in Baghdad’s Risalah community, working with U.S. soldiers, found a 60 mm mortar round while on patrol.

  • On a combined patrol with U.S. soldiers, police found a roadside bomb in Baghdad’s Saha neighborhood.

In earlier operations:
  • North of Baghdad on Jan. 7, Iraqi and U.S. soldiers found a cache that contained two 155 mm projectiles, a 107 mm rocket, 17 57 mm rockets, 12 60 mm mortars, two 60 mm mortar tubes, 12 rocket-propelled grenades, 8,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, 12 blasting caps, a radio and 200 feet of detonation cord.

  • Sons of Iraq members seized 19 57 mm projectiles in Baghdad's Tarmiyah area Jan. 6 and transferred them to local police.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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OEF Summary; Jan. 9, 2009: Troops Continue to Target Bomb Networks in Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2009 -- Coalition forces killed 37 armed militants and captured four others in operations targeting bomb networks in Afghanistan’s Zabol and Laghman provinces in recent days, military officials reported.

Coalition forces killed 32 armed insurgents, including a woman, detained one suspected militant and destroyed a cache of weapons, explosives and roadside-bomb materials during an operation in Laghman province’s Alishang district.

After the operation, local Afghan officials met with coalition forces and confirmed that all 32 killed were hostile militants. An Afghan governor approved a radio announcement stating these facts.

“We stand by our initial news release, that 32 insurgents were killed during the operation,” Army Col. Jerry O’Hara, a U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman, said. “The enemy combatants used girls and older men to shield their advance. It is important to note that acting as sentries and spotters takes away any claims of being a noncombatant. We go through great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and take responsibility when we inadvertently cause injuries or casualties.”

An operation yesterday in Zabol province’s Jaldak district targeted a Taliban roadside-bomb facilitator. The targeted militant also is believed to be in direct contact with local Taliban commanders, planning bomb attacks along Afghanistan’s Highway 1, officials said.

As coalition forces approached, armed militants engaged them with small-arms fire. Because women and children might have been inside the buildings, coalition forces held their fire and called for all occupants to come out peacefully. Nine women and 16 children exited without harm, and they were escorted to a safe location.

Meanwhile, the armed militants remained inside the buildings and continued to engage the force with small-arms fire. With the women and children out of harm’s way, the force entered the buildings, killing five armed militants and detaining three suspected militants.

The force found a rocket-propelled grenade hidden in the building and destroyed it to prevent its future use.

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

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US Airpower Summary; Jan. 9, 2009: A-10s Deter Anti-Afghan Forces

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An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to fly a combat sortie in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate weapons-delivery platforms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 8, 2009 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet performed shows of force and expended flares to deter anti-Afghan forces from attacking coalition units in the vicinity of Ghazni. The missions were declared a success by the on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.

Near Delaram, a Navy F/A-18E, providing aerial overwatch for a coalition ground unit, executed a show of force, expending flares to disrupt an enemy attack. The JTACs declared the mission a success.

Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10s performed shows of force expending flares as a deterrent to anti-Afghan forces firing at coalition ground units near Sheykhabad. Additionally, F-15Es provided aerial overwatch of a landing zone as coalition helicopters picked up soldiers. The missions were declared successful by the JTACs.

Outside Shurakian, a Navy F/A-18E performed a show of force and expended a flare to repel an enemy force engaging a coalition convoy. The JTACs reported the mission was a success.

In total, 73 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

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

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 48 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-six Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions as part of operations in Iraq. Additionally, two Air Force 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 126 airlift sorties were flown; more than 420 tons of cargo were delivered, and nearly 3,200 passengers were transported. This included approximately 16,400 pounds of troop resupply that was air-dropped in Afghanistan.

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

On Jan. 7, Air Force and coalition tankers flew 52 sorties and off-loaded approximately 3.7 million pounds of fuel to 314 receiving aircraft.

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

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Ransom Paid, Somali Pirates Expected to Release Supertanker

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In this November 19, 2008 file photo, the Sirius Star is at anchor off the coast of Harardhere, Somalia, as seen by a U.S. Navy aircraft flying overhead. The ship was attacked Nov. 15 more than 450 miles off the East coast of Africa, and was forced to proceed to an anchorage in Somali territorial waters (U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class William S. Stevens.)

Dispatches from the Front:

MANAMA, Bahrain, Jan. 9, 2008 -- A news release from Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs made available Friday states that it appears Somali pirates have received payment for the very large crude tanker Sirius Star. The Liberian-flagged tanker, owned by the Saudi Arabian-based Saudi Aramco, and operated by Vela International was attacked more than 450 nautical miles off the African coast on Nov. 15. The crew of 25 Croatian, British, Philippine, Polish and Saudi Arabian merchant mariners have been held hostage since the attack. It is expected that the ship will get underway from its current location within the next 24 hours.

Word of the pending release comes just one day after the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), headquartered in Bahrain, announced the establishment of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. This multinational task force will conduct counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. These efforts in coordination with those taken by the shipping industry and the international community will collectively impact this maritime criminal activity.

Naval ships and assets from more than 20 nations comprise the CMF. The CMF created the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in the Gulf of Aden in August 2008 to support international efforts to combat piracy. Since that time, ships and aircraft from the CMF and other international navies have been patrolling the area of this recommended traffic corridor. Merchant mariners have been actively encouraged to travel through the International Maritime Organization-designated traffic corridor and employ reasonable self-protection measures to deter piracy attempts.

"While the potential release of the Sirius Star is undoubtedly excellent news, we must not forget that nearly three hundred other merchant mariners are still being held captive. The men who attacked the ship and held the crew hostage are armed criminals and consequently, we must remain steadfast in our efforts to address the international problem of piracy," said Commodore Tim Lowe, deputy CMF commander.

The area involved off the coast of Somalia and Kenya as well as the Gulf of Aden equals more than 1.1 million square miles. That is roughly four times the size of the U.S. state of Texas or the size of the Mediterranean and Red Seas combined.

(Report from a Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs news release.)

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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Former President George HW Bush Tours New Namesake Supercarrier

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NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 8, 2009) Former president George H.W. Bush salutes the side boys as he is piped aboard the aircraft carrier Pre-commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk. Bush, the ship's namesake, is aboard to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of the George H.W. Bush Tribute Room aboard the carrier. George H.W. Bush will be commissioned Jan. 10. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan A. Bailey.)

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NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 8, 2009) Former president George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, walk across the hanger bay of the aircraft carrier Pre-commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk. Bush, the ship's namesake, is aboard to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the official opening of the George H.W. Bush Tribute Room aboard the carrier. George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) will be commissioned Jan. 10 at Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Tackitt.)

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NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 7, 2009) Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier Pre-commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) walk beside the ship during a rehearsal for the ship's commissioning ceremony. The ship is scheduled to be commissioned Saturday at Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joel S. Kolodziejczak.)

Focus on Defense:

NORFOLK, Jan. 8, 2009 -- Former President George H.W. Bush took an emotional journey into his past with an eye to the future as he toured his namesake aircraft carrier Jan. 8, two days before it's commissioned in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

The World War II naval aviator took a first tour of a tribute room aboard the Nimitz-class Pre-Commissioning Unit George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and he addressed hundreds of Sailors in the hangar bay as he stood near a giant bronze statue of him running in flight gear.

"It is very amazing to me, it's wonderful and it's a highlight of my life," he told the Sailors and an entourage of about 50 who accompanied the former commander-in-chief, including former first lady Barbara Bush.

In an interview aboard the carrier, the former president tearfully said it was "very emotional" to have the massive nuclear-powered warship carry his name.

"It's a great honor," he said. "It's incredible technology, so different than what I flew on years and years ago. It's just amazing."

Bush served aboard USS San Jacinto (CVL 30) as the youngest pilot in the Navy during World War II. Japanese anti-aircraft fire brought down his TBM Avenger with two other crewman Sept. 2, 1944. After the plane was hit, Bush was able to drop bombs on the target before bailing out over the Pacific Ocean. The submarine USS Finback (SS 230) rescued him at sea. The two crew members did not survive. Bush earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for courage during the attack and three air medals for duty in the Pacific Theater.

The one-time naval officer who led a coalition of nations to war in 1991 to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in Operation Desert storm recounted how his time in uniform made him a better commander-in-chief.

"I made a lot of mistakes as president, but I think I was a better president because I served in the Navy," he said. "You value the lives of people you have to put in harm's way. You value them more.

"It made me realize combat was tough," he said. "I've always felt the toughest decision, by far, any president has to make is when he commits somebody else's son or daughter into harm's way."

Bush said his seagoing service met challenges around the globe while he served in the White House.

"I was always proud when the Navy responded when I had to make a few tough decisions," he said.

He paid tribute to his namesake ship's crew and its leadership as dedicated, bright and highly trained.

"It's an all-volunteer force and that says something about the dedication already," Bush said.

Rear Adm. Bill Goodwin, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, called it a "tremendous honor for the crew to have the [ship's] namesake aboard."

The tribute room, with a theme of "Man of the World," has a color photo-like map of the Earth that covers all of the deck. Bush's service in World War II and as president, among other events, are highlighted in interactive displays. Among the memorabilia, the compartment holds a model of the carrier and a life-size bronze statue of him standing in flight gear. Bush and his presidential library and museum in College Station, Texas, were among the exhibit donors.

"I didn't have a tribute room on the San Jacinto," he joked. "I was lucky to have a room at all on there."

Former first lady Barbara Bush said it reminded her of "very, very happy years" she and the president shared.

"It was beautifully done," she said after her tour. "It's a great tribute to what I think is a great man."

Sculptor Chas Fagan of Charlotte, N.C., designed the statute, one of the centerpieces of the tribute.

"His story is so fantastic," Fagan said. "I was just eager to have a chance to tell it.

"My goal was to create something engaging enough people would want to meet it," added Fagan, who designed a bronze sculpture of a piece of the Berlin Wall aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). "If you get up there and touch it and interact with it, you're touching history."

(Report by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Barrie Barber, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs.)

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Nuclear Weapons Task Force Urges Changes at Pentagon

News in Balance

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2009 -- Pentagon officials need to bolster internal management systems that address nuclear weapons issues, the leader of a special task force appointed by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.

Since the Cold War ended, the nuclear deterrence force “has sometimes been neglected within the Department of Defense, as a whole,” James R. Schlesinger, chairman of the Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management, told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

To better assist Gates with oversight of nuclear weapons issues, the department should have an assistant secretary of defense for deterrence to work in the Pentagon’s policy shop, Schlesinger said.

That new assistant secretary, according to the report, would “provide a single [Office of the Secretary of Defense] voice and a single point of engagement for Joint Staff, U.S. Strategic Command, the military services, and other combatant commands on nuclear and weapons of mass destruction matters.”

The assistant secretary, the report continued, would be assigned a deputy from the military acquisition realm.

The report also recommends that the purview of the Nuclear Weapons Council be expanded to include nuclear weapons, weapons systems, delivery systems, infrastructure, policy implementation and resources.

The NWC was established by Congress in 1986 to facilitate and coordinate activities between the Defense Department and the Energy Department as part of their dual responsibilities in maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.

The Defense Department also should expand the staff that oversees nuclear deterrence issues within the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and place a general officer in charge of that effort, Schlesinger said.

The Pentagon and the armed services visibly reduced resources for nuclear deterrence missions following the end of the Cold War in 1991, Schlesinger told reporters. The resultant effect, he said, caused a perception among some leaders and rank-and-file servicemembers that the nuclear deterrence mission wasn’t so important any more.

“We emphasize that deterrence must start from the top -- that the services, indeed, have picked up clues over the years since the end of the Cold War, that the interest in deterrence at the highest levels of DoD has diminished,” said Schlesinger, in explaining why the U.S. military’s interest in nuclear weapons matters had waned.

However, the U.S. nuclear deterrence mission remains a paramount endeavor that’s of vital importance to the nation’s national security and the welfare of America’s allies, Schlesinger said.

“And if deterrence is in the eye of the beholder,” Schlesinger said, “it is a political statement that must come from the very highest offices of the government, not only here in the DoD, but from the White House, from the Department of State and the like.”

Schlesinger also took time to praise the Navy’s nuclear deterrence mission.

“We were quite satisfied, generally, with the Navy’s performance,” Schlesinger said, noting that sailors who work in the nuclear-deterrence realm –- including submariners -- exhibit high morale.

The enormous power and destructiveness of nuclear weapons creates “the desire to avoid the actual use of those weapons in combat, and is, therefore, a different kind of deterrent,” Schlesinger said.

“Nuclear forces, we hope, would not have to be used,” Schlesinger said. However, he said, many of America’s allies depend on U.S. nuclear deterrence capabilities for protection.

Therefore, America’s allies “must retain confidence in the U.S. nuclear ‘umbrella,’” Schlesinger said. If that confidence evaporates, he said, some U.S. allies are quite capable of building their own nuclear weapons, which could ignite a nuclear arms race.

The strength and credibility of America’s nuclear umbrella “is a principal barrier to proliferation,” Schlesinger said.

In a statement issued today, Gates thanked Schlesinger and the panel members “for their very thorough and detailed report.”

“The U.S. nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and reliable; no one should doubt our capabilities or our resolve to defend U.S. and allies’ interests by deterring aggression,” Gates said in the statement.

“The report identified numerous trends, both recent and long-term, that may warrant corrective actions,” Gates’ statement continued. “The department will continue to review the panel’s recommendations while ensuring the long-term credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent forces and sustaining allied confidence in U.S. security commitments well into the future.”

Gates appointed the Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management in June 2008, following two events involving the Air Force that indicated a deterioration of that service’s nuclear weapons management and control systems. The secretary tasked the panel to report back to him on Air Force-related issues in 60 days and on departmentwide nuclear weapons management measures in 120 days.

Some Air Force ballistic missile parts were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan in 2006. In August 2007, an Air Force B-52 bomber armed with nuclear missiles flew from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

In September 2008, the panel released a Phase One report that criticized the Air Force’s management of its nuclear weapons management programs.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters later today that Defense Department officials would thoroughly review the Schlesinger panel’s latest recommendations. Officials of the incoming Obama administration, Morrell added, also would study the report.

Schlesinger served as CIA director in the Nixon administration, as well as secretary of defense in the Nixon and Ford administrations. In the Carter administration, he served as the first energy secretary.

The task force chairman was accompanied at today’s news conference by fellow panel members Jacques S. Gansler, retired Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr., Christopher A. Williams, retired Air Force Gen. Michael P.C. Carns, and Franklin C. Miller. Other panel members not present included J.D. Crouch II, and John J. Hamre.

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

Related Article: Gates' Statement on the Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management

Related Site: Phase II Report

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US Navy Names Latest Virginia Class Attack Submarine USS John Warner

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In this undated file photo, USS Virginia (SSN 774) returns to the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard following the successful completion of its first voyage in open seas called "alpha" sea trials. The next Virginia-class attack submarine will be named in honor of recently retired Virginia Senator John Warner. Virginia and the rest of the ships of its class are designed specifically to incorporate emergent technologies that will provide new capabilities to meet new threats. (U.S. Navy photo by General Dynamics Electric Boat.)

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2009 -- The secretary of the Navy announced today that the next Virginia-class attack submarine will be named in honor of recently retired Virginia Senator John Warner. Warner retired Jan. 3, 2009, after 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.

The USS John Warner, honors Warner's lifetime of service to the nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sen. Warner's career in public service began in Jan. 1945, the last year of World War II, when he enlisted at the age of 17 in the U.S. Navy, where he earned the rank of Petty Officer 3rd class. In the Fall of 1949, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. At the outbreak of the Korean War in Oct. 1950, he volunteered for active duty and was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps and served with the 1st Marine Air Wing as a ground communications officer in Korea. He continued his affiliation with the Marine Corps Reserve, reaching the rank of captain. In Feb. 1969 he was appointed and confirmed by the Senate as under secretary of the Navy, and succeeded Secretary John Chafee as the 61st Secretary of the Navy in 1972 following Senate confirmation during the height of the war in Vietnam. During this period, Warner was designated as chief negotiator for the conference between the U.S. and Soviet navies which led to the Incidents at Sea Agreement which is still in effect today. Entering politics in 1978, he was elected to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the U.S. Senate. He served five consecutive terms becoming the 2nd longest serving U.S. Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia in the 218-year history of the Senate.

During his 30 years of service in the Senate, Warner was a leader in national defense issues serving continuously on the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He held leadership roles as chairman or ranking member for half of his tenure on this committee and also served many years on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. In this capacity, and throughout his career, he has shown unwavering support for the men and women of the armed forces, and has been a champion of modernizing the structure and operations of the military to ensure its effectiveness in the 21st century.

This next-generation attack submarine will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. It will have enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable them to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

The USS John Warner will have the capability to attack targets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping. It is also designed for special forces delivery and support, a subject Warner worked on throughout his career in the U.S. Senate.

The Virginia-class is 7,800-tons and 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. It is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship – reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. The USS John Warner will be built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., in partnership with General Dynamics/Electric Boat Corporation. Warner was instrumental in developing this construction teaming arrangement concept which was later codified into law.

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

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Combat Camera: Operation Sond Chara in Helmand Province; Part 1 of 2

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British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

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British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

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British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
British Royal marine commandos take part in Operation Sond Chara, the clearance of Nad-e Ali District of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan by Afghan national security force and troops deployed with the International Security Assistance Force 42-Commando in late December. The operation's goal was to bring stabilization to the district and to increase security to Lashkar Gah and set safe conditions for voter registration later this year. (Photographer: Cpl. John Rafoss, International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs.)

COMBAT CAMERA More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION

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