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Tuesday, October 07, 2008


BAGHDAD DROP - As seen through a night-viewing device, U.S. Army Sgt. John Butler points during a leaflet-drop mission over the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Oct. 2, 2008. Butler is a member the 11th Psychological Operation Task Force. U.S. Army photo

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Donations Help Mentoring, Support Missions in Afghanistan

Army Master Sgt. Michael Molgaard helps to unload boxes of donated clothing and school supplies with an Afghan policeman at the Afshar School. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Robert Romano, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix


From DefenseLink:


By Army Lt. Col. Paul Fanning
Special to American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 7, 2008 – Donations of school supplies and children’s clothing from military families and friends at home are helping deployed New York Army National Guard soldiers in their mission to mentor and train the Afghan national security forces and support the Afghan people.

Members of the Afghan National Police delivered hundreds of pounds of schools supplies, children’s clothing and shoes sent over from New York communities to boys and girls of the Afshar School in the suburbs of the Afghan capital of Kabul on Oct. 4.

Humanitarian assistance missions help Afghan families and build bonds of trust for the nation’s developing army and police forces. Trainers and mentors from Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, part of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, guide and support national police and army units as they conduct local efforts.

Nearly 1,700 members of the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix to serve on embedded training and police mentoring teams, security force units, logistics teams and for the task force headquarters.

Increasingly, military family members, friends, youth groups and civic organizations back in New York are taking an active role by sending donations to their deployed loved ones that are in turn used to help the Afghan people.

Clothing, footwear and school supplies are eagerly sought. Operations that bring police to schools and villages to deliver security messages as well as gifts encourage local support for the Afghan government and improve conditions for the people.

“The Afghan National Police is the face of the Afghan government at the local level,” said Army Col. Gary Yaple, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix and the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Syracuse. “Our intent is to place the Afghans first and in the lead, and we support. This is their nation. These are their communities, families and children. The more support they provide, the more they build for their government. They still need our help, but much progress is being made.”

The three-hour mission on Oct. 4 included 23 U.S. personnel assigned to a police mentoring team with Afghan Regional Security Integration Command Kabul and logistics task force troops. The team moved to the headquarters of Police District 5, where 1st Lt. Faisal Reza from the Bronx, Master Sgt. Michael Molgaard from Ithaca, and Staff Sgt. Deanna Bizette from Florence, S.C., conferred with the local police chief on the operation plan. Then a dozen officers moved out with the Phoenix team for the school.

They set up a security perimeter, and U.S. troops and Afghan police unloaded three trailers of donations. These were placed in a faculty office, and teachers began to distribute to the neediest students.

“The donations came from various people in the Tompkins County area,” said Capt. Robert Romano from Ithaca, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix headquarters.

“My mother organized the drive with support from several local church groups,” he said, adding that Linda Pasto, the mother of another deployed officer, and a local chapter of "The Red Hat Society," a woman's group, also made significant contributions.

“Clothing was collected, inspected, packed and shipped by my mother, Marie Romano, and my wife, Lana,” the captain said. “The first load amounted to about 650 pounds.”

Another shipment weighing in at 1,100 pounds already is on the way, he added. “The police chief and teachers seemed especially happy with a large box of children's shoes and another one that contained winter jackets and sweaters.”

Later, the local police chief personally handed out school supplies, clothing and shoes. He also talked to the children with a simple message: “People should not be afraid to come to the police to ask for help. The police are there for the people.”

(Army Lt. Col. Paul Fanning serves in the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix Public Affairs Office.)


Related Sites:
Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan


Col. Zalmia, Police District 5 chief, speaks to students in a classroom of the Afshar School to let them know that his police officers are there to help. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Robert Romano, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix



Afghan children show off donated supplies and clothing. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Robert Romano, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix

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SUEZ SHORE
The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio transits through the Suez Canal, Egypt, Sept. 23, 2008. The USS San Antonio is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky

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In Today's News - Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Quote of the Day
"The power of an air force is terrific
when there is nothing to oppose it."
-- Winston Churchill

News of Note
Operation Enduring Freedom
Canada says Afghan mission can't last indefinitely

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Judge orders Chinese Muslims at Guantanamo freed
AP Exclusive: Documents say detainee near insanity
Two DOD service members die in Marriott hotel terrorist attack in Islamabad

Fallen Heroes
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty (Anbar province)

Wounded Warriors
Army Touts Warrior Transition Units' Success

Supporting Our Heroes
AbilityOne Provides Jobs for Disabled Vets

Worldwide Wackos
Playing Chicken in the Gulf - VIDEO
Iran: Hungarian, Not U.S., Plane Forced Down - VIDEO

Politics / Government
ACORN Raided for Voter Fraud
Fraud Potential Impacted by Early Voting
Kenya Deports Anti-Obama Author - VIDEO - PHOTOS
McCain Needs Knockout in Second Debate, Political Analysts Say - PHOTOS
Did Biden Get It Wrong? You Betcha
Ohio Homeless Driven to Polls to Vote Obama
Lawmaker Accused of Fannie Mae Conflict of Interest
McCain aims to stop Obama momentum in debate
Obama has 3-point national lead on McCain - Video
McCain and Obama comic book biographies hit stands
Panel not likely to call a recession soon
Bush speaks with European leaders for coordination
Video: Gloves off in White House race
McCain linked to group in Iran-Contra affair
State reviewing per diem payments to Palin
Barack Obama Would 'Hasten Economic Decline' with High Taxes
Money and Politics - Presidential Campaign The Most Expensive in US History
'Ayers' of His Way Come Back to Haunt Barack Obama
Bush to answer California aid request soon

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Vicious killings escalate in Mexico drug war
300 suspected illegal immigrants caught in SC raid

In the Courts/ Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
6 Dead in California Gated Community Murder-Suicide
75-Year-Old Arkansan 'At Her Wits' End' Says She Killed Husband While He Slept
Police: Teen Planned to Bomb Sleeping Family
'Power Rangers' Actor Set to Stand Trial in Yacht Killings - PHOTOS: Powerful Mighty Morphin' Trouble
Simpson's future now hangs on armed robbery appeal
Authorities say man skipped jury duty to drink

Adventures in Political Correctness
Comedian Defends 'Achmed the Dead Terrorist' Puppet Routine Against South African Ban
Kenya Reportedly Deports American Author of Anti-Obama Book

U.N. News
Darfur: UN Peacekeepers Ambushed During Patrol

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Google Offers 'Mail Goggles' for Drunk E-Mailers
YouTube to sell music, games in revenue push
U.S. official says online drug videos threaten teens
Bank savers run at the click of a mouse
VeriSign sells Jamba stake to News Corp
Ask revamps for faster Web search, more relevance
Should The Press Boycott Sarah Palin Until She Holds a News Conference? (I'm sorry - I must have missed the law that requires press conferences...)
For Iranian Bloggers, Risks Have Not Deterred Activity

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Drug Firms: No Cold Meds for Kids Under Four
Climate change seen aiding spread of deadly diseases
Gene discovery may help hunt for blindness cure
Two Japanese, American win 2008 physics Nobel
Gene discovery may help hunt for blindness cure
Climate change seen aiding spread of deadly diseases
Asteroid to burn up before hitting Earth
India's first moon mission to take off on October 22
AMD spins off plants into venture with Abu Dhabi
Video: Shazam enters new era

Mother Nature
Tropical Storm Marco Makes Landfall in Mexico
Teen Wakes to Find Snake Wrapped Around Neck, Biting Her Arm
7-Year-Old Breaks Into Zoo, Feeds Live Animals to Croc
Back-From-Dead Fox Nearly Kills Driver Who Ran It Over
Economic woes may give planet a breather
Green car investment seen settling on electric
Evidence of warming growing: Pachauri
China seen as potential electric car hub
Global financial crisis may help Amazon rainforest
Nature inspires new products in "biomimic" study
World needs to rethink biofuels: U.N. food agency
Video: So long and thanks for all the fish

News from My Neck of the Woods
NYC lawmakers mull bill to raise term limits
Divers reach steamship that sank off Mass. in 1898

Oddities
U.K. Chef Murders Gay Lover, Marinates Flesh
Three-Year-Old Girl Worshipped as Living Goddess- PHOTOS: Only Three, and Still a Goddess
World's Tallest Man Welcomes Not-So-Tall Baby Boy- PHOTOS: Big Dad, Small Baby
Cheerleaders Stage Mock Execution - PHOTOS
Boyfriend of Kan. Woman Stuck to Toilet Wins Lottery
Soccer player drowns in ritual swim
Naked swimmer evades police in Tokyo palace moat
Brits value sex and in-laws, Web dating company finds
Kids want an exotic pet? Ask your doctor first

Other News of Note
Freshman Found Dead in 'Pool of Vomit' at Indiana Fraternity
Woman Pulled From Car Seconds Before It Explodes
Fliers Suffer Broken Bones During In-Flight Altitude \Drop
Amputations in the Streets as Thailand Violence Rages - PHOTO ESSAY: (Warning: Graphic Pictures)
Heating costs to jump 15 percent this winter: government
Thai troops patrol Bangkok after clashes
China slams U.S. arms sale to Taiwan

FOX News
Another Beating for Market
AIG Executives Blow $440,000 After Getting Bailout
Bush: We're Going to Get Through This
Bernanke Warns, Stocks Sink

Reuters
GM looking to refinance Detroit headquarters
Maldives heads to historic presidential poll
Fed steps into crisis, UK bank rescue readied
Wells could win 75-80 percent of Wachovia deposits: source
Morgan Stanley and Mitsubishi clear hurdle, shares fall
Retirees flee stocks to save shrinking nest eggs
Alcoa profit drops on lower aluminum prices
Credit tap trickles
BA pension deficit could hurt merger talks
Bailout bust
Fragile alternatives
Read my lips: higher taxes on the way
Britain to launch bank rescue package - Video
Bernanke signals readiness to cut rates
Yum Q3 net rises, sees 2008 profit down
Hedge funds losses balloon in September: HFR
AIG former execs draw fire from lawmakers
BofA shares tumble 25 percent
Continental examines unit sale options: German paper
Wounded Iceland takes over top bank, seeks Russia loan - Video
Fire damages Nick Nolte's home in Malibu
Cop drama "Life on Mars" a trip
Esquire crowns Halle Berry "Sexiest Woman Alive"
Giller book prize announces finalists
Some hope amid the gloom for broadcasters
Talk of the Town:Miley's Sweet 16
Esquire crowns Halle Berry "Sexiest Woman Alive"
Italian cigars give a puff of dark chocolate
Giller book prize announces finalists
Salvation Army in charity record deal
Yankee closer Rivera has shoulder surgery
Davydenko and Kuznetsova win, Venus sent packing
LA's Lowe opposes Phillies' Hamels in opener
Cheats will get caught, says Tour chief
Red Sox squeeze past Angels, advance to ALCS

AP News
Fed to lend to companies in emergency move
Half-ton Mexican man dies after pleading for help
High-flying Angels flop again in October
Bonds says he's enjoying life away from baseball
David Duchovny checks out of sex addiction rehab

NewsBlaze
Army Reserve's 538th Transportation Company to deploy
IU ROTC Training
Soldiers' Angels and Patriot Guard
Iraq News
Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM
Displaced families return to al Khwalis
U.S. aids Iraqi factory's production
Report: Iraq improving, but conflict remains
Team inspects crops in Wasit
Bush praises Iraqi leadership
Active Denial System demonstrates capabilities at CENTCOM
USCENTCOM names investigating officer
CENTCOM commander directs review of investigation
Coalition: Aug. 22 actions in Afghanistan justified
Joint Statement: Transfer of security in Anbar
U.S. Central Command Conducts Training
Border incident investigation initiated
Sons of Iraq graduate Iraqi Police training in Hawija
Iraqi troops capture mid-level AQI leader, six other suspects

USJFCOM
Allied Command Transformation, USJFCOM begin co-sponsored conference on urban operations
Free Salute to Veterans 2008 tickets - Click here to get your free tickets
Joint Enabling Capabilities Command up and running - podcast
Joint Enabling Capabilities Command to stand up
USJFCOM to partner with NATO for training exercise - podcast
USJFCOM supporting hurricane relief
Newsmaker Profile: Marine Corps Col. Medio Monti - podcast - More about Joint Systems Integration Command
Top U.S. commander in Iraq visits members of Task Force Ramadi
Task Force Ramadi assists in Iraqi milestone event
Joint fires team helps JRTC improve force protection training - More about JFIIT
Battlefield Target Identification Device fuels Bold Quest Plus - podcast
Task force assists as health conference promotes continuing Iraqi medical education
Liveblogging: Noble Resolve 08 - More about Noble Resolve

Multi-National Force - Iraq
Armenians Complete Successful Mission
Patrol Stops, Applies First Aid to Iraqi Boy
Marines Help Iraqis Rebuild Schools Destroyed by Terrorists
Coalition Trains Iraqi Police District Response Team
Iraqi business center opens in Balad
Yarmouk SoI transition continues
Video Available: Armenians complete successful mission in Iraq
MND-B Soldiers detain suspected criminals, discover weapons in Rashid
Video Available: Talent School Groundbreaking in Al-Jam’eat Area of Basrah

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS

Gates Meets Kosovo Leaders, Promises Continued Support
Secretary Visits U.S. Troops in Kosovo
Gates Tours Camp Bondsteel, Gjilan - Photos
Defense Dept. Dismisses Contradictory Reports of Downed U.S. Plane in Iran

MILITARY NEWS
Armed Forces Retirement Home Receives Prestigious Continuing Care Accreditation
U.S., NATO Forces Train in Belgium
Threat Reduction Agency Marks 10 Years
DoD Develops Benefits Handbook

FACE OF DEFENSE
Soldier Serves as Jack of All Trades

IRAQ NEWS
U.S. Marines Find Medical Care Forges Friendships
Coalition Forces Apprehend Kataib Hezbollah Suspects

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Egyptian Field Hospital Helps Afghans Understand Coalition's Role By Offering Free Medical Care
Donations Help Mentoring, Support Missions
Coalition Forces Kill 43 Militants

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Troop Supporters Stock Soldiers’ Blessing Store

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

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1571 - The Spanish and Italians defeat the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Lepanto.
1737 - 40 foot waves sink 20,000 small craft and kill 300,000 in Bengal, India.
1765 - The Stamp Act Congress convenes in NY.
1777 - Americans beat the British the Second Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Bemis Heights.
1780 - American militia defeat the British near Kings Mountain, SC.
1826 - The Granite Railway (first chartered railway in the U.S.) begins operations.
1868 - Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) opens.
1871 - A 16-hour fire injures 30 of Chicago's 185 firefighters.
1886 - Spain abolishes slavery in Cuba.
1908 - Crete revolts against Turkey, aligning with Greece.
1919 - The first London-to-Amsterdam airline service begins (British Aerial Transport).
1924 - Marble Bar, Australia, sees the first of 160 consecutive days of 100-degree heat.
1931 - Rochester, NY, is the site of the first infra-red photograph.
1938 - Germany demands that all Jewish passports be stamped with the letter J.
1949 - The German Democratic Republic forms from the Russian occupation zone.
1950 - U.S. forces invade Korea, crossing the 38th parallel.
1957 - "American Bandstand" premieres on TV.
1958 - Potter Stewart is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. manned space-flight project is renamed Project Mercury.
1963 - Bobby Baker resigns as Senate Democratic secretary; Hurricane Flora hits Haiti and the Dominican Republic, killing 7,190.
1965 - A 50-mph wind gust carries Robert Mitera's tee shot 447 yards to score the world's longest straight hole-in-one - at the 10th hole in Miracle Hills, Omaha, NE.
1968 - The Motion Picture Association of America adopts the film rating system.
1985 - The 21st Space Shuttle Mission (51-J; Atlantis-1) lands at Edwards AFB; PLO terrorists seize the Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro.
1988 - The Latvian flag is raised in Riga for the first time since annexation by the U.S.S.R.
1990 - Israel begins handing out gas masks to its citizens.

Birthdays
1728
- Caesar Rodney, patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence
1885 - Niels Bohr, physicist, expanded quantum physics / Nobel Prize Winner (1922)
1888 - Henry A. Wallace, 33rd U.S. Vice President / Progressive presidential candidate
1906 - James E. Webb, head of NASA (1961-68)
1931 - Desmond Tutu, Anglican Archbishop of South Africa / Nobel Prize winner (1982)
1943 - Oliver North, Col., USMC / author / inventor / radio show host, (figure in Iran-Contra hearings
1951 - John Cougar Mellencamp, rocker (Jack & Diane)
1955 - Yo-Yo Ma, world famous Chinese cellist
1958 - Kim Morris, Playboy playmate (Mar, 1986)

Passings
1849 - Edgar Allen Poe, poet / author
1959 - Mario Lanza, singer

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Gilchrist, Robert M., USAF (CO); RF4C shot down (pilot)

Knight, Larry Dale, USAF (OR); RF4C crashed offshore (pilot)

Pabst, Eugene M., USAF (NY); RF4C shot down (backseater to Gilchrist)

Treece, James A., USAF (TN); RF4C shot down (pilot); status later changed to "Died while missing"

1967
Appleby, Ivan D., USAF (CA); F4D shot down (pilot, w/Austin), remains returned January, 1995 - ID'd October, 1995

Austin, William R. II, USAF (SC); F4D shot down (backseater, w/Appleby), released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Fullam, Wane E., USAF (TN); F105D shot down (pilot), remains returned September, 1987

Hodges, David L., USN (MD); A4E shot down (pilot), KIA, remains ID'd April, 1999

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