Iraqi, Coalition Forces Capture Terrorists, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - Iraqi Army troops and coalition forces captured 11 insurgents and seized six caches Dec. 13 in operations southeast of Baqubah, Iraq, military officials reported today.

The caches included eight anti-tank mines, six 155 mm artillery rounds, 48 assorted rockets, 48 mixed mortars rounds, 16 anti-personnel rocket-propelled grenades, 26 RPG boosters and a mortar tube assembly. Explosive ordnance disposal personnel were called in to destroy the munitions. The suspects are being detained pending further investigation.

Also on Dec. 13, Iraqi army soldiers and coalition forces uncovered a cache hidden in a cave north of Husaybah.

Troops found an RPG system, eight rockets, two cases of small machine-gun ammunition and an extra machine-gun barrel. Mattresses and other items suggested the cave was used as an insurgent safe house, officials said. The cache was destroyed in place, and the weapons were turned over to authorities.

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 4th Battalion, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, and coalition forces discovered a cache and a functioning roadside bomb Dec. 13 south of Fallujah after receiving a tip.

In addition to the bomb, the cache contained 20 120 mm mortar rounds, 17 88 mm mortar rounds, three 60 mm mortar rounds, a 150 mm artillery round, two guided missiles, six kilograms of TNT, three RPG rounds, a box of 20 mm anti-aircraft rounds, a machine gun and a box of machine gun ammunition.

A cordon of the area was established while the cache was inventoried and transported to a location where it was destroyed, officials said.

Iraqi police arrested five people who were transporting a bomb in their vehicle Dec. 12.

Police stopped the car at a checkpoint and one passenger jumped out of the vehicle and tried to escape. The suspect was caught, and the rest of the car's occupants were arrested after further investigation produced a concealed explosive device.

The bomb consisted of a 60 mm mortar round, TNT and plastic explosive contained in a metal box.

The provincial explosive ordnance disposal team took custody of the bomb, and the detainees were turned over to the Najaf police anti-crime Unit for processing and further investigation.

(Compiled from Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq news releases.)

Related Site:

Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq [http://www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil]

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Quantico Students Get Current Events, History Lesson

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - Elementary school students at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., got a combined current events and history lesson Dec. 13 from the wife of Vice President Dick Cheney.

Lynne Cheney spoke to students at W.W. Burrows Elementary School about the election taking place in Iraq on Dec. 15.

"What's happening is that the people in Iraq are going to vote for, what is in essence, their Congress, their national assembly," Cheney said. "It's a turning point, one of those things that when you're a grown-up, you will look in your history books and you will see that (the election) happened and you were alive and you were here."

Mrs. Cheney told the children what an accomplishment it was for Iraq to go from a dictatorship under Saddam Hussein to a budding democracy in just three years. She said the Iraqis' story presents an opportunity to think about America's history as well, and how it parallels Iraq's struggle to write a constitution and establish a democracy.

"What we did wasn't easy," she said. "I think on Thursday, when you watch television and you see millions of Iraqis voting, you ought to know what they have done isn't easy either," Cheney said.

When a student asked how the Iraqi constitution would benefit the country's children, she said the change would be significant. It gives them the chance to grow up in a very different society from the one they're used to, she said.

"If they're girls, they'll have the same rights and opportunities as if they're boys," she said. "And that's a different society from the brutal one they used to live in."

She told them that when the founding fathers wrote the U.S. Constitution, they said its purpose was to "secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity." That posterity, or legacy, included the Iraqi children, she said.

Noting that many students have parents serving in the armed forces, Mrs. Cheney told them they should be particularly proud of their parents and all servicemembers. Their efforts, she said, have helped make it possible for Iraq to take the first steps to democracy.

Mrs. Cheney later told the Pentagon Channel that it's important for children to understand that history doesn't just happen in the past, but is going on now as well. Putting the story in terms of people helps make it more understandable, she said, adding that talking with the kids presented a "teachable moment."

"You can talk about the significance of this event, but it also opens kids' minds up to talk about our own history and our own constitution and how we started on the path of liberty some 217 years ago," she said.

Biography:

Lynne Cheney [http://www.whitehouse.gov/mrscheney/]

Related Site:

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. [http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/index.htm]

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Bush Calls Iraqi Elections Historic Time for Iraq, the World

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - The Dec. 15 parliamentary elections in Iraq represent "a watershed moment in the story of freedom" that's important not only to Iraq's security and democratic future, but also to America's, President Bush said today at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars here.

"Iraqis will go to the polls to choose a government that will be the only constitutional democracy in the Arab world," the president said. "Yet, we need to remember that these elections are also a vital part of a broader strategy for protecting the American people against the threat of terrorism."

Bush called the upcoming national elections a major milestone in Iraq's transition to a constitutional democracy. Already, the coalition has transferred sovereignty to the Iraqis and Iraqis have held elections for a transitional government and adopted a democratic constitution, he noted. On Dec. 15, they will hold elections for a new government under that constitution.

All this has occurred despite terrorist efforts designed to derail these efforts, Bush noted. "In spite of the violence, Iraqis have met every milestone, and this is changing the political landscape in Iraq," he said.

The U.S. goal in Iraq has always been more than simply to remove a brutal dictator, Bush said. "It is to leave a free and democratic Iraq in place," he explained.

Bush expressed optimism that Sunni Arabs, who boycotted the January elections, are campaigning vigorously and expected to turn out to vote in large numbers. "As Sunnis join the political process, Iraqi democracy becomes more inclusive and the terrorists and Saddamists are becoming marginalized," he said.

A free and democratic Iraq will help bring stability to a troubled part of the world and ensure a better life for the Iraqi people, Bush said. It also will ensure a safer America, he said.

"I strongly believe a democratic Iraq is a crucial part of our strategy to defeat the terrorists, because only democracy can bring freedom and reconciliation to Iraq and peace to this troubled part of the world," he said. "A liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to transform the Middle East by bringing hope and progress to the lives of millions."

"History has shown that free nations are peaceful nations," Bush said. "And as Iraqi democracy takes hold, Iraqi citizens will have a stake in a common and peaceful future."

The people of Iraq still face many challenges, including security, reconstruction and economic reform, the president acknowledged. "But they're building a strong democracy that can handle these challenges, and that will be a model for the Middle East," he said.

This is helping establish Iraq as a long-term partner for peace in the region, he said. "By helping Iraqis build a nation that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself, we will gain an ally in the war on terror and a partner for peace in the Middle East."

Related Site:

Transcript of President Bush's Remarks [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051214-1.html]

Related Article:

Bush: Leaving Iraq Too Soon Would Endanger America [http://www.dod.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3658.html]

_______________________________________________________
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the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3660.html.

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Deterrence Still Viable Against Terrorists, Official Says

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - Deterring countries or groups who can or want to attack the United States is still a viable strategy in the 21st century, even as the nature of defense challenges broadens and moves to areas outside U.S. expertise, a top Defense Department official said here today.

Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, delivered opening remarks at the Fletcher Institute for Foreign Policy and Analysis Conference.

The United States historically has dealt with traditional threats, such as nation states that have large armies and engage in combat operations, Henry said. But more threats are becoming irregular, like terrorists and extremists, and even catastrophic, like large-scale terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

"The nature of the defense challenges that we have in a post-(Sept. 11) world are much broader, and they happen to be outside of our comfort zone," Henry said.

Deterrence -- the cornerstone of U.S. Cold War strategy through which the likely consequences of attacking U.S. interests kept potential adversaries at bay -- is a strategy that still can work on these asymmetric threats, as long as the U. S. takes the time to understand its enemy, Henry said.

One key element of deterrence is understanding the values system of the enemies and what they hold dear to determine what to hold at risk to prevent them from carrying out attacks, he explained. The most common strategies within deterrence are benefit denial and cost imposition, he said.

Many people believe that terrorist organizations cannot be affected by deterrence, because they value mission accomplishment above everything, even individual life, Henry said. While deterrence of these groups is more complicated, a breakdown of the organization and what it needs to function will reveal weaknesses where deterrence can be used, he said.

"The key here is understanding an alien culture, an alien way of thinking and an alien value system," he said.

In addition to terrorist networks, two other groups pose threats that DoD faces, Henry said. One is near-peer competitors, large nation states grouped under the traditional threats, that the U.S. already has a lot of experience with, he said. The other is rogue powers, nation states or other groups that have the ability to make a regional difference and cause significant problems, he said.

Coming up with deterrence capabilities to meet this wide spectrum of threats is a challenge for DoD, but one that is being addressed in the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review, Henry said.

Another tactic that has not received enough attention in the past and could prove very useful is dissuasion, Henry said. Dissuasion is used before an adversary develops the capabilities or the will to attack the U.S., he explained, and aims to convince adversaries that there is a more effective way to achieve their national or political goals.

"We think that dissuasion and deterrence are a matched set," he said. "There are different forces involved there that we need to think of as we develop capabilities for the future."

DoD has a lot of work to do in developing adequate deterrence and dissuasion capabilities for the new security landscape, Henry said, but both tactics always will be important to U.S. security.

"I think you'll see when the Quadrennial Defense Review does hit the street, that a lot of the strategic thinking pointing in the direction of deterrence and dissuasion continues to be a bedrock capability that we need to have in the DoD and one that we will resource appropriately," he said.

Biography:

Ryan Henry [http://www.dod.mil/bios/henry_bio.html]

_______________________________________________________
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the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
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Bush: Leaving Iraq Too Soon Would Endanger America

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - Leaving Iraq before the mission there is finished will make America less, not more, secure and will send a dangerous message that will ring around the world, President Bush said today here at the Woodrow Wilson International Center.

Speaking the day before Iraq's national elections, Bush disputed critics who claim the United States would be safer and Iraq less violent if the United States withdrew its forces there.

"This view presumes that if we were not in Iraq, the terrorists would be leaving us alone," Bush said.

In reality, the president said, terrorists have been targeting America for years - as evidenced by attacks on New York's World Trade Center in 1993, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, the USS Cole in 2000 and the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001.

All these incidents occurred when the United States did not have a single American troop in Iraq, the president noted.

"Cutting and running" in Iraq, as Bush said some critics have suggested the United States do, would send the wrong message to the Iraqis, the terrorists, the Middle East and the world, he said.

It would tell Iraqis risking their lives for democracy that America is more interested in leaving than in helping them succeed, Bush said. It would tell terrorists that they can wait out America, emboldening them and inviting new attacks on the United States. And it would tell U.S. friends and allies that "when the going gets tough, America will retreat," he said.

But just as importantly, Bush said, setting an artificial deadline for leaving Iraq would send the wrong message to U.S. troops serving on the front lines in the war on terror.

"It would tell them that America is abandoning the mission they are risking their lives to achieve, and that the sacrifice of their comrades killed in this struggle has been in vain," he said.

"I make this pledge to the families of the fallen," the president said. "We will carry on the fight, we will complete their mission, and we will win."

The United States will honor its fallen troops' sacrifice by acknowledging what Bush said it has helped achieve: "the birth of a free and sovereign Iraqi nation that will be a friend of the United States and a force for good in a troubled region of the world."

The president vowed that the United States will continue standing by the Iraqi people as they build their new democracy and set an example for the rest of the Middle East. Doing so, he said, will help ensure America's security, not only today, but also for future generations.

"In our fight to keep Americans free, we'll never quit," he said. "We will fight this war without wavering, and we will prevail."

Related Site:

Transcript of President Bush's Remarks [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051214-1.html]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3658.html.

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For Whom to Vote? Iraqi Culture Adjusts to Free Elections

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2005 - Iraqi police cars sporting stickers urging people to vote for a particular list of candidates are part of the pre-election scene here.

One reason is that Iraq government, at this stage of its development, doesn't have anything like the U.S.'s Hatch Act, which forbids U.S. federal employees from engaging in partisan political processes. While Iraqi leaders have tried to separate the police from politics, they haven't been totally successful.

There is no history of a secret ballot in Iraq, military officials here said. Saddam Hussein held regular mandatory elections and everyone was given one choice: Vote for him.

The idea of having a choice and a voice in running the country is something new. But aspects of Iraq are still very hierarchical, and many young people are asking those they respect whom to vote for.

Many turn to their religious leaders, others to superiors, others to provincial or tribal leaders. Many Iraqis view the police as a source of voting wisdom. While most understand they cannot advocate for a particular candidate, some just can't help it.

The problem is not as pervasive in the Iraqi army or the public order battalions - at least around Baghdad. But young soldiers and police officers want guidance from their superiors. Iraqi Army Brig. Gen. Jawad Romi Aldaini, commander of the Iraqi 2nd Brigade of the 6th Division, said when his soldiers ask him for whom they should vote, he says "anyone you want."

But, said the general through an interpreter, if they persist, he says: "Call your mother and vote for who she says to."

_______________________________________________________
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Iraqi, Coalition Officials Put Election Plan in Place

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2005 - Iraqi and coalition officials are implementing the plan to ensure safety for Iraqi voters in the country's historic Dec. 15 election, in which Iraqis will elect their first permanent democratic government.

Iraqi security forces clearly have taken the lead in this election. They have developed the plan and are doing their part to implement it.

Army Col. Joseph P. Di Salvo, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team here, said the Iraqi forces in his sector have the election process well under control. The area, with 4.6 million people, contains a mix of religions and ethnic backgrounds. But the center of mass and the largest concentration is the Shiia stronghold of Sadr City. The Iraqi army unit works with Iraqi public order battalions and the Iraqi police, both of which come under Iraq's Interior Ministry.

DiSalvo said the Iraqi army's 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, has planned and executed 37 independent operations in the last month. The brigade has developed intelligence, planned the raids and executed them well. "I'm very fortunate to have this brigade here," he said.

The colonel visited the Iraqi brigade's commander to iron out any last-minute difficulties with the election.

Coalition forces are supporting the Iraqi effort, but will not - and have not - provided protection at polling sites. Coalition forces have delivered Jersey barriers, concertina wire, flashlights, searching wands and quick-reaction forces. The Iraqis are delivering voting materials to the polling stations today, and have police at the polling stations, an outer cordon of police and soldiers and forces in reserve.

Coalition officials say the most likely threats are car bombs, female suicide bombers and mortar and rocket attacks on forward operating bases and the embassy compound. Military officials said the coalition forces are patrolling and will counter the moves of any who wish to disrupt the election.

_______________________________________________________
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the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
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U.S. Soldiers Nab 43 Suspects South of Baghdad

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - Task Force Baghdad soldiers detained 43 suspected terrorists during recent operations conducted to ensure a safe environment for Iraq's upcoming national elections, military officials in Baghdad reported today.

On Dec. 10, soldiers discovered a house containing an makeshift bomb and detained four suspected terrorists in separate incidents.

During a routine patrol of an area south of Baghdad, the Soldiers of B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, inspected an abandoned house and discovered the bomb, which consisted of a 5-foot pipe filled with explosives. An explosives team detonated it.

Earlier in the day, soldiers from A Battery, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, detained two terrorists after searching their home. The soldiers found two AK-47 assault rifles with loaded magazines and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Soldiers from D Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, detained two more terrorists after an explosion was heard in their area of operation. Upon investigation, the troops discovered a bomb had prematurely detonated. They searched the area and detained two suspected triggermen.

South of Baghdad, soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, detained 28 suspected terrorists in two separate incidents during continuous operations Dec. 8 and 9.

The soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, nabbed 17 individuals Dec. 9 after an informant identified and associated them with terrorist activity. The capture began while the unit was conducting a cordon-and-search operation. Soldiers saw three suspicious men in a nearby field who appeared to be in an observation position. The suspects fled in two groups as a patrol approached to question them. Coalition forces engaged two of the men, killing them.

The third terrorist ran into a nearby house. Company soldiers immediately searched the home, capturing the individual, plus 16 more suspected terrorists.

In another incident, soldiers from D Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, detained 11 suspected terrorists after stopping two vehicles in the early evening Dec. 8.

The soldiers were patrolling south of Baghdad when they stopped two suspicious vehicles containing eight individuals. Upon investigation, the soldiers discovered multiple cell phones, AK-47s, and two 120 mm rounds rigged as bombs. Six individuals were detained, but two men ran into a nearby house.

The patrol conducted a cordon-and-search operation and found three more individuals in the house. Soldiers detained all five suspects discovered in the house.

An explosives team confirmed the cars were being used to transport and emplace makeshift bombs. The team destroyed one vehicle and the Iraqi army confiscated the other.

In the skies over Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 54 close-air-support missions Dec. 13.
U.S. Air Force F-16s and F-15s performed air strikes in the vicinity of Baghdad. The F-16s expended precision-guided munitions to successfully deny insurgents access to a bridge. The F-15s expended precision-guided munitions against an enemy bunker.

U.S. Navy F/A-18s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with insurgents near Balad.

Thirteen U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of Iraq operations. British Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Related Sites:

Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]

U.S. Central Command Air Forces [http://www.centaf.af.mil/]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3655.html.

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America Supports You: Californians Provide Holiday Spirit

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 - Yellow Ribbon America, a partner in the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, will join the National Guard Association of California and the California state legislature in paying tribute to U.S. servicemembers during a Dec. 15 celebration in Newport Beach, Calif.

Troops from both the active and reserve components will be on hand as part of "Operation Christmas for Our Troops II," a program aimed at gathering toys for the children of deployed California troops as well as DVDs and CDs for troops serving overseas.

The bipartisan, statewide campaign kicked off in early December, and the pile of donations quickly began to grow.

The program will run through Dec. 21, and anyone wishing to make a donation can drop a new, unwrapped toy or a new or used DVD at one of the organization's drop-off locations throughout the state, officials said.

"We hope to help bring a merry Christmas to all California's military and their families and to show them how much their state appreciates them and cares," said Brad White, a representative of the National Guard Association of California, who dubbed himself "chief elf in training."

"Let's show them and their families our deep appreciation for their selfless dedication and commitment to keep America safe and free and that we do value their sacrifices that they make for us every day," White said.

Last year, the effort generated more than 10,000 toys and CDs, as well as gift certificates for California military families.

Related Sites:

Yellow Ribbon America [http://www.yellowribbonamerica.com/]

America Supports You [http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3654.html.

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Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

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Gunners Pull Counterinsurgency Missions in Baghdad

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2005 - Duty in densely populated Baghdad doesn't call for the need for firing a lot of 155 mm shells.

In fact, Army Maj. Gen. William Webster, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Task Force Baghdad, said the division has not fired an artillery round or dropped ordnance in Baghdad during its deployment.

Though the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, were not trained for counterinsurgency operations, a year in Iraq has made them experts.

So the school-trained artillerymen have transformed into a counterinsurgency unit. This does not mean the guns are not available -- the self-propelled artillery pieces can get rounds downrange in minutes if needed.

The unit traded in its Paladin artillery for Humvee vehicles, and fire missions for on-the-ground counterinsurgency operations, said Army Capt. David Underwood, commander of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery. He said the unit did receive some training in their new mission before moving in to Iraq, but the real learning experience happened on the streets around this forward operating base in East Baghdad.

"It's normal infantry patrols with civil affairs overtones," he explained. Keys to success, he said, are preparation and communications.

Before a mission begins, noncommissioned officers check every man's gear. All weapons must be working, every man must carry a full load of ammunition, the night-vision goggles must be working -- even if the mission is set for daylight -- and the vehicles must be topped off with fuel and working. All soldiers are briefed on the threats they might face and countermeasures they can take.

The men and vehicles gather, and the commander briefs all soldiers on what to expect. The men load up and make final communication checks, and then it's out of the forward operating base and into the communities.

The mission day's was to check on progress at election sites. The group of seven vehicles used a different route from the one they had used before to reach the site. They did not stop, nor allow themselves to be crowded. Iraqi drivers saw the American vehicles and gave them wide berth.

On the ground, relationships are everything, Underwood said. He and his men have worked closely with Iraqi police and public order battalions throughout their stay.

Army Sgt. Ernesto Camacho said he has seen the Iraqi security forces improve tremendously since he arrived. Camacho, who taught himself rudimentary Arabic while here, said the police and soldiers he has worked with have grown increasingly professional.

"When we first started working with them, they couldn't do anything without us," he said. "Now, they take the lead and do what needs to be done."

The soldiers know what to look for as they patrol. Iraqi children mob the soldiers at every stop. "If kids don't show up, then something is wrong," said Sgt. Thomas Brown. "We now have been doing this long enough to know when something is out of place, and react."

Roadside and car bombs are the big threat in the area, although small-arms fire can be a danger. "We watch for it all, and we maintain communications with our base, with each other, and we stay near our vehicles," Underwood said. "Then we go back in, pull maintenance on the vehicles and equipment and get ready to go back out.

Related Site:

3rd Infantry Division [http://www.stewart.army.mil/ima/sites/division/default.asp]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051214_3653.html.

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Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

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Visit the Defense Department's Web site for the latest news
and information about America's response to the war against terrorism: "Defend America" at http://www.DefendAmerica.mil.

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