Welcome to the Air Force
Basic cadet trainees meet inspiring upper classmen as they exit the bus to begin inprocessing as the Class of 2011 June 28 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. The 1,304 members of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2011 arrived to inprocess and begin basic cadet training here. (U.S. Air Force photo/David Armer)

Labels: Air Force Academy, photos, USAF

PUERTO BARRIOS, Guatemala (June 27, 2007) - Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) The Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter looks at a swing set being repaired by Seabees assigned to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202. The Seabees are working at a children's hospital in Puerto Barrios as part of a Partnership for the Americas mission to conduct training and humanitarian assistance operations. CBMU-202 is deployed with the joint forces crew aboard Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Comfort is on a humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean region to provide medical treatment to approximately 85,000 patients in a dozen countries. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shawn P. Eklund

Labels: CMBU 202, Humanitarian Aid, photos, Seabees, SECNAV, T-AH 20, US Navy, USNS Comfort

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 – Coalition forces are in control of more than 50 percent of Baghdad and are making progress in the rest, the coalition’s military commander in the city said today.

Army Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr. spoke to Pentagon reporters from his command post at Camp Liberty, Iraq. He commands the Multinational Division Baghdad.

The coalition strategy starts with disrupting the enemy in Baghdad neighborhoods and moves through clearance, controlling, retention and finally transitions to wholly Iraqi security forces control. There are 474 mahalas – neighborhoods – in Baghdad, and coalition forces track progress in each, Fil said.

In April, coalition forces were in the first phase – disruption – in 41 percent of the mahalas, 35 percent were in the clearing process, and 19 percent of the mahalas were in the control phase.

“That has come up significantly, and now we're at about 15, 16 percent of these are in the disruption phase,” Fil said. Thirty-six percent of the mahalas – 191 – are in the clear phase, “which means we're in there with our forces and the Iraqi security forces in active operations.”

Around 195 of the mahalas are in control, and “then there are actually a little over 7 percent of them, 34 of the mahalas, that have actually transitioned into the retain pace. So control and retain together is about 48 and something percent.”

The numbers will continue to change as more progress is made, Fil said. The number of neighborhoods in clearance of forces remains relatively constant, “because that's as much work as we are confident in doing with the forces we have available,” Fil said.

Coalition forces are aggressively conducting operations throughout the capital and denying sanctuary for al Qaeda and other extremist groups in areas like East Rashid, Mansour, Amiriyah and Adhamiya, Fil said. “We are hitting them where it hurts, and we're taking away their ability to control neighborhoods and brutalize the population,” he said.


Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq

Related Articles:
Trend Lines Improve in Baghdad As Residents Step Forward

Labels: Baghdad, Good News, Iraq

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
5 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Baghdad Bomb, RPG Attack
Iraq's main Sunni bloc to boycott cabinet
Iraq ambush caps bloodiest months for US
Iraqi Special Operation Forces detain insurgent leader
Operation Golden Eagle II detains 59
Violent Actions on the Downswing in Baghdad
27 Terrorist Suspects Captured in Iraq Raids
Operation Arrowhead Ripper Makes Headway in Baqubah
Coalition Forces Control About Half of Baghdad
Counter-Insurgency Expert Sees Progress in Iraq
Phantom Thunder Operations Disrupt Terrorists in Iraq
Soldiers Save Iraqi Civilians
Police Recruits Pour Out to Fight al Qaeda

Operation Enduring Freedom
U.N. chief in Afghanistan, focus on lack of law and order - Video
Security Spurs Development in Afghanistan
Transcript: Talking With Construction Chief in Afghanistan
U.S., Afghan Troops Seize 16
New Kit Improves Soldiers' Living Facilities

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
'We Won't Live Scared' - London cops foil car-bomb plot
VIDEO - PHOTOS - BRAINROOM
U.S. Urges Americans to Be Alert After London Scare
VIDEO: Scotland Yard Presser
U.S. Monitoring Situation
New York takes precautions after London bomb defused
Court to hear Guantanamo prisoners appeals
FBI head visits Morocco for terrorism talks
Bush bans U.S. entry by Syrians with Lebanon links
Israel kills militant from Abbas's Fatah movement

Troops on Trial
Case Against Anti-War Marine Dropped
Command Sgt. Maj. convicted in court-martial

Other Military News
Military.com Daily Shock: VBIED vs. M-16

Religion of Peace??
Death of 12-Year-Old Circumcised Girl Shocks Egypt
Hamas TV kills off Mickey Mouse double (Beaten to death...what is WRONG with these people?!?)

Worldwide Wackos
Russian Billionaire Bets on Iran
Cuban parliament says Bush wants Castro eliminated (Watch, they'll claim we did it when he finally kicks the bucket...)

Politics / Government
Romney Defends Strapping Dog on Station Wagon Roof
White House Has 10 Days to Explain Executive Privilege
Seventh official quits Justice Department
Democrats to renew battle over Iraq war
Democrats hope to close Guantanamo
New Sen. Barrasso of Wyoming sworn in

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
U.S. uncovers crossborder drug tunnel in Arizona
U.S. border fence protrudes into Mexico (Un-flippin' believable. No wonder we can't secure our border - we can't even figure out where the thing is!)

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Democratic White House Hopefuls Chide Supreme Court on School Desegration in Diversity Debate
Texas Teen Has to Be Restrained After Being Sentenced to Death
Ex-Con Arrested in Death of Female Colorado Intern
Texas DA Won't Prosecute Any Pedophiles Nabbed in NBC 'Predator' Show
New Jersey Authorities Investigate Possible Mob Tie in Case of Abandoned Toddler
Report: Britney Spears Serves Papers to Her Mother to Keep Her Away From Kids
Another Pro Wrestler Found Dead Days Before Benoit Murder-Suicide
Michael Jackson's Family Calls for Help
Search Intensifies for Missing Wis. Student
Records: Teen Driver Behind Wheel in Crash That Killed 5 Was Driving Illegally
Traffic Stop Porn Star Misses Court Date
Inflatable Space Station Reaches Orbit
Tourist Agency Plans Private Trips to Moon
Lawyer: 'Love-Triangle' Astronaut Didn't Wear Diapers
Site Launched to Help Find Missing Georgia 911 Operator
31 men accused in gang-related killings
Slain pregnant woman mourned in Ohio
Woman freed in Foxy Brown assault case
Husband guilty of killing Nev. official
Benoit's dad: Tox tests may give answers
CHP report: Fox called cop a 'racist'

Adventures in Political Correctness
Unwanted Birth Control Advice Gets Utah Woman Banned From Bus Stop

U.N. News
U.N. Closes Down Iraq Weapons Monitors
IAEA says has understanding on N. Korea reactor shutdown

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Liberal Commentator Found Dead
Benoit Wikipedia Mystery Solved?
Hundreds Snare iPhones on First Day PHOTOS - VIDEO - The Apple iPhone: Fast iFacts for iGeeks, Non-iGeeks
Company asks FCC to hold airwaves auction debate
NY movie critic Joel Siegel dies at 63

Science / Medicine / Technology
U.S. hospital, doctor visits balloon, survey finds
Adequate sun exposure no guard against low vitamin D
Scientists fly into raptures over flightless Fred
2007 seen as second warmest year as climate shifts - Video

Mother Nature
No Letup Expected From Texas Rain - VIDEO - PHOTOS
Tahoe Evacuees View Scorched Homes - PHOTOS - VIDEO
More rain falling in flooded S. Plains
Weather extremes wither LA, drown Texas

Oddities
Actor tries to type himself into Guinness record book
Playing electrical Russian roulette
Crackdown on officials with mistresses

Other News of Note
Because Mom Said So: Are Arranged Marriages the Next Big Trend?

Fox News
With Evan Almighty, Hollywood Strikes Out Again in Effort to Appeal to Faith-Based Audience
Pop Tarts: Nicole Richie: I'm Not a Role Model

Reuters: Top News
East Timor goes to polls
PluggedIn: Young ad stars show old pros new tricks
Teletubbies can't beat people in teaching first words
"Ratatouille" seen as test of Disney-Pixar deal
Germany now would welcome Cruise production - Video
Oil rises to $71 on drop in U.S. fuel stocks
Wall Street drops on credit concerns
Apple, AT&T shares climb ahead of iPhone release
Lazard shares sag as deal closings lag
Office Depot shares off on sales warning
Debt investors demand more protection
Full Coverage: Suprime mortgage fallout
Commodities just behind stocks
Commerce Bancorp replaces CEO, fixes governance
Jobs, subprime mess to rule July 4th week
AT&T says to buy Dobson for $2.8 billion
Fearing risk, debt investors demand more protection
Bear Stearns shakes up asset management unit
UAW expected to announce Delphi pact vote Friday

AP World News
Mets sweep doubleheader with Phillies
Cubs rally past Brewers for 7th straight
Harry Potter gets his first kiss
Stocks fall on oil, subprime concerns
Hingis, Blake knocked off at Wimbledon
EU makes deal with U.S. on passenger data
Consumer spending up as incomes rebound

Military.com
Poll: Rights of Gitmo Detainees?
Travel: Military Lodging Saves Bucks
Podcast: Expert Transition Advice
Teaching Kids to Say Goodbye
Review: Bruce Willis' New Flick
Tribute Video: Remember Me

CENTCOM: News Releases
INSURGENTS LAUNCH MORTARS AT EAST BAGHDAD MARKET
NORTH BABIL’S POLICE GRADUATES, READY FOR ERU TRAINING
TROOPS NAB CACHES, INSURGENTS IN THREE SEPARATE EAST BAGHDAD OPERATIONS
BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS, WEAPONS SEIZED FROM TWO RASHID DISTRICT MOSQUES
POLICE RECRUITING IN NASIR WA SALAM, ABU GHRAIB A ‘RESOUNDING SUCCESS’
CLEARING CONTINUES: DRAGONS INTERDICT IEDS, CAPTURE IRANIAN ROCKET MATERIALS
3 TERRORISTS KILLED, 26 SUSPECTS DETAINED IN COALITION RAIDS
SUSPECTED SECRET CELL TERRORIST DETAINED BY COALITION FORCES
COALITION FORCES KILL 2 GUNMEN NEAR MUQDADIYAH
OP ARROWHEAD RIPPER UPDATE: TROOPS CONTINUE TO CLEAR BAQOUBA, DELIVER FOOD TO LOCALS
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BRINGS CLEAN WATER TO THOUSANDS
ADHAMIYAH CAR BOMB STRIKES POLICE CHECKPOINT, KILLS TWO, WOUNDS THREE
JOINT MILITARY SEMINAR HELD IN BAGHDAD
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR JUNE 27
KHALIS POLICE DISRUPT VILLAGE FIREFIGHT

USJFCOM
USJFCOM, others to test Coalition Combat Identification capability during Bold Quest 07
More about CCID - podcast
USJFCOM Advanced Concept Development Demonstration named finalist for award - podcast
Exercise puts critical technology on trialCommand helps test new gun shot location system - podcast
Wood addresses joint warfare transformation at Transformation Warfare conference - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Coalition forces aid locals, fight insurgents
Renovated railway station provides critical link
‘Neighborhood Watch’ turns over cache
Housing for 380 Iraqi soldiers nears completion
Iraqi Army raid terrorist enclaves in Diyala
Government reinstates food distribution program in Baqouba
Iraqi Forces detain suspected terrorists in Northwestern Iraq

DefenseLink
Gates: Speed Mine Resistent Vehicles to Troops
Video: Gates, Pace Media Roundtable
Rebuilding Shifts Away from Western Contracts
Afghan Police Training Mirrors Army Success
Web Page on Bloggers' Roundtable
VA Patient Advocates to Help Wounded Warriors

More Headline News
President Bush Cites Hopeful Signs in Iraq
Bush Nominates Mullen, Cartwright to Top Posts
Bush Offers Praise, Thanks to Pace, Giambastiani

Military News
Servicemembers Get Sneak Preview of ‘Transformers’
Injured Veteran Inspires Others With Brain Injuries
Comfort Opens Doors, Nearly 400 Treated

War on Terror
Troops Nab Caches, Insurgents
Iraqi Citizens Find Weapons
Coalition Forces Detain Suspects

Transformation
Marines Test Purification System
VTC for Servicemembers
A-10s Get Digital Makeover
Smooth Move into Peru

Face of Defense
Military Roots Run Deep For Top Enlisted Servicemember's Wife
Wounded Air Force Sergeant’s Will to Fly Remains Undaunted
Marine Represents Family
Sailor's Drive Leads to Success

America Supports You
Former Soldier Spreads Message
Home-front Supporters Honored
Famous Chef to Salute Military
Missouri Shows Generosity

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
Counter-Insurgency Expert Sees Progress in Iraq - Story

ON THE GROUND
Marines Train Djiboutian Navy in Security Tactics - Story
Navy Mechanics Keep Missions Rolling Along - Story

IN IRAQ
Medical Mission Brings Care to Needy Villagers
Marine Exhibits Leadership with Experience
Technology Brings Troops Closer to Home
Iraqi Railway Station Provides Critical Link
Taji's 'Neighborhood Watch' Turns Over Cache
Night Air Assault Mission Nets Insurgents
Marines Make Their Presence Known in Rutbah
Multi-National Soldiers Secure Vulnerable Site
Compassionate Soldiers Give Iraqi Child Hope
‘Arrowhead Ripper’ Continues Offensive

IN DJIBOUTI
Medical Task Force Educates to Save Lives
Task Force Donates Books to Local University
Music Strengthens Ties Between Djibouti, U.S.
Well Drillers Increase African Water Supply

IN AFGHANISTAN
Workers Up-armor Humvees to Protect Troops
Reconstruction Team Launches Dam Project
Army Battle Company Makes Presence Known
Panjshir Opens Teachers’ Training College

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
War on Terror Reconstruction Report
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
1613 - Shakespeare's Globe Theater burns down
1767 - The British Parliament passes The Townshend Acts, levying taxes on America.
1776 - Virginia adopts its state constitution, and names Patrick Henry as governor.
1862 - Day 5 of the 7 Days-Battle of Savage's Station
1863 - Lee orders his forces to concentrate near Gettysburg, PA.
1913 - The Second Balkan War begins.
1916 - The first flight of a Boeing aircraft.
1940 - The U.S. passes the Alien Registration Act.
1949 - South Africa begins implementing apartheid with the banning of mixed marriages; U.S. troops withdraw from Korea following WW II.
1952 - The USS Oriskany becomes the first aircraft carrier to sail around Cape Horn (she was decommissioned in 1989, and now is due to be scuttled in May 2006 to form the world's largest artificial reef.
1954 - The Atomic Energy Commission votes against Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer's reinstatement.
1964 - After more than eighty days of Senate filibuster, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed.
1965 - USAF Captain Joseph Henry Engle reaches 85,530 m in the X-15.
1966 - The U.S. bombs fuel storage facilities near North Vietnamese cities.
1967 - Israel re-unifies Jersualem, removing barricades.
1969 - The first Jewish worship service is held at the White House.
1970 - The U.S. concludes a two-month military offensive into Cambodia.
1971 - Soyuz 11 docks with Salyut 1 for 22 days .
1972 - The U.S.S.R. launches Prognoz 2 into Earth orbit.
1982 - The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is extended.
1984 - The U.S.S.R. offers to start talks on banning SDI.
1985 - NASA launches Intelsat VA

Birthdays
1858 - George Washington Goethals, engineer (Panama Canal)
1865 - Shigechiyo Izumi, achieved oldest authenticated age (120 y 237 d) ; William E. Borah lawyer/(Sen-ID)
1934 - Carl Levin (Sen-MI)
1948 - Fred Grandy, actor (Gopher-"Love Boat")/(Rep-Iowa)

Passings
1852 - Henry Clay, Senator, Secretary of State, "The Great Compromiser"
1923 - General J.C. Gomez, Venezuala's first vice president, assassinated
1978 - Bob Crane, actor (Hogan's Heroes), murdered

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Lindsey, Marvin Nelson, USAF (LA); RF101C shot down, no parachute seen

1966
Jones, Murphy N., USAF (LA); F105D shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - retired from the USAF as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

1967
Hardy, William H., US Army ; Released by DRV February, 1973 - alive as of 1996

1968
Owen, Timothy S., US Army (NY); disappeared while conducting a night ambush

1970
Aldern, Donald D., USN (SD); A7A shot down, no parachute seen

Labels: Headlines, History