from DefendAmerica

By Steven Donald Smith
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2005 – The American Security Council Foundation recently launched "Project Freedom" to highlight the accomplishments being made by American servicemembers in the war on terror.

The project encourages civilians to write stories about these accomplishments and submit them for publication by the foundation.

"The goal of Project Freedom is to raise the American public's awareness of and put a human face on the extraordinary, good things our soldiers, sailors and airmen are doing every day in the war on terror and in reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan," Brian Williams, director of operations for the foundation, said.

The foundation is particularly looking for stories about heroism in combat and humanitarian projects that are assisting the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, such as the numerous ways in which American troops are caring for the sick and wounded, aiding orphaned children, and rebuilding schools, he said.

Stories can also focus on work being done to soothe tensions between competing factions in those two countries and the steps being made to educate local leaders about the legislative, judicial and executive branches of democratic government, Williams said.

"ASCF believes winning the war on terror and building and sustaining a democratic Iraq and Afghanistan will require a long-term commitment by America, which can only be sustained if the public learns of progress being made daily in ways that can't be measured in terms of battlefield reports ... or the typical topics of major news reporting," he said.

The foundation intends to publish the stories in small daily and weekly newspapers, monthly journals and magazines, and on its Web site. They also aim to get the stories featured on national radio talk shows. "And to the degree funds permit, excerpted versions will appear on ASCF-sponsored radio and television spots across the country," Williams said.

Since 1958 the American Security Council Foundation has supported numerous activities and programs to strengthen U.S. national security and educate the public about the challenges facing the United States. During the cold war it emphasized the threat posed by communism, and today it focuses heavily on the dangers of international terrorism.

"In fact, it is difficult to think of an important foreign-policy or national security-program since World War II where the foundation did not have a prominent role," Henry Fischer, the president of the foundation, wrote in a letter posted on the foundation's Web site.

Project Freedom is a continuation of those efforts.

"Putting a human face on the positive acts of our soldiers, sailors and airmen will allow the American public to relate and also provide recognition and encouragement and help sustain morale of those in uniform in the field," Williams said.


Related Sites:
Project Freedom
American Security Council Foundation
America Supports You

ID CHECK — U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Royals looks over an Iraqi's identification card following a search for not stopping for an oncoming convoy in al Taqaddum, Iraq, Sept. 28, 2005. Royals is assigned to 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Military Police Company, 2nd Force Service Support Group. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Segovia

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Sorry About That
(Iraqis modify constitution at US/UN urging)
U.S. Soldiers Press Euphrates Offensives
IRAQI, U.S. FORCES NAB 78 SUSPECTS, SEIZE WEAPONS

Operation Enduring Freedom
Vote Count Complete in Afghan Election
Warlords Lead in Afghan Vote
Suicide bomber kills Afghan boy, wounds Canadians

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Package Closes White House
Indonesia Grills Militants
Three suspects sought in Bali bombings
Putin, Blair Agree on Terror Cooperation
Nations Struggle to Infiltrate al-Qaida

Supreme Court
First Big Case
Roberts Gets Down to Business
Conservatives Still Not Convinced About Miers

Hurricane Season
New Orleans Lays Off 3,000
Clinton Visits Hurricane Victims
Stan Kills 65, Slams Mexico
Tammy Forms Off Florida
Most New Orleans residents allowed to return home

Other News of Note
Obscure Law Netted DeLay
Video: Indictment Tweaked

Fox News
Senate to Debate Detainees
'Un-Islamic' Writing Arrest
Bush Mulls Flu Quarantine
Chronic Disease May Kill 400M

Reuters: Top News
Bali blast hunt widens, fears of more attacks
Miers seeks to ease concerns among edgy Republicans
Times reporter defends herself in CIA probe case
Overall US cancer death rates decline - report

AP World News
5 Years After Milosevic, Problems Remain
Africans Rush Spanish Enclave Border Again
Hugo Chavez Denies Seeking Dictatorship
France Says Turkey Needs to Change for EU
Muslims Break Fast on First Day of Ramadan

The Seattle Times
Taliban spokesman held in Pakistan
A smiling Jefferson to appear on nickel

Chicago Sun-Times
Parliament OKs anti-terror law, death penalty

Boston Globe: World
Long, tough talks seen over Turkey
Chinese officials shut down websites in crackdown
Tensions on rise over Hamas's election role
Palestinian woman who attacked soldier slain
UN aid ship hijacked by pirates reaches port
Spain to build new fence around African enclave
US warns of 'creeping coup' in Nicaragua

Military.com
Military Considered in Flu Fight
9,300 Migrants Detained by USCG in 1 Year
Army Tries Water From Vehicle Exhaust Fumes
U.S. Troops Seek to Retake Iraq Towns
Senate Gives Nod to Recruiting Older Citizens
Senate Panel Acts to Bar Criminals From Arlington Burial
Knox Drill Sergeant's Conviction Thrown out
Report Due in Able Danger Probe
Iraqi Charter Gains Wide Backing
Air Force Enlisted in Mosquito Battle
Army to Return Saddam Palace Complex to Iraq

CENTCOM: News Release
COALITION RAIDS, PATROLS NAB 23 TERROR SUSPECTS, WEAPONS
120 CARS FOR IRAQI POLICE
AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, COALITION LEADERS MEET IN TRIPARTITE COMMISSION
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS CONCLUDE IN ARABIAN GULF FOR MISSING SAILOR
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS UNDERWAY IN ARABIAN GULF FOR MISSING SAILOR
OPERATION RIVER GATE LAUNCHED

Deparment of Defense
Bush: Iraq Success Critical in Terror War — Story Remarks
Task Force Baghdad Responds to Attack — Story

ON THE GROUND
Troops Work to Bring Security to Iraqi City — Story Photos

IN IRAQ
Airmen Control, Contain, Communicate at Ali Base

IN KUWAIT
Support Soldiers Hone Close Combat Skills

FACE OF DEFENSE
Wounded Soldier Ready to Return to Enduring Freedom — Story

TOP NEWS
SPECIAL REPORTS
Hurricane Coverage
Iraq Transition of Power

IRAQ
'Iron Fist' Hits Terrorists
Forces Net Suspects, Weapons
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Eye on Iraq Update (pdf)

AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Army Chief to Visit U.S.
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
U.S. to Host Defense Conference
USNORTHCOM Marks Anniversary
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Casualties — Story
Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1450 - Jews are expelled from Lower Bavaria by the order of Ludwig IX.
1813 - Americans defeat the British at the Battle of the Thames (Canada).
1864 - The Union army almost a third of its troops repelling the Confederates at the Battle of Allatoona; most of Calcutta is destroyed by a cyclone (approximately 60,000 are killed).
1877 - Chief Joseph surrenders, ending Nez-Perce War
1908 - Bulgaria declares independence from Turkey - Ferdinand I becomes Tsar.
1931 - Herndon & Pangborn make the first nonstop transpacific flight (Japan to Washington).
1945 - "Meet the Press" premieres on radio.
1947 - Harry Truman makes the first Presidential address televised from the White House.
1953 - Earl Warren is sworn in as the 14th U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice.
1954 - Hurricane Hazel hits the eastern U.S.
1962 - The Beatles release their first record - "Love Me Do."
1965 - Chuck Linster performs 6,006 consecutive push-ups; Dick McInnes stays aloft almost 12 hours in a kite.
1970 - Quebec seperatists kidnap British trade commissioner James Cross.
1981 - Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg becomes an honarary American.
1983 - Lech Walesa wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
1984 - The 13th Space Shuttle Mission (41-G, Challenger-6) is launched.
1986 - The London Sunday Times reports that Israel is stocking nuclear arms.
1988 - Israel bans Meir Kahane's Kach Party on the grounds of racism.

Birthdays
1830 - Chester Alan Arthur, 21st U.S. President (1881-85)
1864 - Louis Lumière, inventor of the Cinématographe (with his brother, Auguste)
1882 - Robert Hutchings Goddard, rocket pioneer
1887 - Ren‚ Cassin pacifist (Nobel Peace Prize 1968)
1902 - Ray Kroc, founder of McDonalds /owner of the San Diego Padres
1923 - Philip Berrigan, militant priest (Chicago 7)
1929 - Richard F. Gordon, Jr., Capt USN / astronaut (Gemini 11, Apol 12)
1930 - Pavel R. Popovich, cosmonaut (Vostok 4, Soyuz 14)
1951 - Bob Geldof, pop musician (Boomtown Rats, Band Aid)
1958 - Brent W. Jett, Jr., USN Lt. Commander/astronaut
1962 - Michael Andretti, Indy-car racer/Auto Hall of Fame
1965 - Mario Lemieux Montreal, Pittsburgh Penguin high scorer (#66)
1965 - Penny Baker, Playboy playmate (January, 1984)

Passings
1941 - Louis D. Brandeis, first Jewish Supreme Court Justice
1967 - Clifton C. Williams, Jr., astronaut, in T-38 jet crash
1990 - Meir Kahane founder of Jewish defense league, assassinated

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Barrett, Thomas J., USAF (IL); F4C shot down (GIB, w/Hivner), released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Hivner, James O., USAF (PA); F4C shot down (pilot), released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Pogreba, Dean A., USAF (MT); F105D shot down (pilot)

Seeber, Bruce G., USAF (IL); F105D shot down (pilot, wingman to Pogreba), released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Andrews, William, USAF (OR); F4C shot down (pilot), remains returned September, 1990 - ID'd December, 1990

1966
Beene, James A., USN (CA); A1H disappeared over water while on reconnaissance mission, KIA, body not recovered

1967
Matheny, David P., USN (CA); F8C shot down (pilot), released February, 1968

Trautman, Konrad W., USAF (PA); F105D shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998
***Also flew F-86 in Korean War***

1968
Lawrence, Gregory P., USAF (AL); HH3E shot down (crew)

Stride, James D., Jr., US Army SF (TX); unit ambushed while on reconaissance patrol, KIA, body not recovered

Wester, Albert D., USAF (TX); HH3E shot down (co-pilot)

1970
Davidson, David A., US Army SF (MD); unit ambushed while on reconnaissance patrol, KIA, body not recovered

Gassman, Fred A., US Army SF (FL); unit ambushed while on reconnaissance patrol, KIA, body not recovered

1972
Alpers, John H., Jr., USAF (CO); F4D shot down (w/Lewis), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Bates, Richard L., USAF (ND); F4E shot down (navigator, w/Latham), released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Latham, James D., USAF (KS): F4E shot down (pilot, w/Bates), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Brigadier General - alive as of 1998

Lewis, Keith H., USAF (OH); F4D shot down (pilot, w/Alpers), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998