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Monday, July 23, 2007

Blogwatch - Michael Yon: 7 Rules: 1 Oath

Michael Yon brings word that in Baqubah, things are getting quiet:

Today marks D+30 since the start of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. The initial goal of Arrowhead Ripper was to clear Baqubah of al Qaeda, and then attempt to “jump start” the city back into civic life, which had all but ceased while the terrorists were in control. Though relatively minor clearing operations are still underway, there is little combat in the city...


Read the Rest

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CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua (July 20, 2007) - U.S. National Guard Lt. Col. Richard Tate, attached to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), hands out toothbrushes to children at the 15 de Julio Health Care Center. Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment to patients in a dozen countries. While deployed, Comfort is under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and tactical control of Destroyer Squadron 24. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Karsten

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Missing WWII Sailor is Identified

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release


On the Web:
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11152

Media contact:
+1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132

Public contact:
http://www.dod.mil/faq/comment.html
or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1


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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 906-07
July 20, 2007


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The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Fireman 3rd Class Alfred E. Livingston, U.S. Navy, of Worthington, Ind. He will be buried on Saturday in Worthington.

On Dec. 7, 1941, Livingston was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma when it was attacked by Japanese torpedo aircraft and capsized in Pearl Harbor. The ship sustained massive casualties. Livingston was one of hundreds declared killed in action whose body was not recovered. In the aftermath of the attack, some remains were recovered from the waters of Pearl Harbor. One set of sailor’s remains was recovered and thought to be associated with the USS Arizona losses. However, when efforts to identify the sailor failed, it was inconclusive what ship he was assigned to and he was buried as an unknown in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as The Punchbowl.

In 2006, a Pearl Harbor survivor and researcher, contacted the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and suggested that the biological and dental information on file for the unknown sailor may be correlated with Livingston’s personnel file. JPAC’s analysts studied the documentation and found enough evidence to support the researcher’s findings that Livingston was actually recovered after the war even though he was originally listed as one of the hundreds of unrecoverable servicemen from the attack on Pearl Harbor. In February 2007, the grave for the unknown sailor was exhumed.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of Livingston’s remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or call (703) 699-1420.

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Basic cadet trainees march to Jacks Valley at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. to begin two weeks of training that will test their stamina and determination. Included will be weapons training, confidence and assault training, drill evaluations, tent inspections and aerobic and physical fitness tests. (U.S. Air Force photo/Danny Meyer)

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Blackfoot Troop builds good relationships with locals

Cavalry scout Sgt. Elliot Edmunds, B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, directs an Iraqi policeman which direction to cover during an operation south of Tal ‘Afar, Iraq, July 13. Edmunds unit has been deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom for over 12 months now. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bradley J. Clark, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 071707-74
July 17, 2007


By Pfc. Bradley J. Clark
4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs


FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq— Troops from Multi-National Division-North conducted a series of cordon and knock engagements July 12 through July 14 with the help of Iraqi security forces in the area between Bi’aj and Tal ‘Afar.

Soldiers from the Blackfoot Troop of 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment went into five villages over the three-day operation to interact with the locals and introduce the ISF to the townspeople.

“We do these missions to check on the locals,” said Sgt. Matthew Kravulski, intelligence liaison for Blackfoot Troop. “We get the town demographics, what the religious make up is, and what kind of support they need from the ISF.”

The troops brought along members from the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police for many reasons that are intended to ultimately benefit the local people in the area.

“People don’t really hear about us and this area,” said Spc. Lonnie Sykes, a cavalry scout from Las Vegas. “This is a really big area and when it’s just us trying to help everyone, that’s when problems arise and things don’t get accomplished.”

Another cavalry scout, Sgt. Elliot Edmunds, agreed with Sykes about the difficultly and added, “We can’t support the entire area.”

These Soldiers have seen problems arise in the past when areas get neglected by ISF, but now they can start to see the solution working.

“The Iraqi people don’t yet have complete confidence in areas like their security and healthcare,” said Sgt. Paul Loos, squadron senior line medic. “But those areas are moving towards improvement. The IP are trying and our presence has changed the IA. They are doing a lot more now, so when we go out, we find less and less.”

With the Iraqi security forces advancing in their training, they will soon be able to step up to the challenge and be the glue that helps keep Iraq together.

“We have seen less crime and better living conditions in cities like Sinjar, Tal Afar, and Bi’aj,” said Sykes.

Kravulski agreed with Sykes but added, “There have been a lot of improvements, but there are still many things that need improvement; like better security, so when we do fix up places, they stay in good condition instead of being destroyed days later.”

The results of the three-day operation can show evidence that the level of security has improved. Of the five towns involved in the operation, there were only two people detained for questioning. Those two were only detained because of a search revealing an excess number of weapons found in their possession.

“We do these village engagements pretty often,” said Loos. “And this one wasn’t bad at all. We can see the civilians are helping out a lot.”

Edmunds agreed with his fellow sergeant and added that if they don’t find a lot of insurgents or weapons, it means the Iraqis are doing their part to keep their communities safe.

The operation gave Coalition Forces an opportunity to see that the ISF can establish good working relationships with the occupants of different villages and tribes. It also gave them a chance to see the Iraqis’ abilities to identify things the villagers need for a better quality of life.



Squadron senior line medic, Sgt. Paul “Doc” Loos, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, applies a bandage to an Iraqi as 1st Sgt. James Taylor, B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, looks on during an operation south of Tal ‘Afar, Iraq, July 14. Loos, a Moreno Valley, Calif., native, is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bradley J. Clark, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Cavalry scout, Spc. Lonnie Sykes, B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, shakes hands with local villagers as Sgt. Elliot Edmunds, cavalry scout, B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment looks on July 13 south of Tal ‘Afar, Iraq. Sykes is a Las Vegas native, who has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for over a year. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bradley J. Clark, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

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PURPLE HEART

U.S. Army Spc. Cocin Laird Pearcy and Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talk after Pearcy was presented the Purple Heart medal at Landsthul Regional Medical Center, Germany July 21, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen

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In Today's News - Monday, July 23, 2007

Quote of the Day
"Terrorists oppose nations such as the United States and Australia
not because of what we have done but because of who we are
and because of the values that we hold in common. "

-- Australian PM John Howard

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
'Al Qaeda’s Days Are Numbered'
U.S.: Weapons Smugglers With Iran Links Nabbed in Iraq
U.S., Iranian Officials to Meet in Baghdad This Week
Iraq minister: New U.S.-Iran talks set
Iraqi Army succeeds using an ‘open heart’
Three Iraqis freed, their captors detained
Allons Soldiers render medical aid to Iraqis after VBIED blast
General seeks troop cut in northern Iraq
3 car bombs kill 12, injure 19 in Iraq

Operation Enduring Freedom
Taliban Extends Deadline on South Korean Hostages
Taliban raises demands for 23 Koreans
'Father' Of Afghanistan Dies
Afghan National Army, Coalition Provide Aid
Joint Team Assesses, Rates Afghan Police

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
U.S. May Use Force on Al Qaeda in Pakistan - TRANSCRIPT
Australia police deny new claims against Indian doctor
Bomb wounds five Pakistani troops in Waziristan
Spy chief McConnell defends tactics
Israeli textbook offers Palestinian view
Blair has limits as Mideast envoy

Supporting Our Troops
Rep. Walden: Iraq veterans need proper medical care

Other Military News
Pentagon said junking millions in gear

Religion of Peace??
Turkey PM vows to preserve secularism

Worldwide Wackos
Iran says "confessions" unveil U.S. plot - Video
Campaign grows for HIV medics

Politics / Government
Feingold to Seek Censure of President Bush
Top Democrats woo key Hispanic voters
McCain says he's happy with campaign
Sen. McCain vows to repeal the AMT

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Illegal immigrants to get ID cards in Connecticut (AAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!!!! Sometimes this state SUCKS!! Thanks, Mayor Dumb@$$)

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Lights! Camera! Stupid!
Responsibility Kills - N.Y. man pulled under girlfriend's car trying to stop her from driving drunk
New Jersey Cops Investigate Bank Robbery - 'Mad Hatter' May Have Struck Again
Mississippi Baby Kidnapped at Gunpoint Found As Cops Arrest Biological Mother
Report: 11-Year-Old Forcibly Gave STD to Preschool Girls
Victim Meets Purse Snatcher in Chance Encounter
Cocaine Supply Shrinks As Prices Rise in U.S. Cities
Miss. baby found; biological mom in jail

Adventures in Political Correctness
To Pray or Get Paid... - Muslim Workers at Nebraska Meatpacking Plant Complain of Religious Harassment
Arab taboo phrase in Israel text book sparks outcry
Alleged Child Rapist Goes Free Because Court Can't Find Interpreter

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Domain names: 21st century real estate

Science / Medicine / Technology
Canned Meat Recall Expanded Over Botulism Scare
Clinton pilots subsidized malaria drugs in Africa
Group therapy doesn't extend life in breast cancer
Microsoft curtails how long it stores Web searches
PluggedIn: Vista's growing pains leave room for XP
Doctors treating older anorexics

Mother Nature
Hero Chihuahua Saves Toddler From Rattlesnake
No end in sight to China floods after hundreds die
Texas turtles ending up in China soup pots (Is there anything about China that doesn't suck?)
Moderate quake in India
Texas gets break from torrential rain
Idaho fire nears homes, military range

Oddities
Tennessee Landscaping Company Employing Bikini-Clad Women
Woman's 'Ghetto Bus Tour' Showcases Chicago Projects (Grab your seat now, folks!)

Other News of Note
Developers: Dubai Building Now World's Tallest - PHOTOS

Fox News
26 Polish Pilgrims Killed in French Bus Crash - PHOTOS
U.S. Teen Dies in Fall at Abandoned Mexican Mine
Becks, Posh Hit the Town After Debut

Reuters: Top News
Challenges loom for Turkey's AKP after poll triumph - Video
Japan PM's agenda, job at risk in July 29 election
Insurance agent is Hemingway look-alike winner
Americans see China as a leading innovator (in the business of poisoning pets and people? You bet!)
"Girls in Riyadh" spurs rush of Saudi novels
Tit-for-tat affairs wrecking marriages in Malaysia
"Chuck and Larry" overtakes "Potter" at box office
Harry Potter book breaks global record at Borders
Dollar hits low, stocks retreat on subprime fears
Oil falls, OPEC concern on world economy
Dollar falls to record low vs euro
Stock bull riders eye home sales, earnings - Video
Earnings misses, subprime woes punish Wall Street - Video
Investors shun risky securities
Bridge loans becoming a bridge too far?
Report says Barclays seeks billions for ABN
Prosecutors seek medical records for Nacchio's son
States to help subprime owners refinance: WSJ
Apple results eyed for iPhone sales
U.S. activist fund builds stake in UBS: paper
Reuters FX trading platform suffers outage

AP World News
UAW to hold talks with Ford, GM
Potter magic: Book breaks sales records
Yankees keep scoring against Devil Rays
Surging Yankees demolish Devil Rays 21-4
U.S. autoworker faces changed industry
Brazil's air woes turn international
Harrington wins British Open in playoff
Obituaries in the news

Military.com
Poll: Grade the VA Director
Op-ed: Intel and Tax Dollars
DT: Russians Testing Brits?
Podcast: Get Fit with a SEAL
Daily Shock: Attack on the FOB
No-Money-Down Home Loan
To Be a U.S. Army Ranger

CENTCOM: News Releases
Deputy commanding general, 101st Airborne Division visit marks change on horizon for Kandahar Airfield
North Bend, Ore. native inspires Marines with art
Italian police to train Iraqi National Police

USJFCOM
Joint Systems Integration Command kicks off Joint Intelligence Operations – Command and Control program - podcast
Capability Portfolio Manager aids better decision-making process - podcast
Strategic Initiatives Forum - July 2007 - photos
Empire Challenge 07 exercise focuses on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Progress continues in Iraq despite acts of violence
Engineers' efforts will have lasting impact in Iraq, general says
New vehicles support mission in Anbar
MNC-I Soldier targeted by IED
Rear Admiral tours Abu Nuwas market
Four wounded, local hospital damaged in attacks
Iraqis take lead in island clearing operation

DefenseLink
Chairman Returns from Weeklong Overseas Trip
Bush: Terrorists Still Threaten U.S. Homeland
Pace Visits Wounded Warriors at Landstuhl - Photos
Progress Continues in Iraq, Despite Violence
‘Herculean Work’ Drives MRAP Production
Defense Department Seeks MRAP Improvements
Video: House Armed Services Committee's MRAP Hearing
President Urges Congress to Pass Defense Bill
White House Transcript on President's Statement

More Headline News
U.S. Working With Pakistan to Solve Problem
Recruiting Standards Remain High, Official Says
September Reporting Requirement Still on Track

Military News
Some TRICARE Beneficiary Data Put at Risk
Guard, Reserve Forces Need Experienced Leaders
Troops Benefit from Financial Management Help

War on Terror
Coalition Forces Find Weapons
Coalition Forces Capture Militants
Top Marine Notes Progress
Anbar Has ‘Turned the Corner’

Transformation
Army Launches Chain-Teaching
Cyber Command Online for Future
Symposium Keys on Future

Face of Defense
Tours Highlight Defense Department Headquarters
Sailor is All About Fitness
Sailor Re-enlists on Sunken Ship

America Supports You
Servicemembers a Driving Force
NASCAR Fans Support Troops
Marine Angles to Honor Troops
Group Provides Link to Home

DefendAmerica
BLOGGERS' ROUNDTABLE with U.S. AIR FORCE Brig. Gen. Robert Holmes
Progress Continues in Iraq - Transcript (pdf)
Bloggers' Roundtable Web Site

NEWS UPDATES
Troops Detain Enemy Fighters - Story

ON THE GROUND
Marine Inspires Others with Artistic Talents - Story

IN IRAQ
New Iraqi Police Station Opens in Wahida
Lifeblood Pumped into Iraqi Farming Community
Offensive Moves into Iraq's Eastern Baqouba
Sheiks Meet in Reconciliation Effort at Camp Taji
Clinic Provides ‘More Than Standard’ Care
Navy Assisting Marines in Counterinsurgency
Hawaiian Soldiers Strengthen Ties with Project
Role-model Town Produces Positive Results

IN DJIBOUTI
Marines Train Djiboutian Police on Firearms
Air Force Chaplain Visits Djibouti Orphanages
Volunteers Build Bookshelves for Youth Center
Civil Affairs Donates Supplies to African Hospital

IN AFGHANISTAN
Medical Mission Breaks Barriers, Builds Trust
Army Operation Links People to Government
Personnel Services Support Deployed Troops
Individuals Assist in Search for Criminals
Coalition, Afghan Workers Complete Projects

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
0636 - Arabs take control of most of Palestine from the Byzantines.
1253 - Jews are expelled from Vienne, France on the order of Pope Innocent III .
1298 - Jews are massacred at Wurzburg, Germany.
1798 - Napoleon captures Alexandria, Egypt.
1877 - Cincinnati Southern becomes the first US municipal railroad.
1886 - Steve Brodie supposedly jumps off the Brooklyn Bridge and lives to tell the tale.
1904 - At the Louisiana Purchase Expo, Charles E. Menches creates the ice cream cone.
1914 - Austria-Hungary issues the ultimatum to Serbia that will lead to WWI.
1920 - Kenya becomes a British colony.
1931 - France announces they can't afford to send a team to the 1932 Olympics (LA).
1940 - The "Blitz" begins with an all-night raid on London.
1944 - U.S. forces invade Japanese-held Tinian.
1947 - 1st (US Navy) air squadron of jets, Quonset Point, RI.
1952 - General Neguib seizes power, ending the monarchy in Egypt.
1956 - The Bell X-2 rocket plane sets a world aircraft speed record of 3,050 kph.
1958 - The British House of Lords sees the first four women named to peerage.
1964 - The Egyptian munition ship "Star of Alexandria," an Egyptian munitions ship, explodes dockside, killing 100, injuring 160, and causing $20 million of damage.
1974 - The Greek military dictatorship collapses.
1978 - Israel rejects Egypt's call for the return of parts of Sinai.
1980 - Billy Carter admits to being paid by Libya.

This Day in Terrorism
1968 - The PLO hijacks an El Al plane for the first time.
1977 - A Washington jury convicts 12 Hanafi Moslems on hostage charges.

Holidays
Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Oman - National Day (1952)

Birthdays
1888 - Dr. Milan Stoyadinovich Serbia, fascist, Yugoslavina PM
1892 - Haile Selassie emperor of Ethiopia
1919 - Pee Wee Reese, baseball great
1927 - Elliot M. See Jr., astronaut
1936 - Anthony M. Kennedy., U.S. Supreme Court Justice
1947 - Don Imus, radio personality
1950 - Kaity Tong, news anchor (WABC-TV NYC)

Passings
1844
- Christian Gobrecht, 4th U.S. chief engraver
1885 - Ulysses S. Grant, 18th U.S. President

Reported Missing in Action
1962

Matagulay, Roque S., US Army (CA); interred by the Japanese as a child on Guam, "Atomic Soldier", also exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, captured while out with a hunting party, released December, 1962 - deceased December, 1999.

1966
Newsom, Benjamin, USAF (USVI); F105F shot down, remains returned March, 1974

Pemberton, Gene Thomas, USAF (MO); F105D shot down

Smith, William W., USAF (AR); O1E shot down, KIA, body not recovered

1968
Gosen, Lawrence D., USN (MN); A4F impacted water and exploded immediately following launch, KIA, body not recovered

1972
Shank, Gary Leslie, USN (KS); A7B shot down, KIA, remains returned July, 1984

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