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9月18日 Commercial Airline Hijack ProceduresOn October 8, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a former Naval servicemember and retired Commercial Airline Pilot Steve A. Reeves on commercial airline hijack procedures.
Program Date: October 8, 2009 Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific Topic: Commercial Airline Hijack Procedures Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/commercial_airline_hijack_procedures.html
About the Guest Steve A. Reeves started flying airplanes from a dirt strip located adjacent to a cotton field in northeast Arkansas. He took great pride in his ability to chase rabbits down the plowed rows of the fields - and live to tell about it. However, it didn't take long for him to realize that chasing rabbits didn't pay very well. He packed his bags and headed to the University of Kentucky. Upon graduating from college, he accepted a commission in the United States Navy. After one tour of duty, he thought that he'd had enough of flying and returned to the civilian world to pursue a career in construction management. One day while standing in the middle of a job site, Steve looked up in the sky to watch a commercial airliner fly over. The attraction was too powerful - he knew that he had to return to the sky. Twenty-one years later, Steve A. Reeves has logged over 12,500 hours in civilian, military, and commercial aircraft. He is a captain for a major airline and resides in Texas with his wife, Stacy, and their two daughters, Keegan and Kayleigh. Steve A. Reeves is the author of Squawk 7500 Terrorist Hijacks Pacifica Flight 762.
According to the book description of Squawk 7500 Terrorist Hijacks Pacifica Flight 762, “This fiction thriller is based on the real life experiences of a commercial pilot and gives you an exciting insider view of what it takes to fly a jet while managing crew, passengers—and a terrorist! Captain Mike Rendell started out his workday like all the workdays before – just another normal day of flying. After spending a raucous night partying with his crew, he and his first officer were looking forward to a nice relaxing flight to the West Coast.”
About the Watering Hole The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole: www.americanheroesradio.com/commercial_airline_hijack_procedures.html
Program Contact Information Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA 909.599.7530 7月18日 Jihad and American MedicineOn September 11, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Former Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin, M.D., MBA, USN, on Jihad and American Medicine.
Program Date: September 11, 2009 Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific Topic: Jihad and American Medicine Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/12/Jihad-and-American-Medicine
About the Guest Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin, M.D., MBA, USN, “served as an officer in the United States Naval Reserve, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the Navy in July of 1990. Like his father, he is proud to have served our country as a member of the armed forces. Dr. Adam Frederic Dorin has been in private practice as an anesthesiologist and medical director for nearly fifteen years. He has managed and chaired several anesthesia departments on both the east and west coasts. He has been a volunteer surveyor of freestanding surgery centers across the country and an avid writer for medical journals. He also sits on several editorial boards. Dr. Adam Frederic Dorin is currently the Medical Director of the SHARP Grossmont Plaza Surgery Center, and is an Anesthesiologist at the Grossmont Hospital, Surgery Center and Women’s Center. Lieutenant Commander Adam Frederic Dorin is the author of Jihad and American Medicine: Thinking Like a Terrorist to Anticipate Attacks via our Health System.
According to the book description of Jihad and American Medicine: Thinking Like a Terrorist to Anticipate Attacks via our Health System, “Jihad and American Medicine predicts exactly what happened in the UK, and will likely happen again. Namely, that healthcare workers are uniquely positioned to fly 'under the radar of homeland security' and carry out terrorist missions virtually unimpeded. Dr. Dorin is a physician, author, and expert in healthcare safety and security. He has written what is essentially a counter-terrorism manual geared toward the public, healthcare professionals and government officials on the national security vulnerabilities inherent to the way medicine is practiced in developed nations.
About the Watering Hole The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/12/Jihad-and-American-Medicine
Program Contact Information Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA 909.599.7530 4月20日 The Path to a Counterterrorism DoctrineOn February 26, 1993, Islamic terrorists detonated a truck bomb in the basement garage of Tower One of the World Trade Center. Within days, master bomber Ramzi Yusuf was hunted as a fugitive and three coconspirators were identified and arrested. This prompt and definitive resolution of a stunning act of terrorism on United States soil seemed to demonstrate that existing authorities and procedures were sufficient to address the “terrorism problem.” But our understanding of the terrorism threat was flawed, and the lessons we took from the attack and subsequent investigation were flawed as well.
1月5日 Citizen Survival of Terrorist AttacksOn January 9, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with self-defense expert Jim Wagner on how a citizen non-combatant can best survive a terrorist attack.
Program Date: January 9, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Citizen Survival of Terrorist Attacks
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/01/10/Citizen-Survival-of-Terrorist-Attacks
About the Guests
At the age of 14, Jim Wagner began to his life long pursuit of self-defense by beginning his study of the marital arts. Four years later he joined the United States Army. In 1991 Jim Wagner, sponsored by the Costa Mesa Police Department, entered the police academy (Orange County Sheriff’s Department Training Academy Class 104). Like his Military training before, Jim Wagner was deeply influenced by the police academy’s realistic conflict scenarios.
During his career with the Costa Mesa Police Department, Jim Wagner earned a place on the SWAT team. It was through this conduit that Jim learned about logistics, command post operations, hostage negotiations, entry team tactics, and sniping. On the job training included courses with LAPD SWAT, the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Tactical Training Center, and from U.S. Marines Division Schools Camp Pendleton (Advanced Sniper Course, Military Operations Urban Terrain, Helicopter Rope Suspension Training, and Range Safety Officer).
While conducting a myriad of courses at Camp Pendleton, both Military units and other law enforcement agencies using the base for their own training discovered Jim Wagner’s unique approach to training and his seamless blending of defensive tactics with edged weapons and firearms skills. Before long he was getting offers from the United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, Department of Defense police, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Probation Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Immigration & Naturalization Service, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines Provost Marshal Office, Drug Enforcement Administration. By 1996 Jim found himself being invited by foreign unit to train in their own countries: GermanGSG9, Brazilian G.A.T.E., Argentinean G.O.E., Royal Canadian Mounted Police, London Metropolitan Police, Helsinki Police Department, and various units in Spain, Mexico, and Israel.
The demand on Jim Wagner’s time was overwhelming and in 1999 he decided to resign from the Costa Mesa Police Department and started teaching full time. Not wanting to fully give up his law enforcement career Jim applied as a Reserve Deputy at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Jim Wagner is the author of Reality Based Personal Protection.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, Criminal Justice technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
909.599.7530 12月31日 U.S. Seeks More Supply Routes for AfghanistanBy Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 31, 2008 - As Pakistani troops apply renewed pressure on militants who have threatened a major supply line, military transportation officials are seeking alternate routes for supplying U.S. and NATO troops deployed in Afghanistan. Pakistani forces yesterday renewed offensive operations targeting militants who, in recent weeks, have attacked some supply convoys that transit the Khyber Pass.
That supply route runs hundreds of miles from the Pakistani port city of Karachi to Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan and then through the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan. The Khyber Pass route provides about 75 percent of the U.S. supplies to troops in Afghanistan.
The Pakistanis' action, which caused a temporary closure of the Khyber Pass supply route, was hailed in a joint statement issued by NATO's International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.
"We are pleased with the operation to clear out the insurgents in the areas adjacent to the pass, so that our supplies can get through unhindered," the statement said. "This temporary delay will result in long-term gains for all that use that passage route.
"There is no immediate impact on our ability to provide supplies to the troops," the statement concluded.
Still, military officials have been looking for other options. U.S. Transportation Command's top officer, Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, traveled to several Central Asian countries in November to explore options for establishing added supply routes for Afghanistan operations, Transcom spokeswoman Cynthia Bauer said today during a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service. Transcom is based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Bauer declined to mention specific countries, but Central Asian nations north of Afghanistan include Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzstan allows U.S. military cargo flights to use its airfields.
"We've been looking at alternate distribution routes for a while," "[It's] just good business practice and U.S. Transcom's responsibility," Bauer said, especially given the unpredictability of war.
"This is a comprehensive enterprise to bring supplies to the troops in Afghanistan, accomplished through teamwork with commercial partners and working relationships with other governments," Bauer said.
Transcom would use private contractors for supply distribution, Bauer said, noting this process would provide potential economic benefits for Central Asian countries and Eurasia's Caucasus region. Local purchase of supplies needed in Afghanistan is another possibility, she added.
Contractors crossing the Khyber Pass from Pakistan are trucking mostly nonmilitary items such as food and other basic needs to troops in Afghanistan, Bauer said.
"You're not seeing MRAPs" going through the Khyber Pass, she said, referring to the acronym for the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles used in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S. forces in Afghanistan also have stockpiled supplies, Bauer pointed out, noting there's no danger they'll run out. Face of Defense: Army Interpreter Links Cultures With LanguageBy Army Staff Sgt. Jessika Malott
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 30, 2008 - A deployed soldier is helping to bridge the gap between two cultures by serving as an interpreter in Iraq. Army Spc. Mohamed Dawoud, interpreter/translator with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Military Police Brigade, said he was led into his career path by his love for country and by a television show.
"I was watching television, and this lady was crying because she lost her son," the New Jersey native said. "Her son died because he did not understand the cultures and customs here. I want to inform everyone about what they can and cannot do here to keep themselves safe."
Each morning, Dawoud searches the Internet and watches Arabic TV news outlets to stay informed about what is going on within his area of operations. He uses the information to brief his team about current events and to provide situational awareness.
"When we go on mission, I am prepared, so in the event we need to stop, I can get out of the vehicle and talk to people to find out what the situation may be," he said. "I carry a loudspeaker so that if I need to talk to a large group of people I can do that."
Dawoud also translates for squad members as they move to various destinations. If he notices new signs or graffiti, he translates them so his team members are aware of possible danger ahead. After arrival, Dawoud either assists his squad members with their objectives or translates for brigade leadership during meetings.
"I have to walk a fine line and pay attention to not only the words spoken, but also to the body language and gestures that are made," he said. "If I don't, I am not doing a good job, and the true meaning of what is being said will be lost."
Dawoud also conducts cultural briefings. "Everyone needs to know everything about the Iraqi people and how the Iraqi government works," he said. "For example, when you see a female, what and how are you going to say an Arabic word that will respectfully assure them, to not offend them?"
Dawoud also is available to translate documents for other sections of the brigade.
"In my opinion, I believe that we could not do our mission without interpreters like Dawoud," Army Master Sgt. Mike "Top" Barnes, police transition team noncommissioned officer in charge and a native of Elmira, N.Y., said. "With our mission, we rely heavily on [interpreters] for translation of documents as well as for our conversations with the Iraqi police officials. Their expertise allows us to carry out our brigade commander's intent and vision without losing anything in translation."
Dawoud has extended his tour with the brigade to provide continuity between both of the command teams.
"I'm proud of what I do," he said. "It doesn't matter when I go home, because my family and friends are proud of me. I feel like I'm accomplished, and I am very happy in my job."
(Army Staff Sgt. Jessika Malott serves in the 8th Military Police Brigade public affairs office.) 12月30日 Task Force Gold Exemplifies 'Engineer Fight' in Baghdad, General SaysBy Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 29, 2008 - The general who leads what he calls "an engineer fight" in Baghdad credits attention to sanitation and reconstruction of essential services with creating a dramatic turnaround that's having a ripple effect throughout Iraq. "It doesn't matter if you are in direct support of lethal operations or on the nonlethal side, it is almost always an engineer leading on both sides of the house right now," Army Brig Gen. Jeffrey Talley, engineer for Multinational Division Baghdad, told American Forces Press Service by phone from his headquarters.
A reservist who in civilian life is an engineering professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Talley said he's seen firsthand the big changes his engineers have helped bring about in providing force protection for warfighters and quality-of-life improvements for Iraqis.
"It's hard not to win-win in engineering," he said. "When I come into a battle space, the [Iraqi] government and the people know that my reason for being there is to find [improvised explosive devices] and neutralize them before they kill or hurt people, or to rebuild roads, schools, clinics, to improve water, wastewater or sewage."
Even people skeptical of coalition forces or the Iraqi government begin to come around when they see the changes. "It's pretty hard, if you do enough of these kinds of things for them, for them not to eventually acknowledge that this is a good thing for their community," Talley said.
Nowhere is that progress more evident than in Sadr City, which Talley calls one of the 926th Engineer Brigade's biggest success stories since its arrival in Iraq last spring.
"Sadr City for the last 30 years was considered the most desperate and dangerous part of Iraq. [Former Iraqi dictator] Saddam Hussein wouldn't even send his own forces into Sadr City," he said. As a result, the city "became a haven for bad guys," including militias and terrorist organizations that operated unfettered.
Task Force Gold, a unit stood up in May under Talley's command, set out to reverse three decades of neglect and lawlessness. "The thought was, if we can win Sadr City, we will win Baghdad, and we will win Iraq," Talley said.
Focused on that goal, Talley's soldiers rolled up their sleeves to clear the streets of debris, rubble and raw sewage. They worked with Iraqi contractors to rebuild schools and medical clinics, generate electricity and restore public areas.
"What you are doing is showing residents of Sadr City what life looks like," Talley said. "You are showing them there is another option besides the militia. They can choose to start a business, improve their community, support the government of Iraq ... and pick a different way of living ... that is better for them and your family."
Sadr City's residents took notice. With newfound pride in their community, an improved economy and reduced violence, they started reporting the whereabouts of militia members and their weapons caches.
"People who historically were neutral or anti-coalition forces started to see that maybe this way ahead is a positive one," Talley said. "They started saying 'no' to the militia and 'yes' to progress and to peace."
The efforts, he said, transformed a "very vicious, dangerous combat zone" to a thriving city with bustling markets and children playing in the parks.
"It is just phenomenal, and whether you are an American, a Westerner or an Iraqi, most people can't believe it," he said. "They just shake their heads in disbelief at the positive changes that have occurred. ... And those changes have happened because of Task Force Gold."
Talley has strict criteria for what projects U.S. taxpayer dollars will fund. Projects must link directly to security improvements, repair damage coalition forces caused during combat or represent a partnership with the Iraqi government.
"We don't just spend money to rebuild infrastructure because it is falling apart or because Saddam Hussein ignored it," Talley said. "We want to make sure ... we are using the money as a weapon system, in a way that supports the lethal fight of the brigade combat team.
"The whole purpose is to establish sustainable security and increase self-reliance of the people and government of Iraq," he said. 12月29日 Afghan, Allied Forces Destroy Weapons Cache; Taliban Lose 11 MembersAmerican Forces Press Service
Dec. 28, 2008 - Afghan commandos and coalition forces teamed up to seize enemy weapons and supplies, while the Taliban lost 11 members during separate operations conducted in Afghanistan yesterday, military officials said. An Afghan-coalition air-assault team searched a village in Kandahar province's Ghorak district and found a weapons cache containing an anti-personnel mine, anti-tank mines and a bowl of explosive. All materials were destroyed on site.
"Finding and destroying this weapons cache is another step towards safeguarding Afghanistan's future," said Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, chief spokesperson for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense. "We are actively reducing the insurgency's ability to harm innocent Afghans along the roads of Kandahar."
Also yesterday, coalition forces killed five militants and detained six suspects during operations targeting Taliban activities in Kabul and Paktika provinces. Multiple AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades and other military equipment were seized during the operations.
In other news, coalition forces detained five suspected Taliban militants during a Dec. 26 operation conducted to dismantle a roadside-bomb network in Zabul province.
And, on Dec. 25, Afghan and coalition forces killed six militants during a firefight in Helmand province's Nahr Surkh district. An enemy weapons cache was destroyed during the operation.
(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.) 12月27日 Army Chief of Staff Assesses Iraq Situation, Notes Future GoalsSpecial to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 25, 2008 - As part of a week-long tour to visit soldiers around the world in Korea, Japan, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey made a stop here to assess the current situation in country and speak with troops. "I really just wanted to look as many of our men and women in the eye as I can and thank them for what they're doing and for the sacrifices that they and their families are making here around the holidays," Casey said.
In an interview with American Forces Network during his visit to Victory Base Complex, Iraq, Dec. 22, Casey, who previously served as the commanding general of Multi-National Force – Iraq, spoke of the immense progress he's witnessed in Iraq in comparison to previous visits to the country.
"I've seen huge progress here in Iraq since July of 2004," Casey said. "What I saw in Basrah and on the streets of al Amarah was a real vitality among the Iraqis. When I looked at the security forces, I saw confidence and a commitment that I didn't necessarily see when I was here before." Casey addressed the goal of balancing the force in coming years to accommodate proper recuperation and preparedness of Soldiers and their families between deployments.
"While this is the most resilient, professionally seasoned combat force that I've been associated with in the 38 years of my own service, we're stretched, and we're deploying at a rate we can't continue and still sustain the all-volunteer force, and we don't have enough time at home to prepare for other things," Casey said.
Casey explained a plan developed last year and expected to be implemented by the end of the fiscal year will include sustaining soldiers and their families, continuing to sustain soldiers for success in the current conflict, resetting them and their equipment when returning from deployments, and continuing to transform for an uncertain future.
In order to accommodate such a plan, the Army must continue to grow.
"Probably the most significant progress has been in our [the Army's] growth," Casey said. "In 2007, the president directed we grow the Army by about 74,000, and originally, plans were to complete that growth by 2012."
Casey said the increase in the force could happen much sooner than initially anticipated. He pointed out that the uptick in troop strength would make deployments much easier on soldiers.
"With (Defense) Secretary (Robert M.) Gates' help, we accelerated the growth to 2010 and I've been told recently by our personnel folks that we except to bring in the people we were looking for by the end of 2009, so that's three years faster than we thought," Casey said.
"If we hold the demand for our forces relatively steady – about where we are now – and we grow, what that means to our soldiers is they'll spend more time at home between missions because we have more units to go," Casey said. "So, we expect in 2009 to get almost an average of 18 months home between deployments, in 2010 to get into 18 months and in 2011 to get almost 24 months between deployments."
According to Casey, the Army that can be expected in future years is the force America needs with the conditions soldiers want.
"The Army we're trying to build by the end of 2011 is an expeditionary Army that deploys on a rotational cycle," Casey said. "We believe that's the Army the country needs for 21st century challenges. And when we get there, we want to be able to deploy that Army without a stop loss."
The probability of stop losses in the Army should significantly wane within the next one to two years and soon be nonexistent.
"I directed my personnel folks to begin weaning ourselves off of stop loss as soon as we can, but no later than the first of January 2010," Casey said. "I want to be able to start deploying units without stop loss."
Casey did note, however, that the transition would likely take about two years to come full circle.
(Article by Multinational Force-Iraq Public Affairs Office) 12月25日 Soldiers in Baghdad Celebrate Christmas With CookiesBy Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
American Forces Press Service
Iraq, Dec. 24, 2008 - Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers gathered at the Ironhorse Oasis Dining Facility here Dec. 21 to celebrate Christmas in a traditional way by decorating Christmas cookies. As Christmas movies played in the background, the soldiers sat around a table filled with colorful frosting, sprinkles and cookies shaped as snowmen, angels and Christmas trees -- laughing and talking about Christmas memories.
"This is something I used to do when I was a kid," said Army 1st. Lt. Arlene Pina, a San Diego native who serves with the 716th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade. "It's reminds me of being back home with my family."
Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer Komlofske, a Baltimore native, and Army Sgt. Lisa Burnett, a Utica, N.Y., native, baked the cookies. Both are cooks with the 4th Infantry Division's Special Troops Battalion. A supportive family from Killeen, Texas, donated the frosting and the decorative toppings.
"This is a great opportunity for soldiers to get out, take a break and make the best out of the holiday spirit," Burnett said. "It can get kind of lonely here around the holidays, because we all miss our families, but I think it's important to get together and spend time with the family we do have -- right now, we are each other's family."
While many of the soldiers came to make the best of spending Christmas without their families, Army Sgt. Tericka Dowdy, a Columbus, Ohio, native and human intelligence collector, along with her husband, Army Spc. David Dowdy, a San Antonio native who serves as an information technology system specialist, attended to build memories of their first Christmas together as a couple. Both serve in the 4th Infantry Division's Special Troops Battalion.
"It's hard during the holidays to be away from your family, and we are lucky to have each other here," David said. "This is the first chance we get to make Christmas memories, so we're trying to enjoy it as much as we can. [Cookie decorating] is something that reminds us of being home, and it's something we can do together to appreciate the Christmas spirit."
Tericka agreed with her husband. "We're here in Iraq decorating cookies with our weapons sitting on the floor next to our feet," she said. "Hopefully, this is something we can look back on and tell our kids in the future."
(Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield serves in the Multinational Division Baghdad public affairs office.) 12月22日 Mullen Discusses Anti-terror Efforts With Pakistani LeadersBy Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 22, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff thanked Pakistani military and intelligence officials here today for their continued efforts to fight terrorism. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen met with Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, chief of the Army Staff, and Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, director-general of Pakistan's interservice intelligence agency.
Mullen stopped by Islamabad after talks in Afghanistan with President Hamid Karzai.
Officials speaking on background said the chairman would discuss "ongoing efforts against extremists, particularly those responsible for the Mumbai attacks" in November.
The Pakistani government has taken steps to break up the group believed responsible for the attacks that held the Indian financial center hostage for three days. The attacks killed almost 200 people and wounded many more. Pakistani officials have arrested members of Lashkar-e-Taiba and other extremist groups involved with the attacks.
In the wake of the attacks, Mullen visited leaders in Pakistan and India. During a Pentagon news conference Dec. 10, Mullen said safe havens in the ungoverned areas of Pakistan allowed the terrorists to plan and train for the attacks in Mumbai.
This is the chairman's seventh visit to Pakistan since assuming office in October 2007. Army Chief of Staff Visits Soldiers in AfghanistanBy Army Pfc. Tamara Gabbard
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 22, 2008 - The Army's top officer stopped here Dec. 20 during a trip to visit soldiers around the world during the holiday season to spend some time with the troops and to discuss with them the way forward for the Army. “Ivisited our soldiers in Korea and Japan, and now here in Afghanistan, and it is just remarkable the difference our soldiers make in countries all around the world," Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Army chief of staff, said.
Casey also visited forward operating bases Shank and Airborne while in Afghanistan.
"What I am trying to do is go out, talk to them, and let them know what a magnificent job they are doing and what a difference they are making during a very, very difficult time for our country," Casey said.
"This was a great visit with the soldiers here, and they are just doing magnificent things in a very difficult and complex environment," he added. "I got to re-enlist a soldier today ... who six weeks ago became an American citizen. And that was a very great thing for me to be able to do."
Army Spc. Diana A. Sullivan, a human resources specialist deployed with the 101st Airborne Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, became a U.S. citizen Nov. 11.
During his lunch with the troops at Shank, Casey discussed ideas on helping the Army's growth and stability, or what he called "balancing the force."
A campaign that started in 2007 centered on four imperatives, the general said: sustaining soldiers and their families, continuing to prepare soldiers for success in the current conflict, "resetting" them effectively when they return, and transforming the Army for an uncertain future.
There's been great progress in all those areas in 2008, Casey said, adding that he expects that progress to continue in 2009.
"I think the most striking progress that we have made is with support to our families," he said. "In 2007, we issued an Army family covenant and have doubled the money we have put forward for soldiers and family programs. And in 2009, I think we can see our families and soldiers expect to see us redouble our efforts to implement that family covenant."
Casey backed his "balancing the force" plans with knowledge of how the growth of the military has moved forward and is helping to achieve goals that originally were planned for 2012, he said.
That growth, he said, should be complete in 2009.
"You might remember that we were originally growing by 75,000, and that [growth expectancy] was going to be completed in 2012, but with the secretary of defense's support, we were able to move that to 2010, and now we will achieve our goals in the next year."
The general noted the success the Army has had in recruiting and retention.
"It is pretty amazing to me that last year, 290,000 men and women enlisted or re-enlisted into the Army, Army Guard and Reserve, and that says an awful lot about the quality of people we are getting in the Army today," he said.
Casey also touched on subjects such as the importance of mental and physical health of soldiers in and out of the combat theater and the progress that has been building over recent months in the war effort.
"The demands of combat over the past seven-plus years are tearing on our force," he said, "and I am seeing the cumulative effects of combat on the men and women of the Army -- and that is nothing to be ashamed of; it is a cost of war."
Casey said taking care of soldiers' mental health is every bit as important as seeing to their physical health.
"[We recognize the] need to raise mental health and mental fitness to go right along with physical fitness, and that is what the Comprehensive Physical Fitness program is all about," Casey said. "[CPF] will focus on education, and not just on what to do after you have identified a problem."
The program works toward building resilience, he noted.
"All our research tells us that the earlier [a problem] is identified, the sooner treatment is sought, and the faster you recover," Casey said. "[CPF] will also look at intervention and finding treatment, but as I said, it is important for us to realize the mental health issues that come from combat are realities of war, and we need to treat them as realities of war. We need to identify and get treatment for these soldiers as rapidly as possible."
November was set aside as Warrior Care Month, he noted, to focus everyone on what is being done in areas of warrior care.
"We have made huge strides at everything from combat lifesaver training in basic training for every soldier going through -- and also improving what we are putting into the first-aid kits to allow that combat lifesaver training soldier to provide the best possible buddy aid -- to the medevac helicopters that are available in theaters to bring our soldiers back to world-class treatment facilities," he said. "That is what warrior care is about, [and] the whole system has brought the survivability rate to levels that are just unheard-of in combat."
One of the most important elements of getting the Army back in balance and continuing this progress is increasing the time soldiers are at home between operations, he said.
"It is not just spending time with family -- which is very important -- but the longer you have home, the longer you have time to also begin training and preparing for other things other than regular warfare," Casey said. "If you hold demand steady about where it is now, and you grow as we are growing, what happens is over time you gradually increase that availability so people don't have to [deploy] as often.
"This is the training guidance that I have given to the Army: if you are home 18 months or less, stay focused on regular warfare," he continued. If soldiers are home 18 months or more, he added, they can take about 90 days and focus on major conventional operations so they can rekindle their conventional warfighting skills.
In reference to this training during longer dwell times, Casey has rolled out with a new Army regulation, 7-0, in accordance with a February 2008 publication of the first Capstone doctrine since Sept. 11, 2001.
"[AR 7-0] is intended to drive a training revolution," Casey said. "We are building an Army that will operate on a rotational cycle, and that will require us to train leaders and train units fundamentally different than we have in the past, [and] this manual is designed to get us thinking in that direction."
Casey also offered words of praise for the Soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
"Sometimes you get out here and you get caught up in the little details of building up a base, or whatever you are doing, and you look at yourself and say, 'Well, I wonder if I am making any difference?,'" he said. "And the answer is you are making a huge difference.
"From when I first came in 2003 until now, the hustle and bustle of the soldiers is phenomenal," he continued. "This is a long-term proposition, there is no doubt about it, and I will tell you everyone is leaning forward to meet [the] requirements."
The U.S. drawdown from Iraq will help to meet the requirements in Afghanistan without adding to the burden that is already on the force, Casey said.
"There is also a huge support in the American public for the men and women of the Army," he added, "and as a result of that, there is a resolve in them that they might be against the war, but they cannot be against the people of the armed forces."
The general repeated his gratitude to the soldiers and offered his best wishes to them and their families for the holidays and the year to come.
"I would just like to thank the men and women of the United States Army that are here in Afghanistan for their service and their sacrifice, and I wish them and their families very happy holidays and a new year," he said.
(Army Pfc. Tamara Gabbard serves with the 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.) Mullen Stresses Need for Regional Strategy in Central AsiaBy Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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." 12月19日 Mullen Sees Golden Mosque in Samarra Being RebuiltBy Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 18, 2008 - The bombs that severely damaged the Golden Mosque in this city on the Tigris River almost destroyed the foundations of the nation, but the Golden Mosque is rising again, just like Iraq. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, toured the city and saw the reconstruction effort today.
Steel beams gracefully soar into the sky where ruined masonry once stood. The mosque is a holy site to Shiia Muslims around the world, and is the focus of pilgrimages for the faithful. The United Nations declared the Golden Mosque -- and the nearby Blue Mosque -- as a world heritage site, which is a site of cultural or natural importance to humanity.
The al-Qaida attack on the holy place Feb. 22, 2006, shook Iraq. "It was akin to terrorists bombing St. Peter's [Basilica] in the Vatican or the Western Wall in Jerusalem," said Michael C. Craft, the Samarra team leader for the provincial reconstruction team in Iraq's Salahuddin province.
The analogy is not exact, because while the Golden Mosque is a Shiia shrine, Samarra is a Sunni Muslim city. The attack threatened to ignite a sectarian civil war inside Iraq, pitting the two largest ethnicities against each other.
All members of the government pulled together to try and keep a lid on the violence, but ethnic killings multiplied, and the country threatened to spin out of control.
Walking through the streets of Samarra in 2006 would not have been a safe option. But American and Iraqi officials had no compunction about the highest-ranking U.S. officer taking a stroll through the city today.
U.S. soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team drove the admiral to the middle of the city in a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle. Mullen and Army Maj. Gen. Bob Caslen, commander of Multinational Division North, then strolled through the main shopping street toward the mosque.
The stores were full of goods, and people were in the streets. Shoppers could buy everything from electronic gear to baby clothes. Vendors stood outside their shops, barbers stood by to give haircuts, and workmen scurried about bringing building supplies into the few vacant storefronts left.
When the Iraqis saw the admiral, they felt free to walk right up to him with suggestions, complaints and advice. The mayor of the city met the admiral, and the two men and interpreters climbed three flights of stairs to the roof of a ruined building that overlooks the Golden Mosque construction site.
"The Samarrans see the mosque as an engine of growth for the city," Craft said. "Even with the mosque being rebuilt, there are still between 5,000 and 15,000 pilgrims coming to the city each weekend." That number grows during important anniversaries, he said.
And that's part of the problem, he said. Charter buses bring the faithful in, mostly from Baghdad. The pilgrims get off the buses and walk through concrete Jersey barriers to enter the shrine area. Once they finish the visit, they get back on the buses and leave. "The Jersey barriers effectively cut off the city from the shrine," Craft said.
Samarrans want the barriers taken down so the pilgrims can at least see the shops and hotels along the city's riverside.
The city and surrounding area are recovering from the dark days. Samarra once was the center of the Iraqi pharmaceutical industry. That is returning, and a factory in town employs more than 3,000 people. The company ships pharmaceuticals throughout Iraq and soon will expand production to supply medicines to other nations in the region.
City officials are working with provincial and national leaders to build the infrastructure. "The people are demanding services, and the city officials are responding," Craft said. City officials are involved in building the budget and spending the funds.
The city is moving ahead, but there are other, systemic problems. Under Saddam Hussein, the social infrastructure was stunted, and there still are no Iraqi equivalents to the Rotary Club or the Lions. Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts do not exist here.
"We are working with local citizens to build these institutions," Craft said. "These are organizations that we take for granted in the United States, but they are nonexistent or nascent here. They are necessary for a society of law."
The American footprint in Samarra will change in the future, military officials said, though they did not discuss how. But the workmen still climb about the Golden Mosque even as the calls to prayer go out over the loudspeaker. In 2010, the Golden Mosque will be rebuilt, Inshallah, the mayor, said. 12月18日 Iraqis Improve Logistics En Route to Becoming Self-SufficientBy Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 17, 2008 - Iraqi security forces, aided by U.S. soldiers, have taken another step toward self-sufficiency by securing the supplies and equipment they need to sustain operations. In the past five years, Iraqi Army logistics has struggled to make ends meet for its soldiers. One of the crucial issues involved obtaining spare parts for Humvees, the primary vehicles Iraqi soldiers use on their daily missions.
"It became such an inhibitor that it was an issue brought up in every meeting we went to. It was keeping them off the road from successfully conducting current operations," Army Maj. John Joseph, officer in charge of the 4th Infantry Division's Iraqi security forces logistics cell, said.
A lack of spare parts was not the issue. The Iraqi army had ordered and received the parts, but a plan to distribute them to the battalion and brigade levels did not exist.
"There was a bunch of spare parts sitting unorganized in a warehouse in Taji," Joseph said.
In September, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, along with coalition military officials, developed a program that organized spare parts, put them into packages and distributed them to the 6th, 9th, 11th and 14th Iraqi Army divisions in Baghdad.
The divisions then developed their own plans to distribute them to the brigade and battalion levels, Joseph said.
Joseph, along with Army Maj. Shane Upton, the officer in charge of the Iraqi security forces logistics cell, has been monitoring the implementation of the program from the beginning and will see it through its completion at the end of this month.
"This is a true test of the Iraqi Army logistics system and the capabilities of the headquarters support companies," Joseph said.
Many Iraqi soldiers were trained by military police transition teams as mechanics, but the lack of parts prevented them from putting their training to use. Now that the parts are being distributed, mechanics can be pulled from checkpoints and do what they were trained to do -- fix vehicles, he said. "The Iraqi logistics system now has a chance to work for itself, which is our goal."
Although coalition forces played a vital role in the execution of the program, the Iraqi security forces should take credit for the progress, Joseph said.
"We are here to help them execute their system," he said. "We're not here to redesign it or change it in any way. Their system is centralized because it is culturally based, and it's how the Iraqi army functions."
In 2005, coalition forces began implementing the United States' systems to improve Iraq's infrastructure, but "doing things our way was quickly proven to be an unsuccessful endeavor," Joseph said. "[The Iraqis] wouldn't execute our system unless we were hand in hand with them."
When coalition forces leaders realized the plan wasn't working, they quickly changed their actions to support the Iraqi system by providing resources and provoking actions to occur, Joseph explained.
"It is not up to us to do it for them or dictate how their system should work," he said. "We show them some methods; it may not be methods they adopt, but they're methods that work for us. They can take the best practice out of that and apply it if and how they want."
The key, however, was to let them figure out how to make the system work and to provide assistance where needed. "Our effort didn't change anything about their system," Upton said. "It just promoted their system by helping them push the packages down to those who need them."
The logistics cell is planning a similar program for Iraqi national police in the near future, Upton said.
"The police force also has nontactical vehicles that they use to complete their missions. These parts are in their warehouse and need to be organized," he said. "This isn't a one-time deal. The program is proven to be effective, and will be used throughout the future."
(Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield serves in the Multinational Baghdad public affairs office.) 12月15日 Troops in Iraq Capture Suspects, Seize Weapons CachesAmerican Forces Press Service
Dec. 14, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained eight suspected terrorists and seized weapons in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said. During operations in Iraq yesterday:
-- Sons of Iraq and Iraqi national police turned over munitions to Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers in the Kadamiyah and Sadr City sections of Baghdad. The two caches contained an automatic rifle and ammunition, bomb-making materials and mortars.
-- Iraqi national police and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers found weapons caches in the East Rashid district, in New Baghdad and elsewhere in the Iraqi capital. The stockpiles contained mortars, bomb-making materials and other military equipment.
-- Iraqi army soldiers found a homemade explosive in Baghdad's Rashid District. The bomb was attached by magnets to a gate surrounding the residence of a neighborhood advisory councilman in the Saydiyah community. The Baghdad explosive ordnance disposal unit detonated the device on site.
In Dec. 12 operations:
-- Coalition and Iraqi security forces detained six suspected terrorists in Mosul's Shuada neighborhood around 4 a.m. Coalition Spokesman Army Maj. Gary Dangerfield said: "Our focus has not changed. We will continue to pursue terrorists were they live and try to conduct operations."
-- Soldiers assigned to 10th Mountain Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team captured two suspects in eastern Baghdad's Rusafa district around 3 a.m. Army Maj. Joey Sullinger, spokesman for 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division thanked Iraqi
citizens for assisting in establishing security and stability. "As long as these criminals choose to keep bringing death and destruction to the people of eastern Baghdad, we will help Iraqi security forces hunt them down," he said.
-- Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers found weapons caches in the Mahmoudiya section of Baghdad. A tip from a local Iraqi guided soldiers serving with 3rd Battalion, 23rd Brigade, 17th Iraqi Army Division to three 120 mm rounds, 40 fuses and three mortar tubes.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.) 12月11日 Coalition Troops Provide Water, Electricity, Befriend IraqisBy Army Pfc. Evan Loyd
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 10, 2008 - Coalition troops have newfound friends in the town of Ishtar near here, thanks to the re-opening of a water and electric substation that has brought basic services to people who have long gone without them on any regular basis. "Before this project, the villagers used to be indifferent to us," said Army 2nd Lt. Brian Callahan, leader of Civil Affairs Team 33, part of the 1st Armored Division's 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. "But now they are happy to see us and thankful for our help."
The battalion has helped numerous communities since arriving in Iraq in April, but had no occasion to do a project in Ishtar, even though it is only five minutes away from Combat Outpost Cashe, where troops are based southeast of Baghdad, until the chance arose for the battalion to help fund and re-open the Ishtar Water and Electric Substation, which was marked with a Dec. 7 ceremony.
"They are our close neighbors, but this is the first time that we have had a chance to do something just for them," Callahan said.
Before the substation was refurbished, the local Iraqis had only sporadic power and had water shipped in from outside sources.
"We solved the two big problems of water and electricity in the town of Ishtar," said Fadil Mottleck, assistant chairman of the Jisr Diyala Council. "This should be considered great progress in Ishtar's steps toward recovery."
Though $166,000 in coalition funds paid for the project, one of the biggest contributors to getting the substation up and running was Assum Abed, the contractor who oversaw the project and lives in Ishtar.
"He went above and beyond the scope of the work," said Army Sgt. Christopher Nishio, team sergeant of the Civil affairs team. "I think he took extra pride in his work since he was working for his community's water and electric supplies."
Although his original contract was only for the electrical substation, Abed notified the Civil affairs team that work needed to be done on the water substation in the same complex while working on the electrical system.
"The pipes were rusty and in disrepair, and there were no pumps whatsoever," Callahan said. "Thanks to Mr. Abed, all the pipes are new, and there are two pumps pushing water to the town."
Thanks to Abed, the substations have roofs that do not leak, sturdy new walls and cement walkways connecting the two buildings. To top everything off, he gave everything a wash and a fresh coat of paint.
"I am really happy and excited for my village. We now have running water and electricity that works," Abed said at the ceremony. "I would like to thank the coalition forces for their support in funding this project, and I look forward to working with them again in any future projects."
(Pfc. Evan Loyd works in the public affairs office of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.) 12月9日 Coalition, Iraqi Forces Seize Suspects, WeaponsAmerican Forces Press Service
Dec. 9, 2008 - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 21 suspected terrorists during operations targeting terrorist networks throughout Iraq. In Ramadi, west of Baghdad, coalition and Iraqi forces today captured a wanted man who reportedly is linked to leaders in a Baghdad-based terrorist network. Another suspect also was detained.
Also today, coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting Mosul-based al-Qaida in Iraq leaders in Ash Shurah, south of Mosul.
In Beiji, south of Mosul, coalition forces today captured a wanted man and an associate believed to have ties to al-Qaida in Iraq in Anbar.
Elsewhere, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained two suspected criminals today in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. The men are suspected of rocket and mortar attacks and murder.
Also in Rashid, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained two suspects suspected of involvement in indirect-fire attacks.
In operations in Iraq yesterday:
-- In Kadamiyah, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained a suspected leader of an Iranian-backed cell responsible for attacks on coalition forces.
-- In Mosul, coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist who reportedly is involved in the al-Qaida in Iraq command and control network's media operations. Forces also detained two men suspected of being associated with the wanted man.
-- Coalition forces detained one suspect in Beiji believed to be linked to al-Qaida in Iraq leaders in Anbar province.
-- In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a wanted man suspected of ties to a local al-Qaida in Iraq bombing cell.
-- In Tikrit, north of Baghdad, forces captured a man suspected of financing al-Qaida in Iraq operations and of providing weapons and safe houses to al-Qaida in Iraq operatives. Another suspect believed to be his associate also was detained.
-- Coalition forces detained a man in Karmah, west of Baghdad, suspected of ties to area al-Qaida in Iraq leaders.
-- Iraqi National Police arrested two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members east of Baghdad. The men are believed to be members of a bombing cell in Samadiyah, southeast of Baghdad.
In other operations in Iraq yesterday, Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized three weapons and munitions caches north of Baghdad. The caches included an 80 mm rocket, three 82 mm mortars, four 120 mm mortars, two 122 mm projectiles, 49 82 mm mortars, two 60 mm illumination mortars, an 85 mm rocket, a 57 mm projectile, an electric blasting cap, an 82 mm mortar tube and a 60 mm mortar tube.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.) 12月8日 Joint Report Cites Potential Causes for Future FlashpointsAmerican Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2008 - Regional conflicts driven by competition for food, water and energy, increased urbanization and the possibility that nonstate actors could obtain high-tech components for enhancing lower-tech weapons are among the global challenges U.S. joint military leaders likely will face over the next quarter-century, a senior officer said here today. These scenarios are part of the Joint Operating Environment 2008 report recently issued by Norfolk, Va.,-based U.S. Joint Forces Command, Navy Rear Adm. John M. Richardson told American Forces Press Service and Pentagon Channel reporters.
The report outlines potential threats and opportunities U.S. joint forces may confront during the next eight to 25 years, said Richardson, JFCOM's strategy and policy director.
The character of future joint military operations is going to change, Richardson said, as "the strategic landscape changes, as the enemy adapts, as new technologies come on, as resources become more scarce."
The report states that 5 billion of the 8 billion people of the world in the 2030s likely could live in cities, Richardson said. Such a circumstance, he said, increases the opportunity for conflict. Joint warfighters, therefore, should be studying the challenges of carrying out military operations in densely-populated cities, he said.
Conducting military operations in urban environments is different and challenging, Richardson said, because enemies can blend in among the population and unintended civilian casualties are more likely.
Another potential future challenge, he said, involves nonstate actors or terrorists obtaining relatively inexpensive, commercially available global positioning systems to enhance the guidance systems of older rockets and missile systems.
"Now we have GPS devices that we can stick on our windshield, and we have the computer programming that would allow you to work out the most expeditious or optimum route from point to point," Richardson explained. "They are much smaller, they're miniaturized; you can put them on rocket systems or any kind of a launch vehicle."
It is likely that the United States and its allies will be involved in conducting irregular warfare against global terrorists for many years to come, Richardson said.
That viewpoint is shared by JFCom's commander, Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, who wears a second hat as NATO's supreme allied commander for transformation. American sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines will be fighting terrorists during the next decade or so, Mattis told attendees at the 2008 Joint Warfighting Conference held at Virginia Beach, Va., during summer.
"Irregular warfare, from my perspective, is the key problem that we face today," Mattis said at the conference. The threat of global terrorism, the four-star general added, is "not going away any time soon."
Increased global competition for resources such as food, water and energy also will present challenges for U.S. joint military forces in the future, Richardson said.
Yet, although regional competitions for resources "may serve as flashpoints" for future military operations, Richardson said, they may also "give the joint force an opportunity to exercise its powers of inspiration." U.S. forces, he said, could assist other U.S. agencies or coalition partners by furnishing food, water and other forms of "soft power" support to troubled regions to diffuse tensions before they erupt into conflict, he explained.
A follow-on document, Richardson said, will describe how U.S. joint forces would respond operationally to potential future challenges and opportunities outlined in the JOE 2008 report.
Yet, despite technological or sociological change in the world in coming years, military conflicts "will remain a human endeavor between two human forces that learn, adapt and respond to one another," Richardson said. 12月4日 Sadr City Residents Take Pride in Their NeighborhoodBy Army 2nd Lt. Clayton Merkly
Special to American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD, Dec. 3, 2008 - In the not-too-distant past, Baghdad's Sadr City district was considered by many to be one of the worst places to live in Iraq. Violence riddled the district, sewage-filled gutters overflowed onto the roads, and children played on trash piles containing concertina wire and rubble from houses -- the remnants of the violent fighting that drove Iranian-backed criminal elements out of the area.
Now, when soldiers with the 1st Armored Division's Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, Task Force 1-6, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, -- currently attached in Multinational Division Baghdad to the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team -- go on patrol, they see a radically different landscape.
Parks have emerged from previously vacant lots; children run rampant, enjoying themselves on previously prohibited playgrounds. Trash piles disappeared seemingly overnight, and concertina wire no longer blocks sidewalks and passageways. The streets are clean. Functioning sewers eliminate not only an offensive odor, but also a pressing health hazard to the citizens of Sadr City's Tharwa 1 neighborhood.
Buildings are freshly painted in bright colors, and storefronts are redone to present a welcoming appearance. While some of this work has been done by private business, much of it has been completed due to the efforts of Iraqis volunteering to clean their own sectors and neighborhoods. They're taking pride in their communities, and it is beginning to show.
A recent push removed trash from the main streets and collected it into designated areas where public services workers could pick it up and take it away. U.S. forces have noticed and appreciated this effort.
"It is good to see the Iraqis cleaning their neighborhoods," Army Spc. Richard Parr, a native of Nebraska who serves with Company C, said. "After being here for almost eight months, I am beginning to see a real change in attitudes of the people. The people are friendlier, and while security is still our primary mission, I am able to enjoy both an educational and cultural experience each time I go out on patrol. We are definitely seeing results of our hard work during this deployment."
The volunteer efforts make the neighborhood cleaner and safer. Removing trash and painting buildings means it is harder to hide roadside bombs in trash piles, and snipers cannot lurk in the bombed-out shells of buildings. The people also benefit from a more hygienic environment.
"I feel safer out in sector," Army Pfc. David Beveridge, a Virginia native who serves in Company C, said. "The clean streets make it easier to see obstacles and means that we can spot suspicious objects faster, saving both our own lives and any innocent bystanders."
A member of the district advisory council, a mid-level government official and a local sheik supported the effort by providing tools and labor for the many projects. Their participation, officials said, is a clear signal to the people that it is time to unshackle themselves from the grip of enemies and instead enjoy the opportunity to better themselves and their communities.
(Army 2nd Lt. Clayton Merkly serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.) |
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