Military News: 10 May 2007

Please click the title of any article you would like to read. I came up with this strategy yesterday, and I believe it might work. Have a great day.

Defense Department Announces Next Iraq Troop Rotation.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2007 – Defense Department officials today announced the next 10 Army brigade combat teams to deploy to Iraq to replace units currently operating there.

The announcement affects about 35,000 active-duty troops, who all will deploy between August and the year’s end to serve as replacement forces for those returning home, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

U.S. Soldiers Continue to Gain Trust of Afghan People.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2007 – By living among the people of Afghanistan and gaining their trust and respect, U.S. troops are winning in the eastern part of the country, a U.S. commander there said today.

“We’ve defeated the enemy every time we’ve met him over the last 16 months,” said Army Col. John Nicholson during a news conference from Afghanistan. “We feel genuinely appreciated by the Afghan people.”

Six Arrested for Plotting to Kill Soldiers at Fort Dix, N.J.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 2007 – FBI agents arrested five radical Islamists for allegedly plotting to “kill as many U.S. soldiers as they could” at the Army’s Fort Dix, N.J., and a sixth defendant is charged with aiding and abetting members of the domestic terror group, authorities announced today.

Prov. Recon. Teams in S. Iraq – Progress Toward Independence.
“We’re very focused on the need to return control to Baghdad. But we’re also very focused on the need to build capacity in the local and provincial governments and to be able to deliver economic and reconstruction assistance there.”

Those words were from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a statement January, 2007, explaining the need to build up Iraq and provide its people with independence.

Deployments explained, in a manner of speaking

I have an article by Jim Garamone of American Forces Press Service which discusses the new deployment terms and length of service. Part of it is below, the rest is here.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2007 – The Army will be able to sustain 20 combat brigades in Iraq for at least a year, officials said during a news conference today.

The Army’s policy change, announced by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates yesterday, extends the service of all active-duty soldiers in the U.S. Central Command region to 15 months. All active-duty Army units headed to the command also will serve for 15 months.

This will allow the service to maintain the level of effort in the region for a year, Gates said. The five-brigade surge in support of the Baghdad security plan calls for 20 U.S. brigades in Iraq by the end of May.

The good, the bad and the ugly

I have many articles that were written by CENTCOM on my page I have reserved for the longer stories. I know you will find many of them very rewarding, some of them sad, and some of them just, well, huh?! lol. Okay, here we go:

Medic recalls his actions during attack.

Joint effort continues at Jalalabad PRT.

Diwaniyah "returning to normal, step by step".

Group of Australians making a difference.

Iraqi Police eager to learn****

15th MEU Returns to Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group.

Relief and Appointment Ceremony with Admiral William Fallon Master Sergeant Curtis Brownhill Sergeant Major Jeffery Morin. Audio video.

Bush Condemns Attack on Iraqi Parliament.

Deployment Stress on Guard, Reserve Has Lessened, Hall Says.

Army Deployment Change Helps Sustain Surge.

Relief and Appointment.